ASA boys' and men's fast-pitch national tournaments begin

Action is set for three boys’/men’s national fast-pitch softball tournaments sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) starting today and running through Sunday at Ber Juan Park.

The 2010 ASA Boys’ 16 & Under National Tournament, ASA Boys’ 18 & Under National Tournament and ASA Men’s 23 & Under National Tournament are set for the Ber Juan Sportsplex this week.

Batting leadoff is the 16 & Under Tournament, which begins at noon today and runs through Friday. The 18 & Under event is set for Friday and Saturday while the 23 & Under event is Saturday and Sunday.

All three tournaments will have a double-elimination format.

For complete brackets of each tournament look for the special ASA National Championship publication in this edition of the Daily News.

Here is a look at the tournaments:

Boys’ 16 & Under

There are five teams entered in the tournament -- Northwest Implement of Missouri, Decatur Pride/Red Mat Media of Illinois, Hennager of Minnesota, Richville of Michigan and Soukup Bulldozers of South Dakota.

First-round games at noon today has Hennager vs. Richville on the Kimmel Field and Soukup Bulldozers vs. Decatur Pride/Red Mat Media on the North Field.

Defending national champion Northwest Implement receives a first-round bye and will play the Soukup Bulldozers/Dacatur Pride-Red Met Media winner in the second round of the winners bracket.

On Friday the winners bracket final is set for 8 a.m. Friday on the North Field. The championship game is set for noon Friday on the North Field. In case of an “if” game, it’s slated for 2 p.m. on the North Field.

Boys’ 18 & Under

There are four teams in the 18 & Under field -- Embroidery Touch of South Dakota, Northwest Implement of Missouri, Reese Bulldogs of Michigan and Schmitz Farms of Missouri.

First-round games are set for 6 p.m. Friday, with Northwest Implement vs. Embroidery Touch at the North Field and Schmitz Farms vs. Reese Bulldogs on the Kimmel Field.

The winners of those two games will meet in the finals of the winners bracket at 8 p.m. Friday on the North Field. The championship game is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday on the South Field. If an “if” game is needed, it will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday on the South Field.

Men’s 23 & Under

There will be seven teams vying for the Men’s 23 & Under national title -- PageBrake of Utah, BAC Pride of Illinois, Northwest Implement of Missouri, Schmitz Dozing of Missouri, Munger Fast Pitch of Michigan, Hennager Plumbing & Heating of Minnesota and Explosion of South Dakota.

In first-round games Saturday it’s Northwest Implement vs. Munger Fast Pitch at 8 a.m. on Kimmel Field, Hennager Plumbing & Heating vs. BAC Pride at 8 a.m. on North Field and Schmitz Dozing vs. PageBrake at 10 a.m. on North Field.

Explosion is the defending national champion and receives a first-round bye. Explosion will play the Northwest Implement/Munger Fast Pitch winner at 10 a.m. Saturday on Kimmel Field in the second round of the winners bracket.

The winners bracket final is set for 6 p.m. Saturday on Kimmel Field. The title game is slated for 10 a.m. Sunday on Kimmel Field. If an “if” game is needed, it will be at noon Sunday on Kimmel Field.