Wentzville Players in Tournament of Champions

ST. CHARLES — One of the Midwest’s best summer baseball showcases has arrived in the St. Charles area, as Diamond Sports Promotions brings its Tournament of Champions event to ,  and ’s Lou Brock Sports Complex for games Thursday through Sunday.

Officially, 11 teams entered this event, with a guarantee of getting at least four pool play games before the tourney semifinals and championship games that are scheduled for Sunday at Blanchette Park.

Among the teams scheduled to appear are several of the region’s best summer baseball clubs, including one of Illinois’ best summer teams, the Bloomington-Normal Baseball Association (BNBA) Gold squad.

Also appearing from around the region are the Midwest Chiefs, Sticks Baseball Club, the Missouri Bucks and the Quad City Hitmen.

Among the local teams committed to play this weekend are the St. Louis Gamers, a squad that annually is one of St. Louis area’s best summer baseball teams.

The 2011 Gamers varsity roster features players from at least 12 different area high schools, and each player has accepted college athletic scholarships for next season, according to the Gamers’ web site.

Other teams from the area include: Missouri Elite, a talented team made up of players from and O’Fallon; the Rawlings Tigers 17-under team, whose players come from West County and all areas of South County; the Kirkwood Tigers 17-under team and the St. Charles Post #312 and North Knights American Legion teams.

Pool play began on Thursday at all three St. Charles area locations. Here’s the full weekend game schedule: 

Blanchette Park

• 11:30 a.m. – Missouri Elite lost to the Kirkwood Tigers, 0-2
• 1:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks defeated St. Charles Legion, 6-0

Lindenwood University

• 5 p.m. – Rawlings Tigers lost to the Midwest Chiefs, 1-8
• 7:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks lost to the St. Louis Gamers, 6-7

Blanchette Park

• 10 a.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. BNBA Gold
• 12:30 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. BNBA Gold
• 3 p.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. Rawlings Tigers
• 5:30 p.m. – Missouri Bucks vs. Rawlings Tigers

St. Charles West

• 11:30 a.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. Kirkwood Tigers
• 2 p.m. – Missouri Elite vs. Sticks Baseball Club
• 4:30 p.m. – Missouri Elite vs. Midwest Chiefs

Lindenwood University

• 5 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. Quad City Hitmen
• 7:30 p.m. – Kirkwood Tigers vs. Quad City Hitmen

Blanchette Park

• 10 a.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. Midwest Chiefs
• 12:30 p.m. – Sticks Baseball Club vs. BNBA Gold

St. Charles West

• 12:30 p.m. – Midwest Chiefs vs. Quad City Hitmen
• 3 p.m. – Missouri Bucks vs. Quad City Hitmen
• 5:30 p.m. – St. Charles Legion vs. Rawlings Tigers

Lindenwood University

• 5 p.m. – Kirkwood Tigers vs. BNBA Gold
• 7:30 p.m. – St. Louis Gamers vs. Missouri Elite

Blanchette Park

• 9:30 a.m. – Semifinal #1 – No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed
• Noon – Semifinal #2 – No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed
• 2:45 p.m. – Championship Game