District 4 champion Ranview of St. Paul will play Becker at 10 a.m. Thursday at Adamson Field in Brainerd in the opening game of the VFW state baseball tournament.
Preceding the tournament is a banquet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Brainerd National Guard Armory. Parents are invited to join players and coaches. Cost of dinner for parents is $15. Dinner tickets may be purchased at the door.
"The host post is great on this," Brainerd VFW head coach Keith Peterson said. "They cover every coach and player that comes free of charge."
Brainerd High School baseball coach Lowell Scearcy, who ranks third on the all-time Minnesota State High School League wins list (706), will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
Peterson credits tournament director Bob Marsh and the remainder of Post 1647 for more than a year of planning and preparation for Brainerd to host the event for the first time since 1993.
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"Bob did a lot of leg work on this himself," Peterson said, "and I've got to give credit to Chuck Hanson. He's kind of the financial guy who writes the checks for the money that we spend.
"Chuck and Bob went and scouted the state tournament at Ely last year with us. They were there every step of the way from the banquet through the end of it when we were beat out. They know what has been done. You don't want to do anything less. You want to improve on it."
Tournament notes
• Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes in Baxter will house most of the teams.
• Joel Lofstrom of Brainerd is the umpire in chief.
• Brainerd assistant coaches are Blake Peterson and Nick Nelson.
State VFW Tournament Schedule
Thursday's Games
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Game 1: Champlin vs. Austin 10:30 a.m. Mills Field
Game 2: Ranview vs. Becker (host) 10 a.m. Adamson Field
Game 3: Brainerd vs. Mankato 12:30 p.m. Adamson
Game 4: Alexandria vs. Marshall 1 p.m. Mills
Game 5: Grand Rapids vs. Champlin/Austin winner 3:30 p.m. Mills
Game 6: Bemidji vs. Ranview/Becker winner 3 p.m. Adamson
Game 7: Loser Game 2 vs. loser Game 3 at 6 p.m. Adamson
Game 8: Loser Game 1 vs. loser Game 4 at 5:30 p.m. Mills
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Friday's Games
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. loser Game 5 at 12:30 p.m. Adamson
Game 10: Loser Game 6 vs. winner Game 8 at 12:30 p.m. Mills
Game 11: Winner Game 3 vs. winner Game 5 at 10 a.m. Adamson
Game 12: Winner Game 6 vs. winner Game 4 at 10 a.m. Mills
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. winner Game 10 at 3 p.m. Adamson
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. winner Game 9 at 5:30 p.m. Adamson
Saturday's Games
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Game 15: Winner Game 11 vs. winner Game 12 at 10 a.m. Adamson
Game 16: Winner Game 14 vs. winner Game 13 at 12:30 p.m. at Adamson
Game 17: Loser Game 15 vs. winner Game 16 at 3 p.m. Adamson
Sunday's Games
Game 18: Winner Game 15 vs. winner Game 17 at 11 a.m. Adamson
Game 19: Winner Game 18 vs. loser Game 18, if necessary, 1:30 p.m. Adamson
