PORT ANGELES — Fireworks ban in the Port Angeles city limits? Sure, but don’t tell that to Wilder Baseball Club.
The venerable Senior Babe Ruth club will host the 18th annual Dick Brown Memorial Firecracker Classic beginning at 9 a.m. today with five games at Civic Field.
The six-team tournament runs through Sunday and will feature five games each day from today through Saturday and three games Sunday.
The first three days will see a switch to a round-robin format from last year’s pool-play.
“We wanted our team and the teams traveling to get more games and more experience,” Wilder head coach Mike
Politika said.
“Civic Field, the way its set up with the lights, we can run a little later, and get more games in.”
Sunday serves as the tournament’s final round and the two teams with the best records will play at 4 p.m. in the title game.
A fifth/sixth-place game at
10 a.m. and a third/fourth-place game at 1 p.m. will precede the championship contest.
All games are at Civic Field.
Host Wilder Baseball, which is made up of players from Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks plays its first game against Lakeside Recovery (Bellevue) tonight at 8 p.m.
Wilder will honor Ken McInnes, a longtime supporter of youth athletics in Port Angeles and a former coach before Friday’s 8 p.m. contest against Centerfield Roosters (La Center).
McInnes died in January at age 91.
“He was a lifelong contributor to youth baseball,” Politika said.
“Many years ago he coached with Don Mudd. And he was a face in the crowd as long as I can remember, and I’ve been around for 25-30 years.
“He’s always been at the ballpark.”
The first game of the Firecracker Classic is a Kitsap-County clash between North Kitsap AAA and Demarini Renegades (Port Orchard) at 9 a.m.
Following that game, Demarini Renegades, will face Grays Harbor Longshore at 11:45 a.m.
North Kitsap AAA plays Centerfield at 2:30 p.m., and Centerfield goes up against Lakeside Recovery at 5:15 p.m.
Wilder closes the first day with an 8 p.m. game against Lakeside Recovery
Wilder enters the Firecracker Classic with a 7-6 record on the summer, including two wins against the Renegades and a loss to Lakeside Recovery.
Wilder has won 13 of the 17 Firecracker Classics, but finished fourth at last year’s eight-team tournament.
Wilder will play Longshore at 5:15 p.m. and Centerfield at 8 p.m. Friday, and takes on North Kitsap AAA at 5:15 p.m. Saturday and Renegades at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Politika said his team played its best baseball of the season last weekend, going 2-2 in the USSSA/GSL State Tournament in Lacey.
“It was our first real road trip of the season and I think the team really got to bond together and it showed in our play,” Politika said.
Politika said his team’s entire 19-player roster should see the field at some point during the tournament.
The cost to attend Firecracker Classic games if $5 for 18 and older. Those younger than 18 get in free.
Full concessions, including freshly baked pies, ice cream and pulled pork sandwiches, along with traditional baseball fare will be available.
Wilder will follow the Firecracker Classic by playing in the fifth annual GSL College Showcase Tournament in Centralia.
The 64-team tournament also lists fellow North Olympic Peninsula baseball club, the Olympic Crosscutters, as a participant.
Scouts from a large number of two- and four-year colleges and universities will be on hand.
The following week, Wilder will travel to Issaquah for the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament July 12-14.
If Wilder advances from there, it will qualify to play in the Pacific Northwest Regionals in Warden, July 20-26.
This year’s Senior Babe Ruth World Series is Aug. 6-13 in Ephrata.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.