The Scenic City League is stepping into a new era, and Michelle LaCourse wants softball players across the country to know that Chattanooga’s door is wide open for the summer of 2027.
The circuit formerly known as the Scenic City Collegiate League has dropped “Collegiate” from its name and struck out on its own, no longer operating under the American Collegiate League banner. For LaCourse and her partner, Tommy Santiago, the shift is about ownership, growth and building something that belongs to Chattanooga.
“After a lot of talks with my family and prayer, just trying to make sure that this is the best move,” LaCourse said of her decision to return.
The commitment was not a small one, but the pull of the community made the choice clear.
“The Chattanooga community is huge to me, and I love it, and I think that all the encouragement from those in the community, those that I’ve talked to, have really been encouraging that this is something that my family and I should continue to pursue,” LaCourse said.
The league is coming off its fullest summer yet, fielding four teams and drawing more athletes than in any previous season. LaCourse and Santiago hope to build on that momentum without overreaching.
“We had four teams this year. We’d love to expand to five or six in the coming season,” LaCourse said. “So not crazy overexpansion, just something where the players get more out of seeing different pitching, different competition.”
Part of the pitch is what Chattanooga offers once players set down their bats. Athletes spend roughly 30 days in the area and can pack in as many as 25 games, but the off days sell themselves. Players this past summer hit the hiking trails, spent time on the water and even tracked down one of the city’s quirkier draws, a farm where they could sip coffee alongside the goats.
“If you’re bored in Chattanooga, if you go hungry in Chattanooga, you’re doing it wrong, because there’s just so many things to see, so many places to go, so many awesome places to experience just around,” LaCourse said.
That blend of competition and community has pulled players from every corner of the map. West Coast athletes made the trip east this past summer, and some found more than just reps. Riley Peschek landed at Seattle U, while Allison Stanley settled in at nearby Bryan College, roughly 20 minutes up the road from where the league plays.
Coaching is a selling point of its own. Joe Guthrie, who guided Northeast Alabama to a junior college national title, has become a driving force in the league, and LaCourse said his impact reaches well beyond his own roster.
“It is everybody as a collective trying to help each other, trying to get each other to whatever next level they’re trying to get to,” LaCourse said.
LaCourse is also quick to clear up one misconception: the Scenic City League is not a portal shop. Most players who come through are not even in the transfer portal, she said, and those who are simply want a place to log quality work and get seen.
“I think that this league really offers that opportunity where you’re able to come in and get the quality reps,” LaCourse said.
The results speak for themselves. Ally Supan, a Power Four player from Mississippi State, came to sharpen her game, and Olivia Thornton, now at USF, is among those who parlayed their time in Chattanooga into a next step. Between seven and 10 athletes returned from the previous season, a mark LaCourse said reflects how much the players value the experience.
For those ready to commit, the application window is open now at sceniccityleague.com, with feature stories on past participants already live on the site. Players can submit a form directly to Santiago, who will follow up on next steps as the summer approaches.
For players chasing reps, a new home or simply their joy for the game, Chattanooga is ready to make its case. Applications are now open!
