BRIEFLY: JACKSON JR. LEGION TOURNEY BEGINS TONIGHT

JACKSON -- The area Junior American Legion baseball season will get under way tonight as Jackson hosts an eight-team tournament that runs through Sunday.

Competing along with Jackson will be fellow Southeast Missouri squads Cape Girardeau, Chaffee, Sikeston and Perryville. Rounding out the field for the double-elimination event are De Soto, Kirkwood and Florissant.

There will be just one game tonight as Jackson plays De Soto at 7 o'clock.

Two games will be played Friday: Cape vs. Perryville at 6 p.m. and Chaffee vs. Kirkwood at 8 p.m.

Seven games are scheduled for Saturday, including the final first-round contest between Sikeston and Florissant, which is set for a 9 a.m. start. Winner's bracket semifinals will be at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Action Sunday will begin at noon with the winner's bracket final. The championship game is slated for 6 p.m. and a second title contest, if needed, would follow at 8 p.m.

"We should have a very competitive tournament," said Jackson coach Gerald Adams.