The Joplin Sports Authority, a 501c3 not-for-profit sports commission, is seeking teams for the 2016 Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Classic. Next year will be the 17th annual tournament and we are partnering with the tournament committee from Commerce, Okla. to host a newly created large-school division.
This division will be known as the Miners Division keeping with the Mantle theme throughout the tournament as Mickey played shortstop for the Joplin Miners at Joe Becker Stadium. This division will play at the newly renovated Joe Becker Stadium following a $4.5 million upgrade to bring it to professional baseball standards.
There will be two other divisions — the Comet Division with eight teams (mostly small schools from Southwest Missouri and Oklahoma), the Triple Crown Division with six teams (medium size schools Southwest Missouri and Oklahoma).
The Miners Division will be a six-team division (two pools of three), three-game guarantee played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 7-9). Championship game on Saturday of this division will be played at Mickey Mantle Field in Commerce. Fifth place and third place games on Saturday will be played at Joe Becker Stadium. Entry fee is $200.
Teams will be provided three (3) wood bats each game. Should a bat crack or break, a tournament official will come collect the pieces of the bat and provide a replacement bat. Teams are allowed to use their own wood bats as well. Hoosier Bat Company of Valparaiso, Indiana is the official bat supplier (www.hoosierbatco.com)
In addition to the tournament, teams are invited to the Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Classic Awards Banquet on Saturday night following the tournament in Miami. Each year, the tournament features a keynote speaker (past special guests have included former Yankees Don Larsen and Goose Goosage, and Hall of Famers Juan Marichal, Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry and this year, Andre Dawson).
Individual awards (all-tournament, MVP, Tape Measure, Great Teammate) are presented to players in each division. Tournament MVP’s receive official tournament bats with the Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Classic logo and Mantle logo engraved in the bat and also autographed by the special guest. Tournament champions will be presented trophies by the special guest and have a chance to have a team photo with the special guest.
More information is available on the tournament website: http://www.mickeymantleclassic.com
Right now, the Miner Division needs four teams, Tahlequah and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, have committed.
To inquire, please contact Craig Hull, director, Joplin Sports Authority, (417) 625-1006 or e-mail craig@joplinsports.org
This division will be known as the Miners Division keeping with the Mantle theme throughout the tournament as Mickey played shortstop for the Joplin Miners at Joe Becker Stadium. This division will play at the newly renovated Joe Becker Stadium following a $4.5 million upgrade to bring it to professional baseball standards.
There will be two other divisions — the Comet Division with eight teams (mostly small schools from Southwest Missouri and Oklahoma), the Triple Crown Division with six teams (medium size schools Southwest Missouri and Oklahoma).
The Miners Division will be a six-team division (two pools of three), three-game guarantee played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 7-9). Championship game on Saturday of this division will be played at Mickey Mantle Field in Commerce. Fifth place and third place games on Saturday will be played at Joe Becker Stadium. Entry fee is $200.
Teams will be provided three (3) wood bats each game. Should a bat crack or break, a tournament official will come collect the pieces of the bat and provide a replacement bat. Teams are allowed to use their own wood bats as well. Hoosier Bat Company of Valparaiso, Indiana is the official bat supplier (www.hoosierbatco.com)
In addition to the tournament, teams are invited to the Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Classic Awards Banquet on Saturday night following the tournament in Miami. Each year, the tournament features a keynote speaker (past special guests have included former Yankees Don Larsen and Goose Goosage, and Hall of Famers Juan Marichal, Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry and this year, Andre Dawson).
Individual awards (all-tournament, MVP, Tape Measure, Great Teammate) are presented to players in each division. Tournament MVP’s receive official tournament bats with the Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Classic logo and Mantle logo engraved in the bat and also autographed by the special guest. Tournament champions will be presented trophies by the special guest and have a chance to have a team photo with the special guest.
More information is available on the tournament website: http://www.mickeymantleclassic.com
Right now, the Miner Division needs four teams, Tahlequah and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, have committed.
To inquire, please contact Craig Hull, director, Joplin Sports Authority, (417) 625-1006 or e-mail craig@joplinsports.org
