By Staff
The 2004 Niles Classic starts today at Thomas Stadium and continues through Sunday evening.
The Classic is an annual tournament hosted by the Greater Niles Babe Ruth League and this year includes two teams from Niles. Also competing this weekend will be Benton Harbor, Post 143, Post 161, Post 50, post 163 and the Blues.
Those eight teams of 16-18 year-olds will play throughout the weekend, starting with a 1 p.m. game Friday at Thomas Stadium and culminating with the championship game Sunday at 6 p.m. at Thomas Stadium.
Niles' two entries to the tournament this year include the Babe Ruth All-Stars and Niles South County, a group of players from the Niles High School baseball program.
The Niles Babe Ruth All-Stars are coached by Doug Janke and assistant coach Tom Bonner. Team members include Josh Atwood, Zach Bennett, Brooks Bonner, Kory Bridges, Chris Carpenter, Jeff Cooper, Josh Dickeson, Ryne Dowling, Aaron Holy, Casey Hood, Kyle Isabel, Mike Peters, Kyle Kidwell, Matt Koller, Scott Mellen, Nick Saviano, Chris Singleton and Casey Udell.
The Niles South County roster includes Rick Storm, Steve Clanton, Nick Downing, David Walterhouse, Jake Messner, Michael Tanke, Josh Beers, Lyle Watson, Joey Townsend, Adrian Davis, Drew Donahue, Bobby Anton, Matt Richardson, Aaron Ralston, Mason Stephenson, Anthony Saviano, Derek Smith, Tim Hardy and Jesse Sallak.
There will be a port-a-pit chicken dinner Saturday. The cost is $5 for a half chicken.
Here is the complete schedule for the 2004 Niles Classic.
Friday
(at Thomas Stadium)
Post 143 vs. Post 161 – 1 p.m.; Post 50 vs. Benton Harbor – 3:30 p.m.; Post 153 vs. Niles South County – 6 p.m.; Blues vs. Niles Babe Ruth – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
(at Thomas Stadium)
Post 163 vs. Post 143 – 10 a.m.; Post 161 vs. Post 163 – 12:30 p.m.; Benton Harbor vs. Blues – 3 p.m.; Niles Babe Ruth vs. Post 50 – 5:30 p.m.; Benton Harbor vs. Niles Babe Ruth – 8 p.m.
(at Niles High School)
Post 161 vs. Niles South County – 9 a.m.; Blues vs. Post 50 – 11:30 a.m.; Post 143 vs. Niles South County – 2 p.m.
Sunday
(at Thomas Stadium)
TBA – 10:30 a.m.; TBA – 1 p.m.; TBA – 3:30 p.m.; championship – 6 p.m.