HISTORY OF THE SPRING GAMES:
In 1976, Coach Marge Ricker, known for her coaching years with the Orlando Rebels, began the Rebel Games: an event catered to small northern softball teams with nowhere to play during the frigid months of February and March. Coach Ricker brought in northern college softball teams and professional women's fastpitch teams in order to give them a place to play in sunny central Florida! One player on her roster in 1976 was 16-year-old Dot Richardson. "Dottie" would go on to have a stellar softball career, winning a national title at the University of California at Los Angeles and winning gold medals for the United States in 1996 and 2000. By 2007, Coach Ricker had stopped operating the Rebel Games and "Dottie" (now "Dr. Dot") had finished her residency and was the acting Director of the National Training Center.
In 2008, when Legends Way Ballfields opened, Dr. Richardson once again invited those small northern teams to play at the brand new facility. Forty-eight teams came that March and every year since, the Games have grown both in popularity and quality. Over time, all divisions of collegiate softball were added to the schedule. Since 2014, when Dr. Richardson passed the baton to her niece, Alison Strange, THE Spring Games has consistently hosted over 300 teams playing over 1,500 games at parks in Auburndale, Kissimmee, Leesburg, Madeira Beach, Winter Haven, and Clermont.