America’s oldest Mexican-American fastpitch tournament is right here in Kansas

NEWTON, Kan. (KSNW) — America’s oldest Mexican-American fastpitch tournament is right here in Kansas.

For the past three days, the Newton Mexican American Athletic Club has hosted the Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament in Newton.

This year marks the 76th tournament. It was started right after World War II when African Americans and Mexican Americans could not play with teams consisting of white players.

It was the segregation that led the group to create their own tournament.

Current members are able to look back on the history associated with the team.

“All our family comes out; this has been a tradition for me and this team and this family ever since I was a child watching my father here play and my grandfather coaching. Now, me and my cousins growing up, now we’re playing,” said Manuel Talavera.

The tournament brought in teams from across the state, including Kansas City.

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