M's back to defend Harp title
The Daily Inter Lake
They're back and looking for more.
The Mission Valley Mariners, winners of the 2007 John R. Harp Tournament, headline this year's Class A American Legion baseball event, which begins Friday at Griffin and Archie Roe fields in Kalispell.
The Mariners have already claimed tourament titles in three cities - Dillon, Deer Lodge and Polson.
Mission Valley brings a 21-game winning streak into its first-round matchup - Friday at 12:30 p.m. versus Ferris High School. The Mariners (42-9 overall) play again at 5:30 p.m. versus the Calgary Longhorns. Both games are at Griffin Field.
The three-day event starts with pool play and winds up Saturday with championship action.
Each team will have three pool games and one game on the final day.
Competing in Pool A are: Calgary, Kalispell Lakers, Mission Valley Mariners and Ferris. In Pool B: Coeur d'Alene, Glacier Twins, Great Falls Black Sox and Kootenai Valley Rangers.
New to this year's event are the Longhorns, Ferris and Coeur d'Alene.
Kootenai and Great Falls kick off tournament action Friday at 10 a.m. at Griffin Field.
All games are seven innings. The 10-run rule goes into effect after five complete innings.
There is a two hour time limit per game.
John R. Harp Tournament
Pool A
Calgary Longhorns, Kalispell Lakers, Mission Valley Mariners, Ferris High School.
Pool B
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Glacier Twins, Great Falls Black Sox, Kootenai Valley Rangers.
Schedule
Friday
Griffin Field
10 a.m. - Kootenai Valley vs. Great Falls
12:30 p.m. - Ferris vs. Mission Valley
3 p.m. - Glacier vs. Great Falls
5:30 p.m. - Calgary vs. Mission Valley
8 p.m. - Kalispell vs. Ferris
Archie Roe Field
3 p.m. - Coeur d'Alene vs. Kootenai Valley
Saturday
Griffin Field
10 a.m. - Glacier vs. Coeur d'Alene
12:30 p.m.- Calgary vs. Kalispell
3 p.m. - Great Falls vs. Coeur d'Alene
5:30 p.m. - Ferris vs. Calgary
8 p.m. - Kalispell vs. Mission Valley
Archie Roe Field
3 p.m. - Kootenai Valley vs. Glacier
Sunday
Griffin Field
11 a.m. - No. 4 Pool A vs. No. 4 Pool B
1:30 p.m. - No. 3 Pool A vs. No. 3 Pool B
3:30 p.m.- No. 2 Pool A vs. No. 2 Pool B
6 p.m.- No. 1 Pool A vs. No. 2 Pool B