The Ooltewah Invitational gets under way Thursday night at four locations and frigid weather in the forecast.
Twelve teams are scheduled to participate in this year’s three-day tournament, including South Fayette from Pennsylvania.
Boyd-Buchanan, Bradley Central, Cleveland, Franklin, Polk County and the Owls make up Pool A and will play at Ooltewah and Bradley. In Pool B, Independence, Lawrence County, Red Bank, Sequatchie County, Soddy-Daisy and South Fayette will be playing at Soddy-Daisy and Red Bank.
Plainview (Ala.) will play twice on Saturday at Red Bank.
Semifinals are scheduled on Saturday at 4:30 at Ooltewah and Bradley Central, but a 60 percent chance of rain could play havoc with the all-day slate of games.
The championship game is set for 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Boyd-Buchanan takes on Cleveland at 5 p.m. at Bradley Central to kick off the invitational. Ooltewah (6-1), with its only loss to nationally ranked Tullahoma last week, plays Polk County at 7 p.m. on the Owls’ home field.
In the other first-day games, Sequatchie County plays at Red Bank at 6 p.m. and South Fayette plays at Soddy-Daisy at 7 p.m.
Thursday’s high temperature should be around 46 degrees with the overnight low 34. Throw in a 13 mph wind and fans and teams are in for an uncomfortable night for baseball. Rain is predicted on Friday and Saturday.
A 2-hour, 15-minute time limit will be in place for all games except the semifinals and championship. Trophies will be awarded for the runner-up and champion.
Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Children 5-and-under get in free.
The schedule:
Thursday
Sequatchie County at Red Bank, 6 p.m.
Polk County at Ooltewah, 7 p.m.
South Fayette at Soddy-Daisy, 7 p.m.
At Bradley Central
Boyd-Buchanan vs. Cleveland, 5 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Bradley Central, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
At Ooltewah
Franklin vs. Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.
Franklin vs. Ooltewah, 8:30 p.m.
At Bradley Central
Polk County vs. Boyd-Buchanan, 5 p.m.
Polk County vs. Bradley Central, 7:30 p.m.
At Red Bank
Lawrence County vs. Sequatchie County, 5:30 p.m.
Lawrence County vs. Red Bank, 8 p.m.
At Soddy-Daisy
Independence vs. South Fayette, 6:30 p.m.
Independence vs. Soddy-Daisy, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Ooltewah
Boyd-Buchanan vs. Ooltewah, 11 a.m.
Possible match-up game, 1:30 p.m.
Semfinal No. 1, 4:30 p.m.
Championship at 8 p.m.
At Bradley Central
Franklin vs. Bradley Central, 11 a.m.
Possible match-up game, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.
At Red Bank
Independence vs. Red Bank, 11 a.m.
Match-up vs. Plainview (Ala.), 1:30 p.m.
Possible match-up game, 4 p.m.
Match-up vs. Plainview (Ala.), 6:30 p.m.
At Soddy-Daisy
Lawrence County vs. South Fayette, 11 a.m.
Soddy-Daisy vs. Sequatchie County, 1:30 p.m.
Possible match-up game, 4 p.m.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com)