Kennett, Dunklin Co. baseball teams set to begin play in 16-team Fighting Squirrel Classic Thursday

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Dunklin County coach Jamie Johnson (left) and Charleston coach Michael Minner (right) talk baseball at Sunday's Dunklin County-Charleston doubleheader. Dunklin County Legion, Kennett Senior Babe Ruth and Charleston Senior Babe Ruth are among the 16 teams competing in this weekend's 16-team tournament at Charleston and Notre Dame.

The eight teams in the top half of the bracket will play its games at Hillhouse Park Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The eight teams in the bottom half of the bracket will play its games at Notre Dame Regional High School Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Teams advancing to the fifth-place championship, third-place championship and championship in the bottom half of the bracket will play at Hillhouse Park in Charleston Sunday. The consolation championship will be at Notre Dame Saturday night.

A bracket for the tournament is available here Bracket

"We've got 16 teams coming and 28 games that are going to take place," Charleston coach and tournament director Michael Minner said. "There will be 15 games at Charleston and 13 games at Notre Dame. We will play all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday and then on Sunday the finals will be at Charleston. We've got a good core of new teams mixed in with some local teams. Hillhouse Park and Notre Dame High School are two of the nicest facilities in the state and we hope for a good weekend."

Kennett Senior Babe Ruth will play its first game Thursday at noon against Sikeston Legion.

"We've got our pitching set up for the [Charleston Fighting Squirrels] tournament," Kennett coach Aaron New said after suffering two run-rule losses to Poplar Bluff Monday. "We didn't use some of our top of the line guys tonight because we were trying to get through. Some of our younger kids just weren't able to throw strikes tonight. Hopefully our pitching is still set up for this weekend and maybe it will get some to realize 'Hey, I've got to throw strikes'."

Dunklin County will play its first game Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against Mayfield, Ky., Legion.

"It's a big tournament for us," Dunklin County coach Jamie Johnson said. "It's early and Mayfield always has a quality program. We will have to come ready to play. We are looking forward to it and we are just going to take it one day at a time."

Dunklin County and Kennett will play all of its games in Charleston Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Dunklin County and Kennett will play each other Friday if they both win or both lose Thursday. Dunklin County and Kennett do not schedule each other in the regular season.

Other teams competing in the tournament are Springfield-Glendale Legion; Poplar Bluff Senior Babe Ruth; Calvert City, Ky., Legion; Charleston Senior Babe Ruth; Missouri Bulls 16's; Park Hills Legion; Cape Girardeau Legion; New Bloomfield Legion; Elsberry Legion; Park Hills Senior Babe Ruth; Jackson Senior Babe Ruth and Missouri Bulls 15's.

"We are looking forward to it," Dunklin County slugger Dustin Spencer said. "We've got a young team that has to continue to get better and make defensive plays."

Admission for the tournament will be $6 per day. Fans may also get a weekend pass that is good for all four days for $10.

"We invite everyone out," Minner said. "Come out and have some BBQ and watch some good baseball. This is always one of the things we look forward to at the beginning of the summer. We are sure proud of our park and facility, plus it is one of those things that helps fund our program.

"It takes a great deal of work to make it a success," Minner continued. "The reason our program has been successful is because we have people support it. Nobody will ever accuse me of being lazy. I bust my tail to try to put on a first-class operation and when we get a chance to show off our facility and kids we are sure proud to do that."