From the Du Quoin Evening Call:
By Jeff Profitt/American News Service
The 10th Annual Terry Deering Memorial Fastpitch Tournament starts this week at two locations and runs through Sunday.
Eight teams are entered in the affair, which returns to a pool-play format after using the standard double-elimination bracket in 2006.
Started in 1998, the tournament honors late Illinois lawmaker and former fastpitch standout Terry Deering.
The Du Bois native was a longtime player and supporter of the game.
Southern Illinois Fastpitch League (SIFL) members Pete’s Blues/Alstat Firewood and Lumber (Belleville), Elkville Fastpitch, Makanda’s Davis Auto Center, Kuhnert Builders/Little Muddy (Elkville) and Scheller (Bauza Landscaping) make up over half the field.
From Central Illinois, Villa Grove (Log Cabin Inn) and Springfield’s Franny’s Ole Irish Pub are entered with Belleville Stallions from the metro east.
Wednesday night at 7:15, Scheller and Kuhnert Builders play at 7:15 in Elkville as part of the SIFL.
The first game of the scheduled twinbill will also count towards the Terry Deering standings.
Elkville and Davis Auto kick play off at the Radom Village Park Thursday night (8 p.m.) and are joined in Pool B play by Villa Grove and Pete’s Blues.
Scheller, Kuhnert Builders, Franny’s Tavern and Belleville Stallions are in Pool B.
Friday, Pete’s Blues and Davis Auto play at 6:30 with Stallions and Kuhnert Builders (8:30) and Elkville vs. Pete’s Blues also scheduled.
Saturday’s action starts at 9 a.m. and will include seven games.
On Sunday, the top four teams in pool play return for the semifinal and championship games.
The finals are slated to begin around 2 o’clock Sunday.
Lee’s Sports Falcons of Radom host the tournament, but do not enter and use the event as a fundraiser.
Pete’s Blues won the tournament last year, defeating DeKalb’s Hustle Hogs in the finals.
POOL A-Elkville, Il. Fastpitch; Makanda, Il. Davis Auto Center; Mascoutah, Il. PK Broward Blues; Log Cabin Inn, Villa Grove, Il.
POOL B-Belleville, Il. Stallions; Elkville, Il. Kuhnert Builders/Little Muddy Fastpitch; Springfield, Il. Franny’s Ole Irish Pub; Scheller, Il. (Bauza Landscaping)
Wednesday, June 13
At Elkville: Scheller vs. Kuhnert Builders, 7:15
Thursday, June 14
At Radom: Elkville vs. Makanda, 8 p.m.
Friday, June 15
Pete’s Blues vs. Makanda, 6:30
Stallions vs. Kuhnert Builders, 8:00
Elkville vs. Pete’s Blues, 9:30
Saturday, June 16
Log Cabin vs. Makanda, 9 a.m.
Log Cabin vs. Elkville, 10:45 a.m.
Franny’s vs. Scheller, 12:30 p.m.
Log Cabin vs. Pete’s, 2:15
Stallions vs. Scheller, 4:00
Franny’s vs. Kuhnert Builders, 5:45
Stallions vs. Franny’s, 7:30
Sunday, June 17
Pool A # 2 vs. Pool B #1, 10 a.m.
Pool A #1 vs. Pool B #2, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.