The Missoula Mavericks are hosting the State American Legion Baseball tournament starting Wednesday at Lindborg-Cregg Field, but not before some pre-tournament festivities.

Missoula Mavericks board member John Yovetich, father of Mavericks ace pitcher Nick Yovetich, said the teams will be arriving on Tuesday on what should be a spectacular week of baseball weather in Missoula.

"There will be an opening night banquet down at Caras Park, and the featured speaker will be famed sportscaster, and Billings native, Brent Musburger," Yovetich said. "All eight tams and coaches will be down there to kick things off for the tournament this week. The Mavericks have a rich history, with 10 state championships and a coach, Brent Hathaway, who has been with the team for 25 years."

Yovetich said the tournament will definitely have a positive economic impact on western Montana.

"We expect at least 500 overnight attendees," he said. "Destination Missoula did an economic impact study and they came up with a number close to $500,000 it'll bring in to the economy in terms of lodging, food and beverage, shopping and doing all sorts of fun things in Missoula."

The Mavericks come into the tournament as the number one seed with a 20-2 conference record, and are the favorites to win the tournament.

The games will all be held at Lindborg-Cregg Field, in the same area as the Equestrian Park and Westside Little League on Tower Street between South Avenue and Spurgin Road.

 

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