As a 12-year-old, Cheri Kempf and her softball team claimed the 15-and-under national ASA championship during a trip to Texas. That experience ignited something in the St. Joseph native.

“That was my first taste of really dreaming about something,” Kempf said, “and then actually accomplishing it.”

She earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the tournament. More importantly, she went on to star at Mid-Buchanan and Missouri Western, where her Griffons team won the NAIA national championship. She played for the U.S. national team, winning the World Cup in 1992, coached at the Division I level, authored books on teaching the sport and opened her own private teaching facility in Nashville, Tenn.

And now her career includes work as a commentator and analyst on ESPN and other national networks as well as the leadership position of commissioner and president of the National pro Fastpitch Softball League.

That resume should dazzle a group of about 500 girls gathered in St. Joseph today to kick off the ASA Girls 14-and-under Class A Northern National tournament, which will be held at Heritage Park Softball Complex this week. The opening ceremonies, which begin at 6 p.m. at Civic Arena, feature Kempf and her story.

“I think there are so many opportunities today for young female athletes,” Kempf said. “They need to hear that and see that.

“I think sports overall can open doors because of everything it teaches young people: goal setting and discipline and self-confidence. That’s what I’ll talk about a lot to those girls.”

The other lesson is to simply take advantage of those doors as they present themselves.

“I know I had no idea that all these things would happen in my life,” Kempf said. “I kind of fell into coaching, then accidentally stumbled into private teaching. It wasn’t planned for me to go on television. I just got lucky.”

Communities should keep in mind the opportunities created by the sport, too, Kempf said.

“I think a lot of times that people don’t realize the impact that events like this have on a city in a positive way,” Kempf said. “There are just so many positives this type of event brings with it.”

The event is expected to inject about $600,000 into St. Joseph’s economy this week.

The tournament will include 42 teams from seven states, including from as far away as Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois. It will bring in at least 500 to 550 players, and the city expects 1,500 to 1,800 spectators.

There will be 126 games played during the tournament, with the possibility of a 127th.

“This is by far the biggest (softball) event we’ll have this year,” said Mike Halloran, senior recreation supervisor for the city parks department. “And if people can get away, they should think about coming out. This will be very high quality play. These kids are going to give 110 percent at this level.”

Weeklong tournament passes cost $20 for adults and $10 for children 5 to 12 and seniors over 60. One-day passes costs $7 for adults and $4 for children and seniors. Children under 5 are free.