Published: August 23, 2008 10:50 pm            

Softball Scene: Saline City tourney changes format

The Saline City Labor Day Invitational, one of the area’s longest running softball tournaments, is now taking teams. Tournament director Ryan Persinger noted that a change of format has been scheduled for this year’s tourney. Saturday and Sunday, a co-ed tourney has been scheduled, with a men’s round robin finishing out the weekend Monday.

When asked how long the tourney has been held, nobody seems to able to come up with an answer. I seem to remember playing in the tourney in the 1980s. I also recall the tourney director for a number of years was Clay City’s J.R. Cooprider.

The tourney is part of Saline City’s Labor Day festivities and enjoys great community support. I would urge all interested parties to stop in and join the fun.

The 2007 tourney champions was the DeHart’s Rental co-ed squad.

Teams wishing to participate can contact Persinger at (812) 605-9443.

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In tourney action this past weekend, the Copper Bar team traveled to Indianapolis for the NSA MSP Class “E” state tournament. Unfortunately, the Copper Bar team’s first opponent was the eventual tourney champion, Psycho Asylum. Dropping a tough 8-7 opening round game to Psycho Asylum, Copper Bar proceeded to their second game and were eliminated from tourney play.

I might note an error in last week’s column. In reporting the results from NSA MSP Class “C” state finals, I failed to credit DeHart’s Rentals with a 34-18 win over Pay Source. As a result, DeHart’s Rentals finished with a 1-2 tourney mark, not the 0-2 as reported.

DeHart’s Rentals, as well as the Clabber Girl squad, are scheduled to participate in the NSA MSP Class “C” regional tourney in Indianapolis this weekend. Local players on the DeHart’s Rentals squad include Josh Hall, Ryan DeHart, Chris DeHart, Jeff Biggs and Eric Barnaby.

The tourney field includes Indiana state champion Brady’s as well as Illinois champion Precision.

Both the first place tourney winner and runner-up will earn berths to the NSA Super World Series being hosted in St. Louis on Oct. 3-5.

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For those interested in an ongoing debate over the merits of different softball organizing bodies, I would suggest going indianasoftball.com. Once there, click on Indiana Softball and check out ASA vs. NSA. You’ll find a very good discussion of the merits of both the American Softball Association and National Softball Association.

• • •

For those interested, I would like to put to rest a rumor that has been floating around lately. Larry Wilson, program director at the local Wabash Valley Sports facility is not leaving. With 31 years on the job, Larry has been invaluable in promoting youth and adult sports on the local sporting scene.

Hang in there Larry.

• • •

On a more somber note, I would like to extend sympathies to the friends and family of Dave Norris. Dave, a former softball player with the Western Star team, passed away unexpectedly last week. To friends and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you

See ya at the park.



John Benton can be reached by phone at (812) 877-2566.

        

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