Blues seeking third straight title

A team from Mascoutah, Ill., will look for an unprecedented Kelso Klassic three-peat this weekend.

Pete's Blues is the two-time defending champion entering the 29th annual men's fastpitch softball tournament that begins Friday.

Only one other team has won two straight titles -- the Pinckneysville (Ill.) Celtics in 1966 and 1967 -- and no squad has ever captured three consecutive crowns.

"It would be a very impressive accomplishment if they can pull it off," Kelso Klassic media coordinator Jerry Wolsey said. "They'll have a strong team. They're one of the favorites but it won't be easy for them. There's going to be some really good competition."

The popular 14-team event, a staple of the community and its surrounding area for nearly three decades, will be held on two fields at Kelso City Park.

There will be four games Friday, two at 8 p.m. and two at 9:30 p.m. Host Kelso Fastpitch, the only local squad in the field this year, plays Wessel's Coors Light from Teutopolis, Ill., at 8 p.m.,

Action on Saturday begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs well into the night. The tournament concludes Sunday with games starting at 9 a.m. and culminating with the 3 p.m. championship. An if-necessary title contest would follow.

"It's going to be another good tournament," said Wolsey, a former Southeast Missouri State baseball player who serves as a player/coach for Kelso Fastpitch. "There are no weak teams, that's for sure."

Wolsey said the quality of play is matched by the enthusiasm of the numerous fans who turn out to support the tournament.

"We always have great crowds and last year was the best crowds we've had. There were about 1,000 people here Friday and about 1,500 Saturday," Wolsey said. "It's a big event for the community. People in the area mark this on their calendar every year."

Pete's Blues went 5-1 in last year's tournament, capped by a 6-2 win over the Topeka (Kan.) Toros in the winner-take-all final.

Jeramie Holman of Pete's Blues was named the 2012 tournament's most valuable pitcher for the third straight year, including when he helped lead Aurora (Ill.) to the title in 2010. Holman set a tournament record with 15 strikeouts in last year's championship game.

Topeka's Jaime Garcia Jr. was the tournament MVP after batting .500 with a home run, a triple and five RBIs.

Wolsey considers last year's two finalists, along with first-year entrant Wizards of Oz from Silver Lake, Kan., and Stix from Bloomington, Ill., to be among the top contenders this weekend. Stix hasn't been in the field since winning the title in 2007.

"They should all make a run," Wolsey said.

The same, Wolsey said, goes for host Kelso Fastpitch, which had its best tournament finish in years last summer by placing fourth.

"This is probably the strongest team we've had in years," Wolsey said. "We plan to make a run at it."

Kelso Fastpitch had one of the 2012 tournament's individual highlights when veteran pitcher Tom Jansen struck out 17 to beat Altamont, Ill., 2-0 in the opening round.

"We ran out of pitching last year," Wolsey said. "We've added two new pitchers to help Tom out."

Other tournament entries are Franny's Ole Irish Pub from Springfield, Ill.; Lee's Sports Falcons from Pinckneyville, Ill.; the Stallions from Belleville (Ill.); Bud Light from Nokomis, Ill.; Bushue Brothers Tree Service from Teutopolis, Ill.; Black Gold from Hermann, Mo.; SuperChief from Anadarko, Okla.; and T-Town KC 2874 from Teutopolis, Ill.