MARINETTE — Summer officially kicks into full swing today, as eight Legion baseball teams from across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula descend on Pedersen Ball Park for three days of high-octane action at the annual Firecracker tournament.
Marinette, Menominee, Escanaba, Gladstone, Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay Southwest, Watertown and Manitowoc comprise the field of the Firecracker, which moves to pool play this year.
Marinette, Menominee, Escanaba and Watertown make up Pool A, while Manitowoc, Gladstone, Green Bay Southwest and Sault Ste. Marie find themselves in Pool B.
The top seed from each pool will clash on Sunday for the championship at 1 p.m.
Manitowoc enters the weekend as the defending Firecracker champion after the Black Sox authored a perfect 4-0 record last season.
Watertown, who won the 2022 Firecracker via a tiebreaker over Marinette, returns as last year’s runner-up.
Marinette has gone a combined 7-1 over the last two Firecracker tourneys, including a 3-1 mark last year which netted Post 39 a third-place finish.
Menominee aims to improve on its winless showing at last year’s tournament. The Red Wave have gone 1-3 at the past two editions of the Firecracker.
Every game of the tournament takes place at the Pedersen Ball Park complex, with six contests taking place at Haase Field, while the remaining ten games will be played at Dale Minzlaff Field.
Green Bay Southwest and Gladstone kick off the Firecracker at noon today. Menominee faces Watertown at 5 p.m., with Marinette versus Escanaba to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s slate is highlighted by the first of three meetings this season between Marinette and Menominee. Post 39 and the Red Wave close out day two of the Firecracker at 6:30 p.m.
Also set for Saturday is Menominee dueling with Esky at 12:30, while Marinette takes on Watertown at 1:30 p.m.
The results of today and Saturday’s contests will determine the seeding for Sunday’s final four games, which begin at 10 a.m. at Haase Field.
The full 2024 Firecracker tournament schedule is below.
Pool A: Marinette, Menominee, Escanaba, Watertown
Pool B: Manitowoc, Green Bay Southwest, Gladstone, Sault Ste. Marie
TodayGames take place at Dale Minzlaff Field
Green Bay Southwest vs Gladstone, noon
Manitowoc vs Sault Ste. Marie, 2:30 p.m.
Watertown vs Menominee, 5 p.m.
Escanaba vs Marinette, 7:30 p.m.
SaturdayGladstone vs Sault Ste. Marie at Haase Field, 10 a.m.
Manitowoc vs Green Bay Southwest at Dale Minzlaff Field, 11 a.m.
Menominee vs Escanaba at Haase Field, 12:30 p.m.
Marinette vs Watertown at Dale Minzlaff Field, 1:30 p.m.
Green Bay Southwest vs Sault Ste. Marie at Haase Field, 3 p.m.
Manitowoc vs Gladstone at Dale Minzlaff Field, 4 p.m.
Escanaba vs Watertown at Haase Field, 5:30 p.m.
Marinette vs Menominee at Dale Minzlaff Field, 6:30 p.m.
SundayPool A No. 4-seed vs Pool B No. 4 seed at Haase Field, 10 a.m.
Pool A No. 3-seed vs Pool B No. 4-seed at Dale Minzlaff Field, 10:30 a.m.
Pool A No. 2-seed vs Pool B. No. 2-seed at Dale Minzlaff Field, 12:30 p.m.
Championship gamePool A No. 1-seed vs Pool B No. 1-seed at Dale Minzlaff Field, 1 p.m.
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