Foley Sports Tourism (FST) is extremely excited for the upcoming Battle by the Bay lacrosse event February 14 – 16. The competition is completely unique in bringing together college and youth teams from around the southeast.
Battle by the Bay co-director Chris Fantaccione said they initially thought the weekend would be collegiate focused, but grew into something new.
“It was started to serve as a neutral-site gathering of teams from two different men’s collegiate club team leagues to play regular-season, out-of-conference games. It has grown to become a much bigger and inclusive event with the addition of high school boys and girls games running simultaneously,” Fantaccione said. “This is the only gathering that I am aware of, certainly in the southeast United States, and perhaps the country, that both college-level play and high school varsity/junior varsity level play will take place in one location.”
Fantaccione said they will have youth teams traveling from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The collegiate side will be making history with the teams attending.
“The men’s college teams are member teams in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) and the teams are from two different conferences. Florida Atlantic University and the University of North Florida from the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) and Rice University, Texas A & M University – Galveston, University of Texas – Dallas from the Lone Star Alliance (LSA),” Fantaccione said. “This is the first time ever that these two conferences have been represented by this many teams in one place at one time.”
Foley Director of Recreation and Sports Tourism, David Thompson said FST is excited to be a part of a groundbreaking event.
“We love having the opportunity to grow sports,” Thompson said. “This is a perfect opportunity to spread lacrosse across the southeast by bringing together teams in a new way.”
For more information on the Battle by the Bay or any FST event visit our events page.
