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It was five years ago when the city of La Crosse’s three high school baseball teams decided to determine an official city champion with one day full of games.
Five years later, All-City Baseball Day will expand to include all seven teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference -- and La Crescent High School -- as it evolves into All-MVC Baseball Day.
The inaugural offering of the tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April, 26, at La Crosse’s Copeland Park. Tomah plays the first game against La Crosse Central at 10 a.m. The game counts in the MVC standings and is Central’s home game that would have been played at Central High School. The two teams meet again in Tomah May 22.
“It’s not only a great opportunity for all MVC teams to play there, but it evens out the playing field for everybody,” La Crosse Aquinas coach Scott Bagniefski said. “It brings focus to the high level of our conference.”
Each team will play one game for a total of four contests. Because of the odd number of teams in the MVC, one team must play a non-conference game. This year it’s Onalaska, which matches up against La Crescent.
“This type of thing is unique to the sport. It’s something basketball and football don’t have,” Bagniefski said. “We all get to come together for one day and try to get the community, the MVC fans, out there, as well.”
Copeland Park is the home of the La Crosse Loggers, which begins Northwoods League play in June.
Tomah is no stranger to Copeland Park. Tomah and Central faced off in a 12-inning regional semifinal game at Copeland Park in 2004. Central won the game, 11-10.
Tomah Newspapers Sports Editor Steve Rundio contributed to this report.
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