No Sunday scores yet (watch this space), but we do have this link to some photos from the 25th Kelso Klassic, courtesy of the Southeast Missourian.
Decatur Pride defeats Nokomis Bud Light 8-0 June 14 in the Kelso Klassic fast pitch softball tournament at Kelso, Mo.
And, after the jump, a nice preview story from the Du Quoin Evening Call
Du Quoin Evening Call
Fri Jun 12, 2009
Kelso, Mo. –
One of the major highlights in men’s fastpitch softball takes place this weekend in Southeast Missouri.
The 25th anniversary Kelso Klassic, a 14-team event featuring squads from three states, will be held Friday through Sunday on two fields at the Kelso City Park.
Admission is $2 for adults while children ages 12 and under are admitted free.
Kelso, a town of barely 500 residents, is located seven miles south of Cape Girardeau.
“This event has become an early summer tradition for area fastpitch fans to see some of the top teams in the midwest,” assistant tournament director Rick Heuring said.
“I expect another outstanding tournament. If the weather is warm and sunny and it doesn’t rain, we should have great crowds.”
This year’s tournament carries sanctioning by the International Softball Congress (ISC) and offers berths to the ISC World Series and ISC II World Series, scheduled for mid-August in Moline, Il.
Two Southern Illinois teams are again entered the event, while a third rejoins the field after a one-year hiatus.
2005 champion Pinckneyville KC/Lee’s Sports Falcons joins Mascoutah’s Pete’s Blues and Elkville Fastpitch in the event, which also includes six other Illinois entries.
Defending champion Vandalia Guaranteed Air Freight, Nokomis Bud Light and Log Cabin Inn of Villa Grove also represent the Land of Lincoln, along with defending Illinois ASA State Class B champion and NAFA World Series winner Belleville Stallions. Altamont Home Center, a fast-riser in Illinois fastpitch, has entered for the second time.
A new entry will be the revamped Decatur Pride.
Longtime Kelso Klassic mainstay Black&Gold Fastpitch from Hermann, Mo., highly competitive hometown squad and tournament host Kelso Fastpitch and Oklahoma Seminole SuperChief from Anadarko, Ok. complete the field
Following the three-game guarantee NAFA bracket, the Klassic begins at 8 p.m. Friday. Action concludes late Sunday afternoon.
Lee’s Sports features an impressive line-up of hitters (led by Du Quoin’s Eric Saunders and Haven Hicks of Pinckneyville) along with the pitching of Mark Radake (Tamaroa), Lyle Winter (Pinckneyville) and Jon Kiselewski (Waltonville).
Pete’s Blues banks on the talented pitching trio of Barry Dalmasso (Mt. Vernon), Ron Ames and Jason Iuli. Top hitters include brothers Steve and Danny Linton from Energy and Daniel Alstat (Vergennes).
Elkville Fastpitch returns with pitching ace Les Wood (Royalton) and an offense led by Du Quoin’s Chad Reams and Aaron Hunter.
“The teams from Illinois have really been good to this tournament over the years. They are the backbone of this tournament right now,” admitted Heuring. “It gets harder and harder every year to find teams. The number of midwest teams are declining, but the interest in this tournament continues to stay pretty high.”
Rosters submitted prior to the tournament include neara a dozen Illinois, Missouri-Metro St. Louis. and/or ASA National Hall of Fame members expecting to suit up for the weekend.
Among those listed are Terry Luster, Murphysboro’s Rich Tillit, Boomer Brush Tim Bryan, Mike Hopkins, and Bobby Smith of the St. Louis Invaders; Rick Minton, David Boys, Paul Carlton, Larry Moffett, Brent Stevenson and David Scott from Decatur Pride
Lee’s Sports opens at 9:30 p.m. Friday against Altamont Home Center.
The 8 p.m. main diamond game, following first-night and 25th year ceremonies features Kelso Fastpitch against Decatur Pride.
Elkville and Belleville Stallions also play at 8 o’clock Friday on diamond #2.
Pete’s Blues—as 2008 runner-up—drew a bye and awaits the Stallions vs. Elkville winner Saturday morning.
“As long as we don’t hear that nasty four letter word this weekend (R-A-I-N) I think we’ll have another good tournament, “ Heuring said. “As far as the rain goes, we’ve seemed to deal with that for the last 24 years.”
PROUD LOCAL HISTORY
At least one team from Southern Illinois has been part of Kelso’s field every year since the Klassic began in 1985.
Past champions include Pinckneyville Celtics (1986, 1987, 1995) and Radom Lee Sports (2005) with the Celtics notching runner-up efforts in 1985 and 1993).
Lee’s Sports took third place once (2001) and Pinckneyville’s Dawgs were second in 2008. Elkville Fastpitch, an entrant since the mid-1990’s, shared fifth place in 2007 as its highest finish.
Local players dot the all-time record book at Kelso.
Legendary Pinckneyville Celtics pitcher Bob Keith ranked fourth in career Kelso wins entering the 2009 event.
He also was second in shutouts, fifth with 222 strikeouts while pitching 178 innings. Keith twice won five games in a single tourney at Kelso (1987 and 1993).
Tillitt, Pinckneyville Celtics teammate Shane Winter, Wood and Dalmasso are also in the top-20 of all-time pitching wins.
Kevin Hicks and Gene Dickerson—like Keith ASA Hall of Famers and former Celtic Matt Mason—rank among the leaders in games played, hits, RBI and home runs.
Du Quoin’s Tim Davis, playing for then Elkville Ray’s Auto Body in 1994, still shares the single tournament record for triples with three.
Clay McDonnough of KC/Lee’s Sports is one of three batters to have a five-hit game at Kelso.