Chaffee to host national softball tournament

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Five teams are scheduled to play for a national softball title beginning today at Frisco Park in Chaffee.

The Babe Ruth Softball National Invitation Tournament will feature 14-and-under teams from Missouri, Colorado, Kentucky and Louisiana in four days of games. It's the first time the event has been held in Chaffee.

Two teams from Scott County -- the Heartland Nationals and Heartland American -- will join Colorado's Southeast Denver All-Stars, Kentucky's Shelby County and Louisiana's Plantation Athletic Club in the pool play round today and Friday. After pool play games, teams begin double-elimination games that conclude with a championship 2 p.m. Sunday.

Because the Babe Ruth League doesn't organize a world series for the 14-and-under age group, the invitation-style tournament is held each fall by local organizers to determine a champion in the age group. The event was in Indiana last year with 12 teams.

Tournament coordinator Ronnie Schlosser said the turnout this year may have been affected by the later date.

"It's usually held in early August," he said. "With it being so close to the start of school, there were teams that just weren't able to travel.

"We've got good teams coming in, and the teams that are coming are playing for a national championship, so they're excited."

Today's schedule begins with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and the first game at 10. Games begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.