AuSABLE FORKS — The 57th annual AuSable Forks Fast Pitch Softball Tournament gets underway Friday at the Billy Mitchell Memorial Field. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with the dedication of the tournament to Mary Claire Smythe and Stephanie Snow, who are being recognized for their years of outstanding volunteer service to the annual event.

The opening game of the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. features the Forestport A’s from Forestport, New York, against a local entry: the Gordon Oil Brewers. The Brewers are primarily made up of AuSable Forks Fast Pitch League players who recently placed second in a Forestport Tournament and were third in a Croghan Tournament.

The Brewers are led by local standout pitcher Andrew Bombard, who has struck out 71 batters in 68 innings so far this season.

The Brewers are also well stacked on the offensive side, led by Kodi Gordon with a .447 batting average, six home runs and 14 RBIs. Josh Douglass has a .308 average, A.J. Gordon has a .250 average and Bombard brings a .342 batting average into the tournament.

The Brewers’ roster also includes Kyle Nolan, Adam Coolidge, Ryan Evens, Bernie Laduke, John Mussen, Eric Rock, Brandon Snow, Kelly Gordon, T.J. Burl and Mason Dubay.

“Our team is very talented offensively with every player on the roster a threat,” Kodi Gordon, the team captain, said.

The Brewers will be managed by Scott Bombard.

The tournament’s second game will be between the AuSable Forks Merchants and the Mountain Brook Lodge/Durham Diamondbacks (from Durham, Ontario). Game time is 9 p.m.

The Merchants’ roster includes pitcher Mike Furnia, Tyler Santa Maria, Dalton McDonald, Mike McDonald, Marcus Lafebve, Alex Santa Maria, Austin Depo, Zac Shaw, Kody Shaw, Greg Musk, Nate Craig and U.S. Olympian Jayson Terdiman.

The Merchants will be co-managed by Tom Mousseau and Pat Santa Maria.

Games will be played all day Saturday and Sunday, with action on two different fields. The semifinal rounds begin Sunday at 11 a.m., followed by the championship game at 3 p.m.

Teams will compete for more than $3,400 in prize money and awards. The AuSable Forks Tournament winner will also win an entry to the 2020 ISC World Championships in Moline, Illinois.