Playing the good host
Published 4:16 am Wednesday, July 27, 2005
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac Little League is playing host to seven teams from throughout the state of Michigan this weekend at Russom Fields.
Dowagiac is the site of the Little League Senior Baseball state tournament.
Teams representing Melvindale, Harper Woods, Eastwood, Midland, Gladstone, West Branch and GR Southern Baseball will begin arriving Thursday for check in at tournament headquarters at Amerihost Inn.
The teams are scheduled to arrive between 1-3 p.m.
The opening ceremonies for the tournament will be held in downtown Dowagiac at the Haggin-Wimberly bandshell beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Volunteers of the Dowagiac Fire Department Ambulance Service will serve dinner to the tournament families on Beeson Street following the ceremony.
Play in the double elimination tournament will begin on Friday at 9 a.m. with Melvindale, the District 5 champions taking on Harper Woods, the District 6 champion.
The second game, between District 1 champion Midland and Eastwood will be held at noon.
District 10 champion Gladstone will face District 8 champion West Branch at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Dowagiac will get into action in the final game of the day as it takes on District 9 champion GR Southern at 6 p.m.
The tournament continues on Saturday morning with consolation contests at 9 a.m. and noon.
Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. the first quarterfinal will be held between the winners of the Melvindale/Harper Woods contest and the Eastwood/Midland contest.
The second semifinals will be held at 6 p.m. with the winners of the Glad-stone/West Branch and the Dow-agiac/GR Southern winner.
Sunday's games will consist of consolation round play with games set for noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
On Monday the championship semifinal will be held at 3 p.m. with the consolation final set for 6 p.m.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. the championship game will be held. If a second championship game is needed it will be played at 6 p.m.
For information about the tournament check out www.eteamz.com/llbmichigan.