KLASSIC FAST-PITCH TO DESCEND ON KELSO

Area fast-pitch softball enthusiasts are once again in for their annual June treat -- the Kelso Klassic Invitational Tournament, featuring some of the top teams in the Midwest.

The 14th edition of the Kelso Klassic, featuring 17 teams, will be held this weekend, with playing beginning Friday night and continuing through Sunday afternoon.

Three area squads will serve as tournament co-hosts: Kelso Kwik Stop, Kohlfeld Distributing and the Kelso Travelers.

Kohlfeld Distributing is the defending tourney champion, claiming last year's title with a 5-0 record, while Kelso Kwik Stop captured the crown in 1991.

Considered among the top contenders for this year's championship are Bonutti Orthopaedics of Strasburg, Ill.; the Springfield (Mo.) Mountaineers; the Tulsa (Okla.) Gray Sox; the Springfield (Mo.) Parrots; and Guaranteed Air Freight from Vandalia, Ill.

Bonutti Orthopaedics have claimed three titles in the tournament's history and finished third last year. Bonutti returns virtually everyone from last year's squad, including pitcher Mike Rappe, who is 16-1 in Klassic competition.

The Springfield Mountaineers were fourth last year and are regarded as a prime threat mainly because they now have the services of all-star pitcher Terry Luster, who was the tournament's most valuable pitcher a year ago after winning all five games while playing for Kohlfeld Distributing. The Mountaineers went 40-17 a year ago, placing 40th in the world tournament.

The Tulsa Gray Sox are led by one of the country's top pitchers in Mike Combs, who struck out 18 batters in a seven-inning game twice during the 1992 tournament while playing for the Arkansas Rangers. The Gray Sox were 50-10 last year and finished second in the ASA Class B national tourney.

The Springfield Parrots are led by pitcher Doug Gardner, the 1996 Klassic MVP. The Parrots were 47-11 in 1997, finishing third in the ASA Class B national meet.

Guaranteed Air Freight went 62-24 a year ago and finished 10th in the Class A national tournament.

Other teams in the field are B&H Drilling from Hermann, Mo.; the Memphis (Tenn.) Pomen; the Pinckneyville (Ill.) Celtics, who have won three Klassic titles; the Belleville (Ill.) Stallions, who won the Illinois Class A Tournament in 1996; Koerner Miller Lite from Teutopolis, Ill.; the Southern Illinois Masters from Murphysboro; the Montclaire Bowl Outlaws from Edwardsville, Ill.; the Last Stop Trailblazers from St. Peters, Mo.; and the Tri-State Travelers from Henderson, Ky.

Action begins Friday with four first-round games in the double-elimination event.

At 8 p.m., Kelso Kwik Stop plays the Last Stop Trailblazers and the Kelso Travelers face the Tri-State Travelers. At 9:30 p.m., it's Kohlfeld Distributing against the Memphis Pomen and Bonutti Orthopaedics against Montclaire Bowl.

Play resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. when B&H Drilling plays the Southern Illinois Masters and the Springfield Parrots face the Pinckneyville Celtics.

At 9:30 a.m., Vandalia Guaranteed Air Freight plays the Belleville Stallions and the Springfield Mountaineers take on Koerner Miller Lite.

The first round concludes at 11 a.m. when the Tulsa Gray Sox play the Kelso Travelers-Tri-State Travelers winner.

Action continues all day Saturday on two fields with the winner's bracket semifinals at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Sunday's schedule begins at 9 a.m., with the winner's bracket final at noon and the championship round to start at 3 p.m.