Coach Robin Snyder’s Charles Henderson softball team is in Gulf Shores, but Monday was no day at the beach for the Trojans.

Charles Henderson played three games as part of the Gulf Coast Classic III softball tournament.

Charles Henderson lost to Cherokee County 11-2 and Grissom 5-2 in the morning games, but ended the day on a high note by knocking off Gadsden City 10-2.

“We played some good ball at times today,” said Snyder. “But at others we didn’t play well. We didn’t get the hits we needed, and got beat the first two. We played our best game by far in the last one. I guess we got better as the day went on.”

The tournament in Gulf Shores brings in teams from not only Alabama, but also across the nation.

Over 65 softball teams from as far away as New Jersey have converged on Gulf Shores to compete in the tournament this weekend.

Snyder said that it can be overwhelming to think about that number of teams competing at times, but the team has to just keep playing.

The tournament is different from most, as it features a pool play-single elimination format, instead of the traditional double elimination tournament commonly used.

The tournament style brings about more strategy from coaches, as they try to decide when and where to use their best pitchers.

“You don’t want to over use your better pitchers early,” said Snyder. “You want them to have their legs and arms ready to go when you get in to the single elimination part.”

Charles Henderson will play two more games on Tuesday morning before the single elimination stage begins.

The tournament is so large that four different complexes and 11 fields are being used throughout the Gulf Shores area.