USSSA host a 19-team Tournament at the Lacey Recreation Complex

Noah Van Veldhuizen is at bat and lands himself a single to start out a inning on Sunday afternoon. (photo submitted)

Saturday, June 11th, 19 teams came from as far away as Muscatine and Cedar Rapids to play in a U9-U10 USSSA baseball tournament at the Lacey Recreation Complex.

Almost 240 boys took the fields and provided excellent entertainment for the nearly 800 supportive fans filling the stands over the weekend tournament.

The U10 Oskaloosa team, recently organized by coaches Travis Miller and Troy Kraber ended with 2 wins of their four games. “With this being the first tournament for the Oskaloosa team playing under USSSA rules and being a newly-formed team, I think they did excellent and deserve recognition for a job well done!” stated Doug Yates, tournament director and asst. coach of the Oskaloosa Lightning U11 USSSA team. The U11 team was not age eligible for this tournament but they did want to be a part of it and show their support and love of the game.

Hosting tournaments is one way the organization raises funds to keep the program going. The U11 boys “gave back” to their program and to the complex as they lent a hand to help take care of the fields. Seven players rallied to rake fields between each game and helped MCRF staff to ready fields before each game thoughout the tournament.