61st Mexican-American Men’s Fast-Pitch Tournament to begin

The 61st edition of the Newton Mexican-American Men’s Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament will have a distinct Kansas City flavor to it.
Six of the 14 teams entered are from the Kansas City area, including the defending champion Kansas City Angels.
Other teams from the Kansas City area include the Kansas City Banditos, the Kansas City Indios, the Kansas City Eagles, the Kansas City Reds and the Kansas City Locos.
“Those teams always look forward to coming to this,” Newton Mexican-American Athletic Club president Richard Martinez said.
Three Newton teams compete this season — Los Travisos, which Martinez said means “trouble makers;” the Newton Mexican-American Athletic Club and the J-Train, which finished second to the Angels last season, falling 7-0 in the finals.
The tournament begins with one game at 8 p.m. Friday at Athletic Park’s Kelsch Field. Games resume at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kelsch Field, Centennial Park and Washington Road Park. Play begins at 8 a.m. Sunday at Kelsch Field and Washington Road Park.
The championship game is slated for 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Kelsch Field, with a second game at 5 p.m. if needed.
The tournament is the oldest of its kind in the United States.
Other teams in the tournament include the Hutchinson Angels, Salina Bud Light, Team Topeka and the Hutchinson Broncs.
The Kansas City Eagles placed third last year. The Kansas City Indios placed fourth.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Kelsch Field with a color guard, the National Anthem performed by April Webb and the opening invocation delivered by Bill Regier.
Special awards and the hall of fame presentation will be at 6:15 p.m., followed by the Azteca Dance Troupe performing at 6:30 p.m. The annual old timer’s game will be at 6:45 p.m.
The opening game begins at 8 p.m. with Los Travisos taking on the Hutchinson Angels.
Food at Washington Road Park will be served by Mi Mama’s Recipes.