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WELCOME!

On behalf of the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League, we invite you to Minneapolis and St. Paul for the North Star Classic held over Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd & 24th, 2026. 

Last year we welcomed 57 teams from 12 states! This year, we are excited to host 5 divisions including: C, D, E, Legends C and Legends D. We have a five-game guarantee tournament with 3 pool play games and a double elimination bracket format. 

The 2026 North Star Classic Softball tournament will use 2025 iPride Softball guidelines for team and player rating caps*.

iPride Softball

• C Division: All teams rated 130 or lower; no players rated above a 14.
• D Division: All teams rated 95 or lower; no players rated above a 10.
• E Division: All teams rated 60 or lower; no players rated above an 6.
• Legends C:  All teams rated 130 or lower; no players rated above a 14. Players must be 50 or older, or turn 50 in 2025. 
• Legends D: All teams rated 95 or lower; no players rated above a 10. Players must be 50 or older, or turn 50 in 2025.

*Final division breakdown and team assignments are at the discretion of the tournament committee based on the number of teams registered and to create parity where possible.

We will use the 2025 ratings that your league has submitted to iPride or ASANA when verifying rosters. 

No payment is required to submit your registration! Select “Pay Offline” and you can complete your registration in minutes! Just make sure we receive your check by mail or Venmo by April 30th.

How to Pay Offline:

If you would like to pay today, you can pay using your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or checking account information.

All North Star Classic games are conveniently located in Eagan, MN, at two separate field complexes. Each complex is only a 25-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis, and only a 3-minute drive between complexes. Visit the Fields page for more information.

I’m thrilled to introduce the 2026 North Star Classic Leadership Team! 

• Ani Ryan Koch (they/them) - Volunteer Lead
• Jeff Johnson (he/him) - Events Lead
• Brandon Kluver (he/him) Logistics Lead
• Ashley Lang (she/her) Concessions Lead

Welcome to the team! Looking forward to making 2026 our best North Star Classic yet!

-Jonathan Welch, Tournament Director

The Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Welch (he/him) as the Tournament Director for the 2026 North Star Classic. Jonathan has been a respected member of TCGSL for 14 seasons, and this marks his third year directing the tournament.

During his tenure as Tournament Director, Jonathan has transformed the North Star Classic into a more collaborative, efficient, and engaging experience for all involved. By building a strong leadership team and streamlining operations through centralized planning tools, he’s fostered accountability and improved execution. His commitment to continuous improvement through structured feedback loops and lessons learned sessions has helped the tournament evolve year after year. Jonathan’s thoughtful leadership continues to shape the North Star Classic into one of the most memorable and well-organized tournaments in the region.

Jonathan has managed the Twin Cities Base Invaders since 2021, after first organizing a pickup E-division team that went on to finish 2nd at the Gay Softball World Series in Columbus, Ohio. He has since guided the Base Invaders into a consistent and competitive presence in the D division. He’s also a committed tournament enthusiast who enjoys combining softball with travel, with experience at the Gay Softball World Series in Kansas City, Tampa, Columbus, the Twin Cities, and Houston, as well as regional tournaments in cities such as Denver, Las Vegas, Madison, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Sioux Falls, and New York.

All photos courtesy of Larry Barthel, volunteer photographer - Thank you Larry!

Support the tournament you love by becoming a volunteer for the planning committee, or field/concession operations roles.

Learn more about how to get involved.