By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
YEATESVILLE — The host Northside Panthers are hoping to put on a good show today and Saturday, while also hoping the championship trophies stay right at home.
The annual Northside Easter Tournament begins today with four baseball teams and eight softball teams in action. The tournament will conclude with Saturday’s championship games.
Tickets are $5 per day. If fans leave the park, they simply have to show their ticket for re-admittance on the same day.
“We’re hoping the good Lord blesses us with good weather and a good turnout,” said Keith Boyd, the Northside athletic director and head baseball coach. “We’re looking forward to playing some good ball.”
The Washington Pam Pack won last year’s baseball tournament, taking a 14-4 win over the Southside Seahawks.
Those two teams meet at 7:30 p.m. today. Both teams have new head coaches this year. Travis Rogerson took over for Darin Vaughan at Washington, while Jeff Carrow replaced Red Lewis at Southside.
The first baseball game of the tournament, beginning at 5 p.m., pits the host Panthers against the Mattamuskeet Lakers.
The losers meet at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the winners playing for the title at 7:30 p.m.
Today’s softball tournament gets started, weather permitting, at 10 a.m.
Pamlico won last year’s softball tournament with a 5-1 nod over Farmville. Southside finished in third place after getting past Northside 5-2.
Southside and Jamesville will open the tournament by playing at 10 a.m. That will be followed by Edenton taking on Pamlico at 11:30 a.m., Manteo battling Farmville at 1 p.m. and Northside squaring off with Bear Grass at 2:30 p.m.
A pair of loser bracket games will be played at 4 and 5:30 p.m.
Action resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the championship game slated to start at 5:30 p.m.
A concession stand will be open both days.
On Saturday, barbecue plates with all the trimmings will be sold. Plates will be $6 apiece.
GOLF BALL DROP
Fans also have a chance to win some cash during the tournament.
A Golf Ball Drop will be held, with the proceeds going to the Booster Club for help in paying for the new weight room at Northside High School. The contestant whose ball that goes in the hole, or is closest to the hole, earns 25 percent of the proceeds.
NORTHSIDE TOURNAMENT
BASEBALL
Friday’s Games
5 p.m. – Northside vs. Mattamuskeet
7:30 p.m. – Southside vs. Washington
SOFTBALL
Game 1: 10 a.m. – Jamesville vs. Southside
Game 2: 11:30 a.m. – Edenton vs. Pamlico
Game 3: 1 p.m. – Manteo vs. Farmville
Game 4: 2:30 p.m. – Northside vs. Bear Grass
Game 5: 4 p.m. – Game 1 vs. Game 2 loser
Game 6: 5:30 p.m. – Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser
BASEBALL
Saturday’s Games
5 p.m. – Northside-Mattamuskeet loser vs. Southside-Washington loser
7:30 p.m. – Northside-Mattamuskeet winner vs. Southside-Washington winner
SOFTBALL
Game 7: 10 a.m. – Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 8: 11:30 a.m. – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 9: 1 p.m. – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 10: 2:30 p.m. – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Game 11: 4 p.m. – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser
Game 12: 5:30 p.m. – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner