Our tournament

The Ice Cream
Classic

The Pistols' own Memorial Day weekend tournament for 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U, at the B and C levels, played on grass in Park Ridge. Seventeen years and counting, with the Lassa Memorial Home Run Derby on Saturday evening.

Tournament page Ask about entry

Why it's called that

Played in memory of Paige Dougherty

The Ice Cream Classic is held each Memorial Day weekend in honor of Paige Dougherty, a Pistols player we lost far too young in 2009.

Paige came up through the Park Ridge house program and played varsity softball at Maine South. The tournament's name and logo were designed to reflect two things she loved, softball and ice cream, and carry her uniform number, 34.

It's a competitive weekend of ball. It's also a weekend meant to be enjoyed: play hard, sit in a Park Ridge park between games, and get ice cream. That was the idea from the beginning, and it hasn't changed.

Pistols players together in the bleachers on opening night — Opening night, 2023.

The details

Tournament at a glance

When

Memorial Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, every May.

Divisions

8U, 10U, 12U and 14U, at the B and C levels.

Format

Four-game guarantee, played on grass fields in Park Ridge.

Saturday night

The Lassa Memorial Home Run Derby, a fundraiser for the family of a longtime Pistols manager.

Entry fee, exact dates, and the current rule set are posted on the tournament page each spring. The 2026 edition was the 17th annual; entry was $600 per team in recent years. See this year's details →

Saturday evening

The Lassa Memorial Home Run Derby

Every year, on the Saturday evening of the Ice Cream Classic, we hold the Lassa Memorial Home Run Derby.

Jon Lassa passed away unexpectedly in August 2024. He was the manager of our 14U Blue Pistols from the day the team formed, and he generously donated his time by coaching for over 20 seasons in the Park Ridge softball and baseball organization.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Jon as a colleague and a friend will tell you that no one cared more for his family or his team. He was the perfect blend of warm and compassionate, while also being principled, strong and fair.

Funds raised go directly to Jon's family: his wife Liz, his sons Jon Luke and Jayce, and his daughter Juliet.

A Pistols batting helmet and softball resting on a base

Donate to Jon's family

If you aren't able to take part in the derby but would still like to donate, you can do so directly on that page.

For visiting teams

What to expect

Park Ridge sits fifteen miles northwest of downtown Chicago and a short drive from O'Hare, so travel in is straightforward. Fields are grass, the parks around them are good places to wait out a gap between games, and the town has more than one place to get a cone.

Pool play runs Friday and Saturday with bracket play Sunday, in line with how most weekend tournaments in the area are structured.

Entering a team

How to register

Registration for 2027 is not open yet. It opens in September 2026. Spots fill on a first-come basis, and details and the entry link are posted on the Park Ridge Baseball & Softball tournament page when registration goes live.

Questions in the meantime? Email prpistolstravel@gmail.com.

Tournament page Email us

The Ice CreamClassic