The Commission is adding a $4,000 cash prize to be split between the four different divisions at the tournament: Men Bronze, Men Silver, Men Gold and Women's Open. This is the first time the Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament will be giving out cash prizes. They've given out prizes like T-Shirts and watermelons in the past.

The board made this decision to compete with El Dorado's softball tournament "the Rind," who also offers cash prizes and where some former Hope Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament teams are starting to move to. El Dorado offers $3,000.

Both El Dorado and Hope's softball tournaments have a $300 entry fee. As of Tuesday evening, the Hope Watermelon Festival has 49 teams entered.

The tournament will take place Friday, Aug. 6 through Sunday, Aug. 8.