Annual Popcan Tourney begins Friday

The Clay Youth League 8-year-olds begin the "Pop Can" Tournament Friday at the Forest Park CYL Fields.

Before the actual tournament on Sunday, the team will play two preliminary games to determine its seeding, somewhere between 1-8.

According to Shawn Schauber, a coach for the team, the "Pop Can" Tournament originated when there was a soft drink distribution plant near Brazil.

The trophy that the winning team received used to have a can of pop on top of the wooden base, but below the usual boy swinging a bat.

The 8-year-olds will begin play tonight in the prelims, with their first game starting at 6 p.m.

They will play the second game of the qualifiers on Saturday.

That game is scheduled to begin at noon.

Depending on its seeding, the team could play at different times Sunday in the actual tournament.

In order to win the tournament, the 8-year-olds will need to win three games in a row.