Redefining the Softball Tournament Experience
At Connect Sports, our fastpitch softball tournaments and showcases are guided by one belief: sports can change lives.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to promote, encourage, uplift, and celebrate women in every stage of life. We are not just organizing softball tournaments, we are building opportunities, shaping leaders, and fostering a community that lasts far beyond the field.
The Story Behind Our Mission
Since 2005, Connect Sports has cultivated a one-of-a-kind event operating company. Founded by Jill and Jeremy Higdon, we started with just two events that hosted around 95 teams. Now celebrating our 20th anniversary, Connect Sports has established itself as one of the premier travel softball tournament operators in the country. In 2024 alone, we hosted 12 events with over 1,200 teams and 16,800 participants in attendance. Participants came from 39 states - plus Canada! - to play in our events. But our true origins date back even further as there is so much of Jill’s late mother, Karen Crawford, in Connect Sports’ history.
A Family Ahead of its Time
Karen lived in a world where women didn’t belong - on the field, in the conference room - anywhere, really. But that wasn’t good enough for Karen, and that certainly wasn’t an environment she wanted to raise her daughter (Jill) in. So what did Karen do? She created her own path, and pulled up her own seat at the table - usually sporting purple accents in both her attire and accessories - in a world heavily dominated by men.
When Jill met Jeremy, his vision aligned perfectly with hers (and Karen’s): get women a seat at the table. Jeremy was raised by a Mom and aunt who also believed that women belonged in all spaces. Jeremy’s father worked for the City of Chattanooga where he was heavily involved in parks and recreation, so naturally Jeremy grew up around ballfields and found a love for the game early on in his childhood. From the jump, Jill and Jeremy connected.
Karen, Jill, Jeremy, and his Mom and aunt all believed having women in the room - making decisions, and executing at a high level - was a non-negotiable. The rest is history.
Turning Fastpitch Softball Tournaments into Platforms for Leadership, Confidence, and Lifelong Opportunity
As Jill and Jeremy’s relationship grew, so did their impact on the community. Through high school, travel ball, or any other interaction, they wanted to leave girls with the lasting impression that they belonged - in whatever place mattered to them.
In their early days, a parent mentioned to Jill and Jeremy that they needed to get one of their star players “in front of college coaches,” but there were minimal opportunities to do that in their area at the time. So Jill and Jeremy put their heads and resources together. Not only did that player get seen and play college softball, she went on to become Connect Sports’ COO.
We Inspire and Empower Women at Every Stage
The Higdon’s have made it a point to invite former players back to work with Connect Sports. It’s their way of providing opportunity - and a seat at the table - in an industry so many are passionate about. When players transition to college, we extend opportunities to bring them back as event staff during breaks. These roles offer flexible income, professional skills, and mentorship on life topics like career options, grad school, and financial readiness.
Makayla Packer, Auburn softball alum, shared about her experience coming back to work with Connect Sports, “Working Scenic City has been an incredible experience. It's a lot of fun and filled with strong, supportive women who lift each other up without ever dimming anyone’s light. Being part of these tournaments never feels like work; it’s more like a big family reunion where everyone’s rooting for each other, watching little girls achieve their goals.”
Our mission is the core of who we are. From every tournament to the relationships built through our programs, Connect Sports exists to ensure that women are seen, heard, and celebrated - just like Karen envisioned. Over 80% of our core staff are young women, and their voices matter. And you might notice our company’s colors, too (hint: purple!) - that’s another ode to Karen Crawford. We built and strive daily to maintain a culture of inclusion, work/life balance, and leadership development — because representation at every level matters, and that’s what Karen wanted in this world. Cultivating these experiences year-after-year are not defined by the scoreboard. They are defined by the confidence, community, and opportunities that last long after the lights turn off at the fields.
See How Our Mission Comes to Life at Scenic City Summer, One of the Nation’s Ultimate Fastpitch Softball Tournaments