For the second consecutive summer the fields of O.K. Ward and Capell Parks will play host to the Sandlot Southeast Idaho Invitational softball tournament beginning today.

    The tournament was the idea of Sandlot baseball and softball training facility owners Mike and Lisa Wise as a way to maintain business through the summer months. Last summer’s inaugural event featured 19 teams from Montana, Northern Utah and Idaho.

    Tournament director Mike Wise said before last year’s tournament began that he hoped it would get bigger each year. After just one event, he got his wish as four more teams join this season’s tournament.

    This year’s tournament features 23 teams from three states, including seven in the 16U division from Southeast Idaho.

    Three age groups will participate in the tournament, 12U, 14U and 16U. Within each group, the teams will play two games of pool play Friday morning that will determine the seeding for the double elimination bracket play that begins later that afternoon.

    If fans expect to see full seven inning games, don’t. Time will be a factor for each game as pool games will have a 65 minute time limit. 75 minutes is the time limit for bracket games.

    The 12U and 14U teams will play all of their games at Capell Park, while the 16U will play pool and bracket games at O.K. Ward Park. Pool play begins at 8 a.m. while bracket plays starts a noon and games will start every 90 minutes.

    All action shifts to Capell Park Saturday, with semifinals beginning in the morning and the championship games scheduled for 5 p.m. for the 12U and 14U teams and 3:30 p.m. for the 16U teams.

    The Pocatello Diamond Queens have teams in all three divisions, with the 16U team featuring some of the players from the Highland High School varsity team.

    Blackrock is also in the 16U division, the team has members if the Pocatello and Century High School varsity teams on it.

    Other local teams participating are the Malad Blaze, McCammon Eagles, Preston and the Bear Lake Bears.

     Tournament action gets under way today at 8 a.m. at O.K. Ward and Capell Park.