JACKSON SOFTBALL TO HOST 16-TEAM TOURNEY

JACKSON -- Some of the state's elite high school girls softball teams will gather at the Jackson City Park for Saturday's annual Jackson Invitational.

The tournament will feature 16 teams, including all the area squads, a few from Illinois and many of the best from other parts of the state, including St. Louis.

Five of the top 10 teams in the St. Louis area are entered, including top-ranked Fox, No. 2 Lafayette, No. 6 Lutheran South, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Cor Jesu.

Perennial state power Hannibal is also entered, as are Illinois squads Vienna and Goreville and local teams Cape Girardeau Central, Jackson, Kelly, Perryville and Poplar Bluff.

Action will begin at 8:30 a.m. and games will be played on five fields leading up to the championship contest at 5 p.m.

Eight first-round games will be played at 8:30 a.m. and 9:55 a.m.

The 8:30 games are Cape Central vs. Lutheran South, Kelly vs. Goreville, Perryville vs. Hannibal and Oakville vs. Hillsboro while the 9:55 contests pit Jackson vs. Lafayette, Fox vs. St. Clair, Cor Jesu vs. Poplar Bluff and Vienna vs. Notre Dame.

Quarterfinals will be played at 11:20 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. while the semifinals are set for 2:10 p.m. The third-place game, along with the championship, will be played at 5 p.m.

Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for students.