The 2013 edition of the Kelowna Jays 10th annual Canada Day Baseball Blast kicks off Thursday night at Elks Stadium.
The opening game at 6 p.m. features the PBL’s Okanagan Athletics taking on the Calgary Redbirds, followed by the host WCA Jays taking on the Northwest Honkers from Seattle at 8:30 p.m.
This year’s lineup includes some of the top semi-pro, summer college and club teams in the west, including the defending champion Seattle Studs.
The Everett Merchants, last year-s runne-up Nanaimo Coal Miners, and Thurston County Senators are among other teams in the mix for the tournament title.
Sixteen teams will compete for $16,000 in prize money, with $7,000 going to the winning club.
Preliminary round action, featuring three games for each team, will run from Thursday evening until Sunday morning at Elks.
The playoffs begin Sunday at 1 p.m, with the semifinals set for Monday, July 1 at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
The championship final goes Monday at 2:45 p.m.
