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Bobcats end with a BANG !

The Marion Bobcats 12-under travel baseball team won a tournament championship last weekend at Mayfield. The team went the entire weekend of play without giving up a run and beat the West Tennessee White Sox 6-0 for the championship Sunday evening. The team includes players from Marion, Salem and Sturgis. The Bobcats finished the season 10-16-3 and lost eight games by two or fewer runs. Pictured are (front from left) Ian Ellington, Trace Adams, Gabe Mott, Darit Barnes, (back) coach Mark McCalister, Tyler Boone, Braxton Winders, Caden McCalister, coach Devin Belt, Jaden Hancock, Erik O’Leary, Ben Evans and coach Chris Evans.

CLICK HERE FOR SEASON ENDING STATISTICS AND FINAL RESULTS

Bobcats open with Sox Saturday

ALERT : THIS IS AN UPDATED SCHEDULE. TIMES HAVE CHANGED SLIGHTLY

Your Bobcats open play this weekend with the same team it stopped on last tournament because of rain. That game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The McKenzie White Sox will be first up at 1pm then the Bobcats play the Sharks at 6pm.

This will be the final baseball tournament of the season for the Bobcats. However, the boys will be playing in the Jake Hodge Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament at Princeton on June 19-21.

11-12u are Combined for Pool Play. However, Bobcats play only 12u teams. Elimination play on Sunday is strictly 12u.

1 PATRIOTS VS BULLDOGS SATURDAY 9:00
2 WHITESOX VS PATRIOTS SATURDAY 10:45
3 WHITESOX VS BOBCATS SATURDAY 1:00
4 BG STORM VS BULLDOGS SATURDAY 2:30
5 BOBCATS VS SHARKS SATURDAY 4:15
6 BG STORM VS SHARKS SATURDAY 6:00

7 SEED 2 VS SEED 3 SUNDAY 10:45
8 SEED 1 VS WINNER OF 2/3 SEED SUNDAY 2:30

Bobcats face Ambush, Sox on Saturday

AGE GROUP GAME # TEAMS FIELD DAY TIME 

12U 1 AMBUSH VS BOBCATS 6 SATURDAY 9:00

12U 2 BOBCATS VS WHITESOX 6 SATURDAY 10:45

12U 3 AMBUSH VS CARDINALS 6 SATURDAY 12:30

12U 4 DIAMOND DAWGS VS WHITESOX 6 SATURDAY 2:30

12U 5 TIGERS VS CARDINALS 6 SATURDAY 4:15

12U 6 DIAMOND DAWGS VS TIGERS 6 SATURDAY 6:00

SUNDAY'S TOURNAMENT

12U 8 SEED 4 VS SEED 5 6 SUNDAY 9:00

12U 9 SEED 3 VS SEED 6 6 SUNDAY 10:45

12U 10 SEED 1 VS WINNER G8 6 SUNDAY 12:30

12U 11 SEED 2 VS WINNER G9 6 SUNDAY 2:30

12U 12 WINNER G10 VS WINNER G11 6 SUNDAY 4:15

Changes in final 2 tournaments

There are a couple of changes to the Bobcats final tournaments.

The Bobcats are not playing at Hopkinsville on June 13-14. Instead, they will play in an Xtra Innings Tournament at either Mike Miller in Draffenville or Mayfield. Still waiting to find out the location. This is by the same folks who have hosted the Mayfield tournaments.

And, the Bobcats by a team vote have chosen to play Wiffle Ball in the Jake Hodge Memorial Foundation fundraising event in Princeton on June 20-21 instead of going to Muhlenberg County for a BPA tournament.

This will round out the Bobcats 2015 season.

Bobcats take month off to focus on rec

Marion Bobcats played the Wolfpack to the wire Sunday at the BPA Mothers Day Tournament at Draffenville, but lost 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. It was a big turnaround from an earlier meeting with the 'Pack in which Marion lost by 14.

The Wolfpack went on to play in the championship game, but lost 10-2 to the Stangs.

The Bobcats played three tough teams at Draffenville, and despite some great play at times, were unable to pull out a win.

With rec league kicking into full gear, the Bobcats are taking off until mid June when they go back to Hopkinsville to close out their 2015 season.

Instead of playing its last scheduled tournament at Muhlenberg County, the Bobcats are going to enter the Jake Hodge Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament at Princeton and have some fun while raising money for the cause.

Enjoy the break boys.

SEE UPDATED STATISTICS ON THE STATS PAGE

Bobcats play late games at Benton Saturday

Click Image to Enlarge Pairings

Bobcats lose tough one at Hoptown

The Bobcats let a 9-1 lead evaporate in a the quarterfinals Sunday at Hopkinsville, losing 12-9 to the Southern Indiana Diamond Dawgs.

The weekend started well with Caden McCalister's walk-off homer to beat the SI Spikes on Saturday. Ben Evans also hit his first career homer against the Bluegrass Warriors in a 6-1 loss Saturday.

The Warriors went on to win the tournament championship 1-0 over the West Kentucky Ambush.

SEASON STATISTICS ARE UPDATED HERE.

Bobcats open with SI Spikes at Hoptown

Marion Bobcats open at 1:15pm Saturday at Hopkinsville against the SI Spikes.

If the Bobcats win, they play at 4:45pm; or if they lose, they play 6:30pm.

Complete Saturday pairings are below.

Click Image to Enlarge

Bobcats back to Hoptown next weekend

The Bobcats are looking for more hitting as they get ready this week for another trip to Hopkinsville.

Marion lost in the semifinals at Mayfield after leaving 10 runners on base and falling by two runs to the Lake County Cardinals. The SI Diamond Dawgs won the championship.

Individual stats have been updated on the Statistics/Results Page and you can find complete statistics on Game Changer.

There will be some quality teams at Hopkinsville next weekend, including several the Marion boys have already seen this year. Here are the teams that will be at Hopkinsville May 2-3:

Marion Bobcats
Southern Kentucky Bulldogs Ford
West Kentucky Aces
Diamond Dawgs
Southern Indiana Spikes
West Kentucky Ambush
Bluegrass Warriors
Big Muddy Rivercats

Bobcats face Dawgs for 3rd straight week

Marion Bobcats will face the Lake County (Tn) Cardinals in its opening game Saturday at Mayfield's Gold Ring Challenge.

The Bobcats will close out pool play late Saturday with a rematch with the SI Diamond Dawgs. The teams have played one another the past two weekends and the matchup is currently split. This will be the rubber game.

Here is this weekend's schedule:

MAYFIELD GOLD RING CHALLENGE

SATURDAY

STANGS VS D. DAWGS, 9am

STANGS VS CARDINALS, 10:45am

CARDINALS VS BOBCATS, 12:30pm

BOBCATS VS D. DAWGS, 4:15pm

SUNDAY

Seed 2 v Seed 3, 12:30pm

Seed 1 v Seed 4, 2:15pm

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, 4pm

Bobcats will be at Mayfield Saturday

SEE MORE PHOTOS, Click here

The Marion Bobcats struggled at the plate at Rent One Park, but still battled some very good ball teams to the end in three games. Marion finished 0-2-1 at Rent One's Thrill on the Hill. It was a great experience for the boys to play on a minor league field.

The Big Muddy Rivercats defeated the SI Sun Devils for the championship. Marion lost 7-2 in pool play to the Sun Devils in a game that wasn't decided until late in the innings.

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED SEASON STATISTICS or See them on Game Changer.

This coming weekend, the Bobcats will be chasing some finger hardware in the Gold Ring Challenge at Mayfield. Here are the teams that will be participating:

Marion Bobcats
Lake County Cardinals
SI Diamond Dawgs
McCracken County Stangs

Rent One Park Tournament Schedule

Thrill On The Hill 4 Tournament at Rent One Park, Marion, Illinois
Friday, April 17
GM 1	5:00 pm - 6:35 pm	SI Diamond Dawgs vs. SI Hustlers
GM 2	6:45 pm - 8:20 pm	Big Muddy Rivercats vs. Paducah Storm
GM 3	8:30 pm - 10:05 pm	KC Knights vs. SI Sun Devils
Saturday, April 18
GM 4	8:00 am - 9:35 am	Big Muddy Rivercats vs. SI Elite
GM 5	9:45 am - 11:20 am	KC Knights vs. Marion Bobcats
GM 6	11:30 am - 1:05 pm	SI Hustlers vs. SI Tribe
GM 7	1:15 pm - 2:50 pm	SI Elite vs. Paducah Storm
GM 8	3:00 pm - 4:35 pm	Marion Bobcats vs. SI Sun Devils
GM 9	4:45 pm - 6:20 pm	SI Diamond Dawgs vs. SI Tribe
GM 10	6:35 pm - 8:15 pm	Seed 8 vs. Seed 9
GM 11	8:25 pm - 10:05 pm	Seed 3 vs. Seed 6
Sunday, April 19
GM 12	8:00 am - 9:40 am	Seed 4 vs. Seed 5
GM 13	9:50 am - 11:30 am	Seed 2 vs. Seed 7
GM 14	11:40 am - 1:20 pm	Seed 1 vs. Winner GM 19
GM 15	1:30 pm - 3:10 pm	Winner GM 11 vs. Winner GM 13
GM 16	3:20 pm - 5:00 pm	Winner GM 12 vs. Winner GM 14
GM 17	5:10 pm - 6:50 pm	Winner GM 15 vs. Winner GM 16  (Championship Game)

Individual Statistics through 3 Tournaments

BATTING

Click Image to Enlarge

PITCHING

Click Image to Enlarge

FIELDING

Click Image to Enlarge

Bobcats get bye after first round at Hoptown

The Marion Bobcats went 1-1 on Saturday at Hopkinsville, received a No. 2 Seed for Sunday's play and a bye.

The Bobcats will face either the Southern Kentucky Bulldogs or the SI Diamond Dogs at 12:30pm at Hopkinsville on Sunday.

Players should arrive at 9am at Hoptown

For this weekend's tournament at Hopkinsville, players will need to arrive and begin pregame stretching by 9am. We will warm up and hit soft toss before the game. First pitch is 10am.

UNIFORMS:
We will be wearing gray on Saturday
We will be wearing pinstripes on Sunday

Rent One Tournament shirts for sale

The attachments are the final versions of Rent One tourney shirts. 

Let tournament director know if you want to order.  There will be a limited number of each size available at the tourney.

1.       Charcoal Dry Fit short sleeve shirt with design on front and team names and sponsor logos on back.  $12 each for youth sizes through adult XL.  Add $2 for XXL or XXXL.

2.       Black digital cam short sleeve shirt with design on front and team names and sponsor logos on back.  $15 each for youth sizes through adult XL.  Add $2 for XXL or XXXL.

Bobcats open at 10am Saturday

At Hopkinsville Saturday, the Bobcats open with WC Wolfpack at 10am and play KY Thunder at 2pm

See the Complete 9-team Pairings by CLICKING HERE

Practice Wednesday April 8

Bobcats will practice Wednesday after school at the park if weather and field conditions permit.

If not, we will go to cage to hit and pitch.

It is fine if players want to ride to coach's office after school.

If we have to go indoors to cage, it would be good if players who ride bus to town workout first, then others come a bit later, about 5:30 or so. Either way, we will make it work.

No word yet on game times for Saturday at Hopkinsville. Check back here for details as they become available.

Next Tournament: Hoptown

APRIL 11-12 Spring Slam-12u

TEAMS PARTICIPATING

Marion Bobcats

KY Bearcats

Ky Thunder

Southern Kentucky Bulldogs Ford

Indiana Outlaws Baseball Club

WKY Ambush

Ohio Valley Viperz

Warren County Wolf Pack

Mayfield Tournament Update: New Times start at 1:30pm

LET'S ARRIVE AT FIELD BY 12:15pm
That will give us plenty of time to get photographs then warm up.
To answer some of your questions about whether these pictures will be available to purchase, I hope to take a more "official" team picture later when Ian will be in the picture. 

Due to field conditions, our first game at Mayfield on Saturday starts at 1:30 pm.

The second game will be at 5pm.

The home run derby is at 6pm.

NEW SCHEDULE

GAME # TEAMS FIELD DAY TIME

1 AMBUSH VS KEN-TENN 6 SATURDAY 12:00

2 KEN-TENN VS BOBCATS 6 SATURDAY 1:30

3 VORTEX VS STANGS 6 SATURDAY 3:00

4 VORTEX VS BOBCATS 6 SATURDAY 5:00

5 AMBUSH VS STANGS 6 SATURDAY 6:30

     

6 SEED 4 VS SEED 5 6 SUNDAY 9:00

7 SEED 2 VS SEED 3 6 SUNDAY 10:45

8 SEED 1 VS WINNER GAME 6 6 SUNDAY 12:30

9 WINNER G7 VS WINNER G8 6 SUNDAY 2:30

Home Run Derby part of weekend activities

Players should report to Saturday's first game at Mayfield at 10:30am, prepared for a team photograph and individual photos that will be used for publications at a later tournament. Wear gray pants and the new gray and blue shirts.

Due to weather, all games on Saturday are starting one hour later than originally posted. The times have been adjusted in the preceding post on this web site. Bobcats play first at 11:45am.

Please note, there will be home run derby at 5:30pm on Field 7 for all age divisions.

The ballparks are located not far off the Purchase Parkway. The park is off 17th Street, right beside of Mayfield High School's football stadium. Below is a map and a link to a Google map.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/War+Memorial+Stadium/@36.748772,-88.647089,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x887a2fc3c0126b91:0x7a4856da3f44b39b

Click Image to Enlarge

Bobcats open Springs season at Mayfield

UPDATE: Times are moved ahead 1 hour for Saturday's games due to predicted cold weather.

Here are the pairings for the season-opening tournament at Mayfield, Kentucky March 28-29.

1 AMBUSH VS KEN-TENN SATURDAY 10:00
2 KEN-TENN VS BOBCATS SATURDAY 11:45
3 VORTEX VS STANGS SATURDAY 1:30
4 VORTEX VS BOBCATS SATURDAY 3:30
5 AMBUSH VS STANGS SATURDAY 5:15

  

6 SEED 4 VS SEED 5 SUNDAY 9:00
7 SEED 2 VS SEED 3 SUNDAY 10:45
8 SEED 1 VS WINNER GAME 6 SUNDAY 12:30

9 WINNER G7 VS WINNER G8 SUNDAY 2:30

REMEMBER: We will be taking our team photo and individual pictures before the first game at Mayfield. We have to send those to Illinois for the Rent One Park Tournament.

Rent One Park Tournament is Full

The tournament next month at Rent One Park is full. There are nine teams.

We will need to submit team photo for the program and individual mug shots for the jumbotron.

We will take the team picture and individuals before the first game at Mayfield next weekend.

Here are teams playing at the Marion, Ill., Rent One Park Tournament:

Big Muddy Rivercats

King City Knights

Marion Bobcats

Paducah Storm

SI Diamon Dawgs

SI Hustlers

SI Sun Devils

SI Tribe

Southern Illinois Elite

Snowballs or Baseballs: Owensboro action in jeopardy

It looks like the March 14-15 tournament at Owensboro probably will not be played due to the recent snowfall and the affects it will have on the fields even late next week. I received an email from BPA directors today. They say a decision about that tournament will be made on Monday.

Therefore, we do not have a tournament currently scheduled until the last weekend of the month. Considering we need to get most of our play in before Rec League starts, we might want to consider playing at Jackson, Tenn., on March 20-22. So far, 14 teams are registered for that USSSA Tournament, including the Outlaws, Storm and Predators – all western Kentucky teams.

If not, we will spend the next three weeks trying to get some practice time in. Fortunately, this bunch is very baseball savvy. My only concern is that our arms haven't been loosened up since DuQuoin.

Let me know if any of you have a big problem with Jackson on March 20-22. Otherwise, I would like to keep that option open.

UPDATED SPRING SCHEDULE

NOTE: The only change is April 17-19. We will play at Marion, Ill., at RENT ONE PARK, a minor league ballpark.

For this tournament, we will run 80 foot bases, 10 ft longer than normal.

Our players' pictures will be posted on the Jumbotron and there are many other amenities for this tournament.

Marion, Ill., is about 1:30 minutes across the ferry, about the same distance as the tournament we were scheduled to play in that weekend at HIckman.


Jan. 30-Feb 1  Rawlings Wood Bat   DuQuoin, IL    (RECORD 3-2)

March 14-15  Rustlebuster BPA    Owensboro

March 27-29 March Madness Mayfield

April 11-12  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

April 17-19  Thrill on the Hill, Rent One Park, Marion, IL

April 25-27 Gold Ring Challenge Mayfield

May 2-3  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

May 9-10  BPA Mothers Day   Benton

June 13-14  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

June 20-21 BPA Tournament Greenville

Bobcats will play at Mayfield March 27-29

The Marion Bobcats will join three other team teams in the March Madness Showdown at Mayfield the last weekend in March. Here are the teams registered to play:

• MARION BOBCATS
• S.I. VORTEX
• STANGS
• KEN-TENN BASEBALL

Bobcats scheduled to open outdoor season March 14

The Marion Youth Bobcats 12u baseball club will open its outdoor spring season March 14-15 at Owensboro (weather permitting).

There will be a full-squad practice from 1:30 p.m., to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7 at the Crittenden Middle School gym.

As of today, here are the teams scheduled to play in the season-opening tournament at Owensboro:

Warren County Wolf Pack
Marion Bobcats
KY Bearcats
Evansville Triplets
Bulls Baseball
Indiana Havoc
Diamond Dawgs 
Owensboro Hurricanes

Batting Statistics After DuQuoin tournament

Click Image to Enlarge

Game Notes for the Weekend at DuQuoin

• Here are some things you might need to know about this weekend's baseball tournament:
• I have talked to others who have played there. They say it's pretty cool inside. Don't think there's heat. So, if it's cold outside, it will be pretty cold inside, too. Dress warm, boys and parents.
• There are no pitcher's mounds. The boys will pitch from a flat surface. We did this at a tournament a couple of times later year, too. I don't particularly like it, but that's the way it is.
• THERE ARE NO PITCHING LIMITS for the weekend. Crazy but true. They are going by high school rules. As a team, we will impose fairly strict pitch limits on our pitchers. 
• The tournament director has issued some other information that I have posted below, as well as a new bracket. It didn't affect us that I can see.
• I have looked at the routes to DuQuoin and have chosen to cross the ferry going up. Google Maps says it's 80 some odd miles from Cave in Rock, about an hour and half driving time. I will be leaving from The Press office around 4:30 or 5 if anyone wants to follow, or needs a ride. 

FROM TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS
If you have not gotten your Bobcat shirt from me by this point, I will bring it to the game. The surface is all dirt so we may have to wash some uniforms over the weekend. The shirt is royal blue. Wear white pants.


· Every Team is required to Play Friday Evening (January 30th, 2015).  No Exceptions.

· Games start at 5pm on Friday Night and 7am on Saturday and Sunday Morning.

· Teams must enter through the front entrance of the building

· All Teams must turn in their Official Roster, Waiver (Signed by Parents) and a Copy of Team Insurance when they register on Friday Evening.  You can have as many players on your roster as you want, however, players cannot be added after registration.  At registration, you will also receive the bats you ordered.  For those that pre-ordered shirts, they will be available for pick up in tournament central beginning at 5:00pm.  Tournament Central is located in the back of the building behind the first base line on field 2.

· Only 3 Coaches per team receive a Coaches Pass (free entry).  You can purchase an extra coaches pass if needed for $15.  Coaches should wear passes while in the building.  

·Ticket Prices: Will Cost $6 per day, or a weekend pass can be purchased for $15.  Children under 8, all players, and 3 coaches per team get in free.  All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15

· No Outside Food or Beverage allowed in the SI Center

·We will have numerous Vendors in the lobby throughout the weekend.  Lee’s Sports will also be on hand with all your tournament needs.

· We have a 50/50 Raffle beginning Friday at 5pm with tickets being sold through Opening Ceremonies.  Winner will be drawn at the conclusion of Opening Ceremonies.  We will also be raffling off a bat courtesy of Lee’s Sports.  Tickets can be purchased Friday Evening and Saturday through Opening Ceremonies.  Winner will be announced at the conclusion of Opening Ceremonies on Saturday January 31st.  All proceeds from both raffles benefit Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15.

· We will have souvenirs available for Purchase throughout the weekend.  Items include but are not limited to: Tournament Shirts (limited supply), Spread the Word to End the Word Shirts/Sweatshirts.  All proceeds from both raffles benefit Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15.

· Opening Ceremonies is Scheduled for 12:00noon on Saturday January 31st, 2015.  At this time, teams will be introduced, Special Olympics Athletes will sing God Bless America and the National Anthem, and we will recognize our sponsors.  Additionally, Beaver Rice’s Son AJ will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and two of our local Special Olympics Illinois Boys Softball Teams will play an exhibition game.  We are asking that teams arrive to start getting lined up at 11:30am.  At the very least, we would like to have each team represented during this portion of the event.  We also encourage teams to stick around and cheer on our Special Olympics Athletes as they play their exhibition game.

· Laminated team cards will be provided in your packets.  Please be sure to bring them to Opening Ceremonies and hand them to the announcer prior to running out of the tunnel.

· Pine tar is ok.  Our fields are dirt and any non-medal cleat is acceptable footwear.

Click Image to Enlarge

DuQuoin Pairings

The surface inside the arena is all dirt. So cleats are the choice for footwear.

Wear white pants. I will have blue cotton, short sleeve jerseys for everyone. 

We may have to do some laundry while there!

Click Image to Enlarge

Friday Jan 30 Schedule at DuQuoin Wooden Bat Tournament

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Brackets will be available by Wednesday

We were suppose to have received brackets this past week so I called the tournament director Sunday at DuQuoin. Here is what I learned from our conversation:

1. The tournament is made and we will be playing at DuQuoin.
2. We will play on Friday night for certain.
3. A double-elemination tournament starts Saturday morning. 
4. It appears we will play at least 2 games Saturday.

At this point, we are taking just 9 players. So everyone must be on time and fully committed. I will have some standby players on the roster in case we get into a situation we need someone.

I am off most of Monday for MLK Day. The cage will be available and so will I. Please try to make some time that day to hit and pitch. 

Signs and Signals: Players need to learn

Removed for security purposes

UPDATED PROPOSED SCHEDULE

Parents ... please look over this schedule. I have found some other tournaments nearby which will eliminate need for overnight travel. Based on this schedule, our only truly overnight tournament would be the one coming up in DuQuoin. 

We still might add something in early March, but that only option is Jackson, Tenn. USSSA.

Like I mentioned earlier, we are not going to have very many players on the roster. We must have full commitment for these tournaments. THANKS!

Jan. 30-Feb 1  Rawlings Wood Bat   DuQuoin, IL

March 14-15  Rustlebuster BPA    Owensboro

March 27-29 March Madness Mayfield

April 11-12  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

April 16-18  Thrill on the Hill, Rent One Park, Marion, IL

April 25-27 Gold Ring Challenge Mayfield

May 2-3  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

May 9-10  BPA Mothers Day   Benton

June 13-14  BPA Tournament   Hopkinsville

June 20-21 BPA Tournament Greenville