The GVGSA 10U Storm show off their second-place rings after reaching their first tournament championship of the summer. (GVGSA / Courtesy Photo)

Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association (GVGSA) held its 16th annual Lindsay Rose Tournament on July 12-13, 2025, hosting 33 teams, accounting for approximately 400 players, ages 6-13.

Teams came from all over California, from San Joaquin Valley to Kern County to Santa Barbara County, making this the league’s biggest tournament since 2021. 

This memorial tournament honors Lindsay Rose, a former GVGSA player who tragically lost her life in a surfing accident in 2009.

Tournament Director Jon Dessert shared, “Lindsay was known for her fierce competitiveness and love of the game. In her honor, GVGSA began this memorial tournament 16 years ago and awards “Softball Roses” each Saturday to players who best embody her spirit on the field.”

The tournament is a community endeavor, as shown by the abundance of local high school student volunteers, many of whom grew up playing for GVGSA, who helped run the snack shack and registration table, and prepped fields before games.

Local vendors, including  Claudia Coffee and Kona Ice, were on hand to provide tasty snacks throughout the weekend and donated a portion of the proceeds to GVGSA. 

Jon Dessert shared why the tournament was so important to the community, stating, “The Lindsay Rose Tournament embodies all of our organization’s core values to promote competition, access, and develop leadership skills.

“Lindsay’s flair for extra effort and confidence is at the center of how we award our ‘spirit’ award. We offer Silver and Gold brackets for meaningful competition at all levels and create lasting memories for every one of our participants.”

Aligning with GVGSA’s mission and values, the tournament offers players leadership opportunities on and off the field. In addition to games, all Goleta All-Star teams run booths selling everything from farm-fresh juice to raffling Santa Barbara Bowl VIP tickets and golf packages.

Leading up to the tournament, GVGSA also held a logo contest where GVGSA players competed to have their design featured on all tournament merchandise. This year’s winner came from the 12U Thunder (Gold) team. Her winning design was featured on the tournament’s merchandise and rings earned by finalists in each division.

The tournament went very well for GVGSA with 4 of the league’s teams making it to their divisions’ championships, and 2 teams winning it all. The results from the tournament are:

  • 8U Silver: 1st Nipomo All Stars, 2nd Paso Robles Bearcats 
  • 8U Gold: 1st Goleta Thunder, 2nd Santa Maria Lady Saints
  • 10U Silver: 1st Queen of Hart, 2nd Goleta Storm
  • 10U Gold: 1st Orcutt All Stars, 2nd Westlake Agoura Hills Thunder
  • 12U Silver Finalists: 1st Hanford Flames, 2nd Goleta Storm
  • 12U Gold Finalists: 1st Goleta Thunder, 2nd Westlake Agoura Hills (WAGS) Lightning

In addition to hosting the Lindsay Rose tournament, GVGSA offers spring recreation softball, summer all-star teams, and fall clinics and games.

Fall registration opens July 16, 2025. For more information, you can visit the league’s website at https://www.gvgsa.com/

ABOUT GVGSA: The Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association (GVGSA) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to building girls’ self-confidence, leadership skills and health through competitive and enjoyable fast-pitch softball.  GVGSA has improved the lives of thousands of girls and young women in the Goleta/Santa Barbara area through its highly successful organization.