The Northwest Arkansas All-Stars will try to repeat as the Senior Babe Ruth North State champions, but coach Charles Tucker said it will be with many new faces.
Only Dylan Hoag returns from last year's team, which won the North State tournament and finished as the runner-up in the Southwest regional.
At A Glance
Senior Babe Ruth North State Tournament
At Phillips Park, Bentonville
Today’s Games
17-18s
Game 1: Rogers vs. Gentry, noon
Game 2: Fort Smith vs. NWA All-Stars, 6 p.m.
16s
Game 1: NWA All-Stars vs. Bentonville, 3 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
17-18s
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
16s
Game 2: NWA All-Stars vs. Bentonville, 3 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
17-18s
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.#
16s
Game 3: NWA All-Stars vs. Bentonville, 4 p.m. (If necessary)
Monday’s Game
Game 7: Championship game (if necessary), 5 p.m.
If a third game is not necessary in the 16-year-old division, Game 6 will be played at 4 p.m.
NWA 17-18s All-Stars coach Charles Tucker said pitching depth should be a strength for his team, but lack of experience may be a weakness.
"We don't have one overpowering arm, but we have good depth from the left and right side and hopefully we can keep offenses off-balance," Tucker said. "We had more playing experience on the field last year."
The NWA All-Stars open the tournament against Fort Smith at 6 p.m. at Phillips Park in Bentonville.
A Rogers team, which won the Northwest Arkansas league regular-season and tournament titles, will take on Gentry in the other state tournament game at noon.
The North state champion advances to the Southwest regional tournament in Nederland, Texas, July 18-22. NWA league president David DeBoard said Rogers will again host the Southwest Regional Tournament next year.
There are only two teams in the 16-year-old division as Bentonville will take on the NWA All-Stars in a best-of-three series. The first game will be played at 3 p.m. today. There is no regional tournament for the 16-year-olds.
The finals of the double-elimination tournament are slated for Sunday. If there is a decisive third game for the 16-year-olds, Bentonville and the NWA All-Stars will play at 4 p.m., followed by the 17-18-year-old finals at 7.
Another game, if necessary, will be played at 5 p.m., Monday.
Sports on 07/04/2014