ROGERS -- Ten teams from five different states will look to punch a ticket to Oregon when the Senior Babe Ruth 16-18-year-old Southwest Regional Tournament starts Friday at Veterans Park.
The winner of the tournament will advance to the Senior Babe Ruth 16-18-year-old World Series in Klamath Falls, Oregon next month.
Senior Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Baseball Tournament
18-Year-Old Division
When: Friday Through Tuesday
Where: Veterans Park, Rogers
Friday
Game 1: Louisiana vs. West Texas, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Mississippi vs. Northwest Arkansas, 2 p.m.
Game 3: East Texas vs. South Arkansas, 5 p.m.
Game 4: South Arkansas 2 vs. Alabama, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Game 5: North Arkansas vs. Game 1 Winner, 10 a.m.
Game 6: South Texas vs. Game 2 Winner, 10 a.m.
Game 7: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 5, 7 p.m.
Game 12: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 10, 1 p.m.
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 15: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 4 p.m.
Game 16: Winner Game 14 vs. Winner Game 13, 7 p.m.
Monday
Game 17: Loser Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, 5 p.m.
Game 18: Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 17, 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Game 19: If Necessary, noon
Teams from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi are represented in the double-elimination tournament. Four of the teams are from Arkansas including host Northwest Arkansas, the North Arkansas champion, the South Arkansas champion and the South Arkansas runner up.
The tournament could end Monday if a team goes through the bracket undefeated, but could conclude Tuesday if the winner's bracket winner loses in the first championship game Monday. Games on Saturday will be played on both the Rogers Heritage and Rogers High fields at Veterans Park.
Alabama is new to the Southwest Regional this year and the Rawdogs from Mobile have to be considered one of the favorites. Mobile is the defending World Series champion and it has won nine World Series titles in the last 14 seasons.
Current San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy is one of several former Rawdogs players that have played professional baseball.
"I would think that they would have to be one of the favorites," said Northwest Arkansas Senior Babe Ruth league president David DeBoard. "But Mid-County out of East Texas and and Tri-County out of South Texas are solid teams. Those three, you have to think there is your champion."
The host Northwest Arkansas All-Star team will face Mississippi in the second game of the tournament at 2 p.m. on Friday on the Heritage Field. The team is comprised of players from among the 16-team Northwest Arkansas Senior Babe Ruth League.
Northwest Arkansas coach Charles Tucker said he has been pleased with the team's progress after three weeks of practice.
"One of our challenges is bringing them together as a team," Tucker said. "We feel good about it. The group that we have, we don't have any superstars, but we have an overall good group of players. Defense has been good and our pitching goes pretty deep to make a run at a regional championship."
Sports on 07/16/2015