Governor’s Cup gets one-day mulligan|Youth baseball

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Governor’s Cup is ready for a do-over.

Twenty-seven teams will return to Halls Ferry Park on Saturday for one final day of baseball, the result of a rainout of the tournament’s final day on Aug. 9. It’s the first time the Governor’s Cup will cover a third weekend. There had only been one rainout in 15 years before the wet weekend earlier this month.

“We knew every team couldn’t make it back because of other commitments, but we’re satisfied,” tournament director Jeff Collins said. “I think everything worked out as good as could be expected. Most teams just wanted to come play ball.”

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The three-day tournament was rained out halfway through its second day. Most age groups had finished the pool play portion of their schedule when a heavy thunderstorm deluged the Halls Ferry fields. A week of steady rain had already saturated the ground and tournament organizers decided to postpone the championship round.

Teams were given the option of returning this weekend to pick up where they had left off or receiving a partial refund of their $300 entry fee. More than half of the 45 teams that registered — including all six from the 14-year-olds’ division — opted to return.

Most of the non-returning teams came from the 11-year-olds’ division, which had nine teams when the tournament began and will finish with three. The Forest Hill All-Stars, Vicksburg Venom and Vicksburg Mudslingers are the only teams to come back. Because of that, Collins said the schedule would have to be altered.

“Only three teams wanted to play, so we’re going to do a round-robin to make it worth their while,” Collins said.

The 6-year-olds division completed its tournament last Saturday. This time, the 8-, and 9-year-olds will return in addition to the 11- and 14-year-olds. Play will begin at 9 a.m. The championship games will start at 4 p.m., with the 14-year-olds beginning the last final at 6. Admission for the tournament is $5.

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com