Rain hampers Kelso tournament schedule

FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL

Rain continued to rule Saturday during the 21st annual Kelso Klassic fastpitch softball tournament.

After heavy rain wiped out much of Friday's opening night of action, the same held true Saturday, meaning the tournament is 14 games behind schedule entering today, when play is expected to resume at 9 a.m.

Tournament officials said it will be impossible to finish the event today -- as had been scheduled -- but the goal will be to play as many games as possible, then see what teams are still alive and try to work out a makeup date.

The entire first round of the 13-team double-elimination event was completed Saturday.

In the feature matchup of the opening round, host Kelso Fastpitch rallied to upend the New Zealand 19-under national team 6-4, taking the lead for good on Steve Schott's two-run, two-out triple in the sixth inning. New Zealand led 4-3 when play was suspended by rain in the fifth inning Friday night.

Other first-round results were: Hermann (Mo.) Black Gold 10, Kelso JAMCO 1; Smithton (Ill.) Wolfpack 4, Herrin (Ill.) Budweiser 1; Brookfield (Mo.) Graff Pepsi 7, Elkville (Ill.) Ward Chrysler 1; and Radom (Ill.) Lee's Sports 1, Cerro Gordo (Ill.) Broncos 0.

-- Southeast Missourian