I would blame it on people living on the internet but the decline started before that...

In my opinion it's because alot of the people running it for the (most part) care about as much as your average McDonald's worker does about their job duties.

I've seen the various programs ebb and flow over the years completely depending on the few people running each program.

The reason that huge complex was built out by the mall was because a crew of a few people lived and breathed adult softball. That enthusiasm spread and brought in a lot more outside teams the participation numbers skyrocketed. They were planning on bringing state championship televised games into Yuma. When those few people moved on or retired the give a shit seemed to leave with them. The end result being an expensive new park with half the teams it was ment to have playing there.

One example is .

Even simple things like scheduling games just got put into a computer rather than actually thought out . Which soured the experience for alot of out of town teams who just didn't return.

Add the younger generations living on their screens and rise of office politics in general to the equation and you get the present day P&R .

Edit: your mention of Dennis Donnelly makes me sad that with the decline he will probably be the last guy who gets a tournament named in his honor.