A mix of local teams and teams from throughout the Northwest to play in Heritage’s baseball tournament

Heritage High School, in celebration of its new turf field for the baseball program, is hosting 11 other baseball teams for two days of tournament play Friday and Saturday.

The goal, according to Jason Castro, the school’s athletic director and baseball coach, was to bring events to Heritage. He hopes this becomes an annual event. And it won’t just be limited to baseball. He could see a softball tournament in the future, as well.

Hockinson vs. Sehome and Shelton vs. Hermiston will open the event in the Purple Bracket. Both games are set for 1 p.m. Friday, March 31. The winners of Friday’s games will play each other at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1. The losers will face each other Saturday, as well.

Battle Ground will take on Tumwater and Kelso will face Bonney Lake at 4 p.m. Friday in the Silver Bracket. Winners face winners on Saturday at 1 p.m., and the losers face each other Saturday, too.

Host Heritage will take on La Center at 7 p.m. Friday in the Black Bracket. Squalicum and Black Hills also play at 7 p.m. The Black Bracket will conclude Saturday at 4 p.m.

Also, this tournament coincides with the start of spring break. Castro said that athletic events at the beginning or toward the end of spring break are more common. And the programs that are coming this week are looking forward to the extra competition. Castro said other teams have already asked about availability for next year.

This year’s tournament brackets are sponsored by Wheelkraft NW.