By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
YEATESVILLE — Eight softball teams and four baseball teams will be playing for championships at the annual Northside Easter Tournament.
The action begins Friday and concludes Saturday. 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.”
Fans also have a chance to win some cash. A Golf Ball Drop will be held, with the proceeds going toward the Booster Club for help in paying for the new weight room. The contestant whose ball that goes in the hole, or is closest to the hole, earns 25 percent of the proceeds.
Boyd said the new locker room and weight room has been a huge plus for the school.
“Everybody is really excited about the new locker room and the weight room,” Boyd said. “Kids are already signing up to use the weight room for next semester. The kids are excited and the athletes are excited. That’s why we did it.
“It’s for all the sports. The whole school gets a chance to use something that should have been built to start with.”
Participating in the softball tournament this year will be host Northside, Southside, Jamesville, Bear Grass, Manteo, Pamlico, Edenton and Farmville.
“I think the softball is going to be really competitive,” Boyd said. “A lot of these schools have already played each other.
“Everybody seems to be doing really well in their conferences. I think people will see some really good softball.”
Southside and Jamesville will open the tournament by playing at 10 a.m. Friday. 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.
The host Panthers will be joined by Southside, Washington and Mattamuskeet in the baseball tournament. Northside faces Mattamuskeet at 5 p.m. and Washington battles Southside at 7:30 p.m.
The losers meet at 5 p.m. Saturday, and the winners battling for the championship at 7:30 p.m.
“Southside and us are struggling a little bit at the moment,” Boyd said. “Washington, being a bigger school, should be pretty good. I think Mattamuskeet will be good competition
“If the ball bounces right, any team can be right there. I think everything will be pretty good.”
A concession stand will be open both days.
On Saturday, barbecue plates with all the trimmings will be sold. Plates will be $6 apiece.
Plenty of volunteers will be on hand to make sure the tournament goes off without a hitch.
“Our Booster Club will head up getting volunteers,” Boyd said. “We’ve had a lot of parents from the different sports helping out.
“We couldn’t do anything without them. I really have to thank them for that.”
HIGH SCHOOL
NORTHSIDE TOURNAMENT
BASEBALL
Friday’s Games
5 p.m. – Northside vs. Mattamuskeet
7:30 p.m. – Southside vs. Washington
NORTHSIDE TOURNAMENT
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
HIGH SCHOOL
NORTHSIDE TOURNAMENT
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
NORTHSIDE TOURNAMENT
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