Youth Baseball Series Kicks Off Tonight at Joker Marchant

Twenty-four teams from 10 states will come out to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland tonight to kick off the Dixie Youth World Series with a home run derby and an opening ceremony.  A parade of teams will follow and take place just before the Flying Tigers’ game against the Clearwater Threshers.

This double-elimination, Dixie Youth Major (age 11-12) and AAA (age 9-10) baseball tournament officially begins Saturday with games at 3:30 p.m. in each age group and continues through Thursday, August 9 at the George Pittas Complex in Bartow.

2012 marks the Dixie Youth World Series’ first return to Polk County in over 20 years. Lakeland’s Peterson Park was the site of the Series’ last visit to Polk in 1990. Bartow has previously been the site of the World Series tournament as well with games held in 1970, 1977, 1981 and 1987.

Opening Ceremony

The tournament festivities start today at 3:00 p.m. inside Joker Marchant Stadium with the annual home run derby. Players  participating in the home run derby will have their pictures displayed on the giant video scoreboard. Following the derby, at 4:30 p.m., is a team meal, and concessions will be open for visitors and families. Six o’clock will bring the start of the opening ceremony, then the Lakeland Flying Tigers will take on the Clearwater Threshers with the first pitch scheduled for 7:11 p.m. Closing out the night at Joker Marchant will be a  fireworks extravaganza (weather permitting).

Fan information

Cost for spectators to watch the tournament is $7 a day or $25 for a tournament pass. Children under the age of six are FREE. Fans may bring their chairs or blankets, but coolers are not allowed. Games will be broadcast on WWBF radio, AM 1130 or online at www.JockJive.com.

Find the Series’ brackets here: 2012 Dixie Youth World Series-brackets