The 2019 Stevens Point Sixers American Legion Baseball team will compete in the 47th Ed Kardach Firecracker Classic at Bukolt Park over Fourth of July weekend. (Contributed photo)

Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

The Stevens Point Sixers American Legion Baseball team will host the 47th Ed Kardach Firecracker Classic at Bukolt Park over Fourth of July weekend.

A total of seven teams will compete in the tournament, which will take place Thursday through Sunday, July 4-7.

“So many people come down here and watch, and it’s just a good tournament every year,” said Sixers first baseman/pitcher Isaac Perner. “I look forward to it.”

“These tournaments that we host here, the Firecracker and the Don Friday, are such special tournaments,” said Sixers manager Pat Perner. “They just bring back so much history, and so many people just love to come to these tournaments because of the history and the ballpark that they get to play in.”

Last season, the Sixers went 3-0 in Pool Play at the Firecracker Classic, before they were knocked out with a 4-2 loss to Beloit in the Tournament Semifinals; while Oshkosh went on to win 11-1 over Beloit in the Championship Game.

Along with Stevens Point, this year’s tournament field includes Wisconsin Valley Legion League (WVLL) teams Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau and D.C. Everest, as well as Beaver Dam, Nekoosa and 2018 AAA State Qualifier Oshkosh.

The Sixers will be in Pool B with Beaver Dam and Nekoosa, while Pool A consists of Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau, D.C. Everest and Oshkosh.

Stevens Point will open against Nekoosa at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 5, in the final game of the day.

The Sixers will also take on Beaver Dam in the final game of Pool Play at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 6.

The top-seeded team from Pool A will take on the second seed from Pool B in the semifinals at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with the Pool B top seed set to take on the second seed from Pool A in the other semifinal at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

The winners will meet in the Championship Game at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, as Stevens Point will look to win the tournament for the first time since it won three consecutive Firecracker Titles from 2011 through 2013.

“It really brings the boys up to another level when they play, they know what it means when they come out here to play in this tournament,” said Pat Perner. “They really want to win.”

47th Ed Kardach Firecracker Classic at Bukolt Park

Thursday, July 4

Wisconsin Rapids vs. D.C. Everest, 6 p.m.

Friday, July 5

Wausau vs. Oshkosh, noon

Beaver Dam vs. Nekoosa, 2:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Rapids vs. Oshkosh, 5 p.m.

Stevens Point vs. Nekoosa, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 6

D.C. Everest vs. Oshkosh, 10 a.m.

Wisconsin Rapids vs. Wausau, 12:30 p.m.

Nekoosa vs. Beaver Dam, 3 p.m.

Wausau vs. D.C. Everest, 5:30 p.m.

Stevens Point vs. Beaver Dam, 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 7

Pool A No. 1 seed vs. Pool B No. 2 seed, Tournament Semifinals, 8:30 a.m.

Pool B No. 1 seed vs. Pool A No. 2 seed, Tournament Semifinals, 11:30 a.m.

Championship Game, 2:30 p.m.