Marion County Tournaments Open This Weekend

Tonight 16 high school baseball teams and 16 softball squads take to the diamonds, vying for one goal - the Marion County Tournament championship.

The 2009 Marion County Baseball Tournament opens at four different school sites, including Warren Central, Decatur Central, Park Tudor and Brebeuf. First-round games were originally scheduled to take place at Holder Field, the home of the defending county champion Southport Cardinals, but due to rain issues those contests (Brebeuf vs. Southport, 5 p.m.; Speedway vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 6:45 p.m.) have been relocated to Brebuef.

Saturday's 10 a.m. quarterfinal and 2 p.m. semifinal games will return to Holder Field. The county championship will take place at Victory Field on Friday, May 15 at 6 p.m.

Among this year's contenders for the crown, three teams are ranked. Brebeuf is ranked ninth in Class 3A. Park Tudor, which opens at home against a dangerous Lawrence Central team, is third in Class 2A, and defending Class 4A state champion Decatur Central is ranked seventh in the latest Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association polls.

Since the tournament began in 1969, four teams have won four titles (Southport, Lawrence Central, Perry Meridian and Warren Central). In the past 10 years, Lawrence Central has captured the championship three times (2007, '04, '01). Overall, North Central and Decatur Central own the most county crowns with seven apiece.

Decatur Central, the reigning Marion County Softball champs, open this year's tournament at host North Central. First-round games are set to begin at 5 p.m. with Pike, Ben Davis, North Central hosting two games tonight. Games originally scheduled at Franklin Central have been moved to the Holder Field softball diamond and have been pushed back to 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The quarterfinals and semifinals continue at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ben Davis High School. The championship is set for 6 p.m. at Ben Davis.

Decatur Central won last year's championship in dramatic fashion, knocking off Franklin Central in extra innings 6-4.

This year Class 3A No. 9 Roncalli, Class A No. 5 Indianapolis Lutheran and Class 2A No. 7 Speedway are considered early favorites to challenge for the title.

County Baseball Schedule

Tonight's Games
At Brebeuf
Brebeuf vs. Southport, 5 p.m.
Speedway vs. Lutheran, 6:45 p.m.

At Park Tudor
Park Tudor vs. Lawrence Central, 5 p.m.
Franklin Central vs. Beech Grove, 6:45 p.m.

At Decatur Central
Decatur Central vs. Lawrence North, 5 p.m.
Perry Meridian vs. Pike, 6:45 p.m.

At Warren Central
Roncalli vs. Warren Central, 5 p.m.
Ben Davis vs. North Central, 6:45 p.m.

Saturday's Games
At Southport
Friday's Brebeuf winners, 10 a.m.

At Franklin Central
Friday's Park Tudor winners, 10 a.m.

At Decatur Central
Friday's Decatur Central winners, 10 a.m.

At Ben Davis
Friday's Warren Central winners, 10 a.m.

Saturday's Semifinals
At Southport
Southport winner vs. Franklin Central winner, 2 p.m.

At Decatur Central
Decatur Central winner vs. Ben Davis winner, 2 p.m.

Friday, May 15th - Championship Game
At Victory Field
Southport semifinal winner vs. Decatur Central semifinal winner, 6 p.m.

County Softball Schedule
Tonight's Games
At Pike
Southport vs. Pike, 5 p.m.
Lawrence North vs. Beech Grove, 6:30 p.m.

At Ben Davis
Roncalli vs. Ben Davis, 5 p.m.
Brebeuf vs. Lawrence Central, 6:30 p.m.

At North Central
Decatur Central vs. North Central, 5 p.m.
Lutheran vs. Park Tudor, 6:30 p.m.

At Franklin Central (moved to Holder Field)
Franklin Central vs. Perry Meridian, 6 p.m.
Warren Central vs. Speedway, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's Games
At Ben Davis
Friday's Pike winners, 10 a.m. (Field No. 1)
Friday's Ben Davis winners, 10 a.m. (Field No. 2)
Friday's North Central winners, 10 a.m. (Field No. 3)
Friday's Franklin Central winners, 10 a.m. (Field No. 4)

Saturday's Semifinals
At Ben Davis
Pike winner vs. Ben Davis winner, 1 p.m. (Field No. 1)
North Central winner vs. Franklin Central winner, 1 p.m. (Field No. 2)

Monday, May 11th - Championship Game
At Ben Davis
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.