32 Special Olympics Benefit Softball Teams Fill Up Du Quoin Motel Rooms
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[It's doubtful that when planning possible events for what was to become the Southern Illinois Center just south of the main Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, anyone suggested indoor softball games.
Yet, that's precisely what's on the busy schedule for the facility this weekend, Jan. 13-15.
Sixteen teams composed of players from 12-and-under to 16-and-under years of age will be competing in a 32-game tournament, the brainstorm of Du Quoin's Bill Asbury.
The Girls Indoor Winter Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament, now in its third season, is becoming one of the facility's most popular events and this year has attracted teams from as far away as Clarksville, Tenn. Most, however, are from the southern Illinois area.
Asbury created the tournament and has been the principal organizer although Special Olympics of Southern Illinois is now the principal benefactor. Last year more than $75,000 was raised for the organization headed by Jo Dodd of Carbondale.
Two games are held simultaneously inside the SI Center with action scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Friday.
That's when the Super Sonics of Centralia take on Du Quoin's Dirt Diamonds and the Southern Illinois Express '00 challenge the Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs of Marion.
Friday night's remaining schedule follows:
7 p.m. -- McLeansboro's Lady Bullets vs. Bluff City Sox of Brighton. Johnston City's Illinois Eclipse vs. Sesser's Dirt Diamonds.
8 p.m. -- Red Bud's Midwest Express vs. Dirt Dawgs of Woodlawn. Marion's Dirt Dawgs vs. Rippers of Creal Springs.
9 p.m. -- McLeansboro's SI Lady Bullets vs. Rippers 96 of Creal Springs. Carbondale's Southern Express 99 vs. Hopkins Co. Heat of Madisonville, Ky.
10 p.m. -- Collinsville's St. Louis Fusion vs. Southern Steel of Red Bud. Benton's Southern Storm vs. Dream Team of Mayfield, Ky.
11 p.m. -- West Frankfort's Blitz vs. Southern Express 96 of Carbondale.
Saturday's games get underway beginning at 7 a.m.
Opening ceremonies for the tournament will feature several area dignitaries and is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.
Play continues through all day Saturday and Sunday as all teams entered in the tournament are guaranteed playing three games.