Austin looks to have the top tournament of the year hosting the SPAMtown Challenge. The ‘08 tourney features 16 teams in four pools. Each pool has two Minnesota teams and two out of state teams. They will play a whopping 27 games to determine the champion. Last year Minnetonka defeated Cold Spring in the championship. Here is the schedule: Thursday, June 26, Austin Blue Sox vs Chicago, IL Wildcats at 6:30 P.M. At 8:30 P.M. the Austin Greyhounds play Eagle Valley IL Eagles.

On Friday it is the Chicago Wildcats vs Prescott, WI at 4:30 P.M., Blaine vs Owatonna at 5:30 P.M., Brookings, SD vs Eagle Valley IL at 6:00P.M., Austin Greyhounds vs Chaska at 7:00 P.M., Rochester Royals vs Owatonna at 7:30 P.M., Sold Spring vs Sioux City IA at 8:00 P.M., Jamestown ND vs Stillwater at 8:00 P.M., and Austin Blue Sox vs Minnetonka at 9:00 P.M.

Saturday it is Blaine vs Sparta WI at 9:00 A.M., Rochester vs Sparta at 11:00 A.M., Sioux City vs Stillwater at 1:00 P.M., Cold Spring vs Jamestown at 3:00 P.M., Chaska vs Brookings at 4:00 P.M., Rochester vs Blaine at 4:00, Cold Spring vs Stillwater at 5:00 P.M., Owatonna vs Sparta at 5:00 P.M., Minnetonka vs Prescott at 6:00 P.M., Chaska vs Eagle Valley at 6:00 P.M. Austin Greyhounds vs Brookings at 7:15 P.M., Minnetonka vs Chicago Wildcats at 8:30 P.M., Jamestown vs Sioux City at 8:30 P.M., and the Austin Blue Sox vs Prescott at 9:30 P.M.

Sunday it is the Winner of Pool B vs the Winner of Pool D at 10:00 A.M., Pool A winner vs Pool C winner at Noon, and the winners play for the Championship at 2:00 P.M. All Sunday games are at Marcusen Park.

Games in the Austin tournament are at Marcusen Park and Riverland Complex in Austin and Dartts Park in Owatonna. Check their website at www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/?u=austingreyhounds&s=baseball&t= or www.austinbluesoxbaseball.com/2008/pages/ for game locations.

Stockmen's Invitational starts on Thursday, June 26 with Commanding Edge vs Rosetown at 6:15 P.M. and Commanding Edge vs Stockmen's at 8:45 P.M.

On Saturday, the Minneapolis Lakers play St. Louis Park at 11:00 A.M., St. Louis Park vs Minneapolis Cobras at 2:00 P.M., Cobras vs Lakers at 5:00 P.M., and Rosetown vs Stockmen's at 8:00 P.M.

Sunday it is fifth place at 11:00 A.M., third place at 2:00 P.M., and the Championship at 5:00 P.M. This tournament is two three-team pools. www.stockmensirish.webs.com/stockmensinvitational.htm

The Rum River Bandits Invitational is also a six team two pool event played in Cambridge. On Friday the 27th Rum River plays the St. Croix Bandits at 8:00 P.M.

Saturday, Ham Lake plays the Bloomington Bandits at 10:30 A.M., Staples vs St. Croix at 1:00 P.M., Rockford vs Bloomington at 3:30 P.M., Ham Lake vs Rockford at 6:00 P.M., and Rum River vs Staples at 8:30 P.M.

Sunday the fifth place game is 11:00 A.M., third place at 1:30 P.M., and the Championship is at 4:00 P.M. www.htosports.com/rumriver

This tournament also has many prize give-aways, music and lots of entertainment.

The Nimrod Invitational is an eight team consolation tourney. On Friday, June 27 it is Nimrod vs Bagley at 6:00 P.M., and Moorhead vs Duluth at 8:00 P.M. at Menaga.

Saturday the matchups are; Bluffton vs East Grand Forks at 9:00 A.M., Roseau vs Cuyuna at 11:00 A.M., Winner 1 vs 3 at 1:00 P.M. and winner 2 vs 4 at 3:00 P.M., Loser 1 vs loser 4at 5:00 P.M.

Sunday finds Loser 2 vs 3 at 9:00 A.M., seventh place at 11:00 A.M., fifth place at 1:00 P.M., third place at 3:00 P.M. and the Championship at 5:00 P.M.

Cologne is having a three team round robin tournament on Saturday, June 28. First game is Cologne vs Cleveland at 10:00 A.M., next is Carver vs Cleveland at 12:30 P.M. and at 3:00 P.M. Cologne plays Carver. A good day to see three.

At Hinckley, it is the annual Hinckley Knights Invitational June 27-29. Friday night it is the Knights vs Shakopee Coyotes at 6:00 P.M., Buffalo plays Champlin LoGators at 8:00 P.M.

On Saturday the Elko Express plays Hibbing at 10:00 A.M., and Maple Plain Diamond Devils play Brownton at 12:30 P.M. The losers play at 3:00 P.M. and 5:30 P.M., with the winners playing at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday and 10:30 A.M. on Sunday morning.

Then also on Sunday at 1:00 P.M. is the Consolation Championship, third place is at 3:30 P.M. and the Championship is at 6:00 P.M.

Finally, Victoria is having a tournament from June 26-29. I'll let you know when the details come out on that tournament. www.vicsbaseball.net

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