Fast-pitch softball tournament in Rogers City this weekend

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

The Presque Isle Panthers are hosting the sixth annual Presque Isle Girls’ Softball (PIGS) tournament this weekend beginning Friday (July 17) afternoon. This year the tournament will feature 24 teams in four age categories.

The 12 and under (12U) division will play at the Little League fields and will be the first to begin action Friday afternoon at 1:30 when the Panthers take on the Lady Crusaders. The 12U bracket will also have games at 3:15 at the Little League fields.

Action in the 14 and under (14U) bracket begins at 5 p.m. with games at both fields at Gilpin Memorial Complex as well as at Sports Park (The Hole). The Alpena Thundercats  White will take on Chain-O-Lakes Fanatics at the varsity softball field while the Alpena Thundercats Green take on the Moran Iron Works Vulcans Red on the junior varsity field. The game at Sports Park will feature the MI Blasters and Lady Crusaders.

The 16 and under (16U) play will begin at 6:45 p.m. Friday with games on both Gilpin fields and at Sports Park. The Moran Iron Works Vulcans and Panthers will square off on the varsity field with the North Branch Lightning and Oakland Stingers on the junior varsity field while the Alpena Thundercats take on the Great Lakes Heat at Sports Park.

A HIGHLIGHT of the PIGS tournament is always the games under the lights at Sports Park on Friday and Saturday evenings. Friday night a 8:30 p.m. will be 14U action with  the Panthers taking on the Petoskey Blaze. The 10:15 game will feature the 18 and under division as the Alpena Mystics take on Livonia Storm.

Master schedule for the PIGS tournament July 17-20 in Rogers City

Games will be played all day Saturday with action beginning at 10 a.m. and running through another 10:15 p.m. game under the lights. Sunday action begins at 8 a.m. with quarterfinal matchups in all four divisions. The 18U championship will be played at 1:15 p.m. at Gilpin with the other championship games at 3 p.m. with the 16U on the varsity field, 14U on the junior varsity field and 12U at the Little League field.