BENTON HOSTING GIRLS BABE RUTH REGIONAL

After hosting last year's Girls Babe Ruth National Tournament, Benton will play host to the Midwest Plains Regional this weekend.

Winners in the two age groups competing in the regional starting today advance to the national tournament held in Huma, La. Four teams will be competing in each of two age groups -- 13-15 year-olds and 12-and-under.

Benton will provide two of the teams in each age group -- four total -- after the two Heartland National All-Star teams won state titles in Warsaw this past weekend. Benton's Heartland All-Stars also received spots in the tourney field as hosts of the regional.

Two other teams from Colorado will fill out each respective double-elimination tournament bracket.

Opening ceremonies at Benton Ballpark start today at 11 a.m. The first game begins today at 1 p.m., and continue until 8 p.m.

Play continues all day Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. The championship finals are slated for Sunday. The 12-and-under title game will be at 10 a.m., with the 13-15 year-old final following at noon.

Benton's 12-and-under squad is the defending national champion. The 13-15 year-olds, shooting for their fifth straight trip to nationals, finished in fifth-place nationally.