Tournament of Champions Summer Baseball Showcase Preview

ST. CHARLES—One of the Midwest’s best summer baseball showcases has arrived in the St. Charles area, as Diamond Sports Promotions brings its Tournament of Champions event to Blanchette Park, St. Charles West High, and Lindenwood University’s Lou Brock Sports Complex for games here Thursday through Sunday.

Officially, 11 teams entered this event, with a guarantee of getting at least four pool play games before the tourney semifinals and championship games that are scheduled for Sunday at Blanchette Park.

Among the teams scheduled to appear are several of the region’s best summer baseball clubs, including one of Illinois’ best summer teams, the Bloomington-Normal Baseball Association (BNBA) Gold squad.

Also appearing from around the region are the Midwest Chiefs, Sticks Baseball Club, the Missouri Bucks, and the Quad City Hitmen.

Among the local teams committed to play this weekend are the St. Louis Gamers, a squad that annually is one of St. Louis area’s best summer baseball teams.

The 2011 Gamers varsity roster features players from at least 12 different area high schools, and each player has accepted college athletic scholarships for next season, according to the Gamers’ web site.

Other teams from the area include: Missouri Elite, a talented team made up of players from Wentzville and O’Fallon; the Rawlings Tigers 17-under team, whose players come from West County and all areas of South County; the Kirkwood Tigers 17-under team, and the St. Charles Post #312 and North Knights American Legion teams.

Pool play began on Thursday at all three St. Charles area locations. Here’s the full weekend game schedule: 

Thursday, June 16

At Blanchette Park

11:30 a.m. – Missouri Elite 0 vs. Kirkwood Tigers 2

1:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks 6 vs. St. Charles Legion 0

At Lindenwood University

5:00 p.m. – Rawlings Tigers vs. Midwest Chiefs

7:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks vs. St. Louis Gamers

Friday, June 17

At Blanchette Park

10:00 a.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. BNBA Gold

12:30 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. BNBA Gold

3:00 p.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. Rawlings Tigers

5:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks vs. Rawlings Tigers

At St. Charles West

11:30 a.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. Kirkwood Tigers

2:00 p.m. – Missouri Elite vs. Sticks Baseball Club

4:30 p.m. – Missouri Elite vs. Midwest Chiefs

At Lindenwood University

5:00 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. Quad City Hitmen

7:30 p.m. – Kirkwood Tigers vs. Quad City Hitmen

Saturday, June 18

At Blanchette Park

10:00 a.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. Midwest Chiefs

12:30 p.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. BNBA Gold

At St. Charles West

12:30 p.m. – Midwest Chiefs vs. Quad City Hitmen

3:00 p.m. – Missouri Bucks vs. Quad City Hitmen

5:30 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. Rawlings Tigers

At Lindenwood University

5:00 p.m. – Kirkwood Tigers vs. BNBA Gold

7:30 p.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. Missouri Elite

Sunday, June 19

At Blanchette Park

9:30 a.m. – Semifinal #1 – No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed

12 Noon – Semifinal #2 – No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed

2:45 p.m. – Championship Game