The annual Governor’s Cup is not for another month, but the Independence Day weekend at Halls Ferry Park will have that feel when 47 softball teams descend on the city for the United States Fast-pitch Association State Tournament.

Games will begin on Friday using the two softball fields at Bazinsky Park, the lower field at Halls Ferry Park and three fields usually used for baseball at Halls Ferry.

For the baseball fields, the pitcher’s mounds will be flattened to make it more like a softball field and following the tournament the mounds will be built up again for the two weekends of the Governor’s Cup, scheduled for the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August.

Last year, 97 teams participated in the two Governor’s Cup weekends and with the 47 softball teams, it will have a feel of a third Governor’s Cup.

Jeff Strode, Eastern Regional director for the USFA, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Six separate age groups will be competing from an 8-under team to an 18-under team and the teams will be from the Gulf Coast to Southaven. Vicksburg will field teams in the 8-under and 16-under divisions.

The 8-under Vicksbrug Vipers were the only team listed in the 8-under group on the USFA Web site.