17TH ANNUAL KLASSIC TO DESCEND ON KELSO

Some of the top softball players in the nation, including members of the Amateur Softball Association National Championship team, will be on hand this weekend in the 17th annual Kelso Klassic at Kelso City Park.

"The atmosphere at Kelso is great for fastpitch softball," said assistant tournament director Ron Baker, who is a member of the reigning ASA National Champion Decatur (Ill.) Legends.

"Every year, this tournament brings in All-American and All-World pitchers and players. These are top-notch players and they all love this tournament and the people, and they tell other teams throughout the nation and it just builds from there."

The 14-team tournament begins today at 8 p.m., continues Saturday at 8:30 a.m., with the title game scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. A "sudden death" game will be played if necessary at 4:30.

Savannah, the defending ASA National Champions in 1999, rolled through last year's Klassic to clinch the title, outscoring its opponents 23-0.

The 14-team field (only two local teams), from the states of Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee, won't have to worry about Savannah this time around since it couldn't return to the Klassic due to prior obligations.

In Savannah's absence, Bonutti Orthopedics, which lost to Savannah 1-0 in last year's championship game, appears to be the favorite.

The Klassic Committee has decided make the brackets where each team is guaranteed at least three games, although it's not a triple-elimination tournament. The brackets are North American Fastpitch Association-style, but ASA rules still apply.

Only a few teams have been in the tournament since its inception and new teams come in from all over year after year. Although there are 14 teams, only eight are seeded.

Here is a look at this weekend's tournament field according to seed.

1. Bonutti, a four-time champ in a five year span ('94, '95, '96, '98) and last-year's runner-up, garnered the top-seed and rightfully so earning a first-round bye.

Bonutti features pitchers in staff ace Alan Minehart and Mike Rappe, as well as hitters in shortstop Brian Pesko, first baseman Dave Scott, right fielder Randy Milleville, catcher Brett Tuetken and center fielder Tracey Epley.

2. Taylorville (Ill.) Bob Ridings received an opening-round bye with its second seed.

After falling in the first round last year 2-1 to Belleville, they battled all the way back to the consolation finals falling to Bonutti. They finished the tourney with a 5-2 record.

They bring pitcher David Scott with them who helped the Decatur (Ill.) Legends win the 2000 ASA Masters (40-over) National Championship which he was the Most Valuable Pitcher. He also earned a first team All-American selection.

3. Welby's (St. Louis) has two outstanding aces in Billy Hillhouse and Stoney Burke.

Hillhouse is a pitcher on the USA Men's Fastpitch team and will participate in the ISF Games July 5-15.

Burke is also a first team ASA All-World and All-American member and has won a NAFA Men's Major World Championship.

To compliment the pitching, they have a key member in the lineup as well in Brad Johnson, who batted .750 in the ASA Men's Major National Championship Tournament and was one at-bat shy from possibly achieving the highest average ever in the tourney.

4. Vandalia GAF, the 1999 ASA Class A National runner-up squad, features pitchers Marty Cloe and Tim Summers, while the bat-attack should be highlighted by Jeff Jarrett, Summers and Nick Casey. All of these players earned ASA All-American honors in the Class A Nationals this season.

5. Kelso Connection is back after a one-year layoff and is one of the two local teams.

Forming a new squad, the staff ace is 26-year old Tommy Jansen, while Jeff Schott and veteran Ronnie LeGrand, who at age 52 is still throwing strong, complete the rotation.

The offense is loaded as Larry Eftink, Schott, Brian Drew, Baker, Kerwin Urhahn, Greg Dohogne, Bruce Scheeter, Derek Heuiser, Justin Dunning and Ray Reinagel all contribute to the team.

Schott, Baker, Eftink and Reinagel each have participated in ASA and ISC National Tournaments.

6. Montclaire Bowl will feature pitchers Mike Mitchell, Rich Carrell and Brian Weiler.

Last year, Montclaire won its opening-round bout, but dropped the next two.

7. Koerner Miller Lite (Tuetopolis, Ill.) will be led by its pitching aces Scott Brumleve and Brock Vandeheide.

8. Mueth's Tavern lost in the winner's bracket semifinals and dropped its next game as well to be eliminated last year with a 2-2 finish.

Rounding out the field are Memphis Po-mem, Radom, B-H Drilling, Herrin Budweiser, Elkville and local squad Kohlfield Distributing, who won the 1997 Klassic.