Hostory of THE Spring Games

In the world of women’s collegiate athletics, few events rival the scale, impact, and heart of THE Spring Games (TSG). Held annually in Central Florida, TSG has evolved into the largest college softball event in the world, drawing over 300 teams from all collegiate levels and energizing the local economy with tens of millions in revenue. But its origins trace back over half a century to a bold dream, a dusty ballpark, and a relentless pioneer named Marge Ricker.

The Rebel Spark: A Legacy Begins

In 1954, Marge Ricker founded the Orlando Rebels, a women’s fastpitch softball team that would become a national powerhouse. Under her leadership, the Rebels compiled thousands of victories, competed against the best in the country, and hosted teams from across the U.S. Their story is immortalized in relics like the 1969 souvenir program, which documents their dominance, including multiple regional titles, appearances in national tournaments, and even an undefeated winter season against the legendary Half Century Men’s Club.

By the 1980s, Ricker had built not just a team, but a movement. Her efforts brought about the Rebel Games, a spring competition series that started with a handful of college teams and grew to host over 375 games for 74 schools by 1987. It was fastpitch softball on an unprecedented scale.

But with the demolition of C.L. Varner Stadium—the Rebels’ iconic home and the first softball-specific stadium in America—and Ricker’s eventual retirement, the future of elite women’s softball in Orlando was uncertain.

Dot Richardson: Carrying the Torch and Lighting New Paths

Among the many talents developed under Ricker’s eye was a teenage shortstop named Dot Richardson. At just 10 years old, she was already playing on adult teams. By 13, she was getting hits off Hall of Fame pitchers. By 18, she was playing internationally for Team USA.

Richardson’s softball resume reads like folklore: four national championships with UCLA, two Olympic gold medals, and MVP awards across the globe. Yet perhaps most remarkably, she earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology, became an orthopedic surgeon, and balanced her medical career while continuing to play and coach.

In 2007, after Ricker had sold the Rebel Games, Richardson—then working in Clermont—saw an opportunity to rekindle the spirit of those pioneering tournaments. With the construction of Legends Way Ballfields, she launched THE Spring Games, initially focusing on Division III teams seeking quality competition during spring break.

Enter Alison Strange: Vision, Growth, and Advocacy

What began as a grassroots effort with 48 teams in 2008 exploded into a juggernaut under the management of Alison Strange, Richardson’s niece and a force in her own right. A standout softball athlete at Stetson, Strange went on to earn a law degree and MBA, ultimately becoming President of PFX Athletics, the nonprofit that hosts TSG.

Strange has not only overseen the tournament’s exponential growth—now spanning over 1800 games across 6venues—but also embedded a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and family-centered competition. Under her leadership, TSG offers:

- Family passes for coaches’ relatives
- Female umpire representation at every Division game
- Customized team scheduling based on competitiveness and coach preferences


Economic Engine and Empowerment Hub

TSG isn’t just a tournament; it’s a transformative economic driver. According to Strange, the event brings over $42 million annually to Central Florida, drawing around 40,500 attendees each year. Local hotels, restaurants, and shops all thrive during the two-month spectacle, proving that investment in women’s sports is not just socially responsible—it’s economically smart.

More than that, THE Spring Games serves as an incubator for female leadership, from former athletes turned umpires to businesswomen balancing sport and family. TSG's inclusive model showcases a modern reality: that women don’t need to choose between motherhood, career, and competition. They can thrive in all.

Full Circle: From Marge to the Masses

The story of THE Spring Games is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless vision. It was Marge Ricker who gave Orlando—and America—its first glimpse of what elite women’s fastpitch could be. It was Dot Richardson who proved on the world stage that a girl from Union Park could become an Olympic icon. And it is Alison Strange who now steers the ship into the future, expanding opportunity and changing perceptions one game at a time.

What started with a handful of teams in a dirt field has become a cultural and economic institution. And yet, the heart of THE Spring Games still beats with the same pulse: giving women and girls the chance to chase a dream.