Parity reigns at 27th Kelso Klassic fastpitch softball tournament

~ Two local teams will compete in this year's fastpitch tournament

The powerhouse squads that met in the 2010 finals did not return this year.

That means the popular 14-team men's fastpitch softball tournament is wide open, according to Kelso Klassic media coordinator Jerry Wolsey.

"I'd say this year there's a lot more parity," Wolsey said. "Just about any team can win the thing. It should make for a really good tournament."

The 27th annual Kelso Klassic, a staple of the community and its surrounding areas for nearly three decades, begins today on two fields at Kelso City Park.

There will be four games today, two at 8 p.m. and two at 9:30 p.m. Both local squads will see action today. Host Kelso Fastpitch plays Kreke Tree Service from Teutopolis, Ill., at 8 p.m. and West End Tavern of Altenburg/Frohna faces Black Gold from Hermann, Mo., at 9:30 p.m.

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

"We look for another great tournament," said Wolsey, a former Southeast Missouri State baseball player who competes for Kelso Fastpitch. "This continues to be one of the top tournaments in the nation.

"When we get things going [today], if the weather is good, we should have anywhere from 800 to 1,000 people here. It's a really big event for the community. It's an event people around here mark on their calendar every year."

Aurora (Ill.) Dolan & Murphy beat the Decatur (Ill.) Pride 13-5 in last year's final featuring a matchup of teams ranked among the top 15 nationally by the International Softball Congress. Decatur captured the 2009 title.

"Aurora decided not to come down and Decatur folded, but some of their guys are scattered out on other teams in the tournament," Wolsey said. "They kind of separated themselves. You pretty much knew they were going to be in the finals. Now there's parity up and down."

Wolsey said the Topeka (Kan.) Toros are one of the tournament's favorites. They finished third a year ago and annually rank among the nation's premier squads.

Topeka features Chris Leaf, the 2010 tournament MVP after breaking his own tournament record with seven home runs in six games. He previously set the mark with six homers in 2008. Leaf batted .400 (8 for 20) with 12 RBIs last year.

"They should be one of the teams to beat," Wolsey said.

Among other top contenders are Nokomis (Ill.) Bud Light, fourth last year and the runner-up in 2009; Lee's Sports Falcons from Pinckneyville, Ill., fifth in 2010; the Memphis (Tenn.) Firebirds; a squad from St. Louis; and Pete's Blues from Mascoutah, Ill.

"Those teams will all be tough to beat," Wolsey said.

Pete's Blues has added Jeramie Holman, last year's most valuable pitcher when he helped lead Aurora to the title.

Holman went 3-0 in the tournament and was the winner in the championship game. He worked a total of 16 innings, allowing three earned runs and 14 hits while striking out 26 and walking two.

"They'll be tough to beat with him on the mound," Wolsey said.

The two local squads both went 1-2 last year, winning their openers but losing their next two games. Wolsey said they also cannot be discounted.

West End Tavern features Jeff Schott, one of the all-time great pitchers in the tournament. He is first all-time in tournament games played while also ranking high on most of the tournament's other all-time records lists.

Kelso Fastpitch has Tom Jansen, who also ranks high on the tournament's all-time pitching records lists, along with other strong players.

Kelso Fastpitch recently won a tournament in Champaign, Ill., and placed third during a tournament in Pinckneyville, Ill.

"They [West End Tavern] put a good team together and so far we're playing well," Wolsey said.