By Richard Polen

sports@joplinglobe.com

The 16-team championship bracket begins today in the Premier Incoming Freshman Championship.

Six teams will play in the consolation bracket, which concludes on Sunday at JayCee. Field in Lincoln Park at Pittsburg, Kan. Three area teams — SEK Crusaders, Joplin Miners and Pittsburg Pirates — are in that division.

The top seeds entering the championship round are the Rawlings Red Sox, Arizona Clash, Mud Dogs Blue and Waco Dodgers.

“It’s always the toughest part, going through the different tiebreakers in putting the bracket together,” said Tournament Director Don Patty.

“Other than doing the bracket, everything has been fine. The (Joplin) Sports Authority has been great, as usual. This is the best field we’ve ever had. The competition is great.”

Pool play was completed Thursday at five area fields. “They get used to it after the first day,” said Megan Walker, marketing and public relations coordinator for the Sports Authority, on getting coaches, players and fans to the proper locations.

“We got rained out a lot last year,” she said. “No rain today, and hopefully not tomorrow.

“And it’s not as hot as it was last year. The Texas teams are loving the weather. They’re saying, ‘This is so much better than Texas.’ ”

Nine of the 22 teams in the tournament are from Texas.

The Rawlings Red Sox lead off today’s schedule at 9:30 a.m. against Mud Dogs Red at Joe Becker Stadium, while Arizona takes on Rawlings Red Birds at Joplin High School.

Mud Dogs Blue open against Bayside Yankees at Seneca, and Waco takes on Rawlings Legends at Pittsburg. Other games today are scheduled for noon, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturday’s games are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and noon. The semifinals are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and noon on Sunday, followed by the championship game at 2:30 p.m.

JSA is the tournament’s host for the second consecutive year.