KISSIMMEE- For the 27th straight year, the Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic will assemble some of the best softball talent the Sunshine State has to offer over the next three days.
There is a huge reason why people say its a preview of the Final Four every year as the tournament features some of the top teams from around Florida that will likely end up in Vero Beach again.
Among the 32 teams competing in the Blue and Gold Divisions will be two time defending champions Oakleaf (13-1) as well as local teams West Nassau (10-6), Keystone Heights (10-4) and Matanzas (11-0).
Oakleaf and West Nassau will compete in the Blue Division while Keystone Heights and Matanzas will compete in the Gold Division.
As the defending champions, Oakleaf head coach Christina Thompson knows their is a huge target on their back, something her team is always playing with come postseason as well.
No. 3 Oakleaf opens up the Blue Division with Lake Region (8-5), receiving votes in Class 7A, tonight at 7:30 p.m.
West Nassau, receiving votes in the Class 5A poll, will take on defending Class 9A state champion Western (8-4-1) in the first round tonight at 6 p.m.
Keystone Heights, No. 9 in Class 5A, will play Tampa Riverview (8-1) tonight at 6 p.m. in the Gold Division, while Matanzas (12-0), receiving votes in 7A, will play Pensacola Tate (8-4) tonight at 7:30.
The Blue Division features Pembroke Pine Charter (13-1-1) No. 2 in 7A, Orange City University (7-5), Gainesville (12-2) No. 6 in 7A, St. Thomas Aquinas (8-4), Lake Brantley (12-1) No. 3 in 9A, Bartow (12-2) No. 4 in 8A, Academy of the Lakes (6-3) No. 4 in 2A, Stoneman Douglas (7-7), Clermont East Ridge (11-2) No. 6 in 8A, Cooper City (10-2-1) No. 8 in 8A, Tampa Alonzo (7-3) receiving votes in 9A and St. Cloud (10-4-1) receiving votes in 8A.
The Gold Division features Brooksville Lecanto (7-6), Melbourne Eau Gallie (9-6), Miami Coral Reef (11-4) No. 9 in 9A, Frostproof (7-3), Cypress Bay (7-6), Lake Howell (8-4) receiving votes in 8A, Jensen Beach (3-7), Rockledge (8-4), Miami Gulliver Prep (8-3), St. Pete Canterbury (11-6), No. 7 in 2A, Okeechobee (3-11) and host Osceola (11-5) receiving votes in 9A.
Capital City Classic
Softball isn’t the only statewide tournament going on as the Ninth Annual Capital City Flag Football Classic will take place over the weekend in Tallahassee at the FSU Recreation Fields.
Among the 24 varsity teams competing in the tournament is Mandarin (5-0), who has outscored its opponents 128-7 so far.
This will be a solid test for the Mustangs, who haven’t been challenged much at all this season.
The two day tournament is divided into three brackets: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, with 8 teams in each division.
The Mustangs will compete in the Silver Division along with Madison County, Martin County, St. Cloud, Pembroke Pines Charter, Belleview, Tallahassee Rickards and Tallahassee FAMU.
Mandarin will open the tourney with FAMU in Game 1 of the Silver Bracket Friday at 4 p.m.
The Bronze Bracket consists of Pace, Pompano Beach, Navarre, Wharton, East Bay, Port Orange Atlantic, Leon and Wakulla.
The Gold Bracket consists of Tampa Robinson, Tarpon Springs, Tampa Alonzo, Tallahassee Lincoln, Wekiva, Newsome, Tallahassee Godby and Niceville.
