FCA TOURNEY: Annual baseball tournament celebrates 30 years beginning Tuesday
By GRAHAM DUNN
As the story goes, 30 years ago, John Gibbons had a dream to bring a first-rate high school baseball tournament to Montgomery, something the Capital City had never really seen.
Former Trinity Presbyterian coach Ken Whittle had the same idea but with another thought in mind.
The two needed a vehicle to share the Good News of Jesus Christ while honoring a fallen student athlete.
Thankfully both have been accomplish.
The 30th FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Tournament is scheduled to open on Tuesday with one of the biggest slates ever. The majority of the tournament will be played at Paterson Field and Riverwalk Stadium but a few games had to be scheduled at the home fields of Trinity, Prattville Christian Academy and Montgomery Academy to accommodate the large entry list.
The regulars are back including the host school, Trinity, along with nearly every team in the Capital City. Autauga and Elmore Counties will also be represented.
A few more outside the city will participate including Andalusia, Providence Christian and Greenville.
Former Trinity coach Ken Whittle came up with the idea back in 1994 to honor the memory of former player Jason Armstrong and the tournament was originally set up for Capital City Conference teams plus a few local schools, as well.
Through its history, the tournament has arranged the opportunity for many local athletes to attend FCA camp during the summer.
“Over 1,000 (students) have gone to FCA camp thanks to this tournament,” stated Gibbons. “The money raised from this week will help with several young people who may not have come to know the Lord.”
Play opens at Riverwalk Stadium with three games. The tournament continues through Monday, March 13.
“This area is really competitive and has been the last few years,” said Trinity’s Jarrod Cook, coach of the defending state champion Wildcats. “I think the teams outside of the Montgomery area look at the (talent in the) surrounding counties and say those guys are pretty good, let’s jump in that tournament. And all of the coaches are familiar with each other. I think it’s a no-brainer when you have as much talent in the area.”
In addition to the local teams, 7A Prattville, 6A Stanhope Elmore and Pike Road and 5A Holtville will participate along with Chilton County, Pike County, Providence Christian and Andalusia.
“It’s just about iron sharpening iron,” Cook said. “We just want to make our kids better.”
The tournament is an early gauge for teams still searching for an identity, such as Trinity.
“Honestly, I think these teams we’re going to play are some of the best teams on our schedule,” Cook said. “We play these games to go and compete against some of the best talent around the area. Hopefully, it reveals some weaknesses. The team I have this year is still in that identity phase and to be able to play teams like this in this tournament will help us move that forward. We’re still trying to shape things up. It’ll be good for us.”
Tournament passes and single game tickets are available at the gate at both Paterson and Riverwalk this week. There is also availability for sponsor for the tournament. Visit the FCA website (www.alabamafca.org) for information.
Schedule for the 30th FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Tournament
Games will be played at Riverwalk Stadium and Paterson Field unless noted otherwise
Tuesday (3/7) results
Riverwalk Stadium
Park Crossing 5, Greenville 3
Andalusia 4, Chilton County 2 (10 inn.)
Pike County vs. G.W. Carver - cancelled
Wednesday (3/8) schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
2 p.m. St. James vs Prattville
4 p.m.: Elmore County vs Montgomery Academy
6 p.m.: LAMP vs. Brew Tech
Paterson Field
2 p.m.: Alabama Christian vs Stanhope Elmore
4 p.m.: Andalusia vs. Prattville Christian
6 p.m.: Pike Road vs. Holtville
Thursday (3/9) schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
2 p.m.: Prattville vs. Trinity
4 p.m.: Stanhope Elmore vs. Andalusia
6 p.m.: Holtville vs. Alabama Christian
Paterson Field
2 p.m.: Montgomery Academy vs. Brew Tech
4 p.m.: St. James vs. Catholic
6 p.m.: Prattville Christian vs LAMP
Friday (3/10) schedule
2 p.m.: Holtville at Trinity (Whittle-Armstrong Field)
5:30 p.m.: Catholic at Prattville Christian
6 p.m.: Providence Christian at Montgomery Academy
Paterson Field
2 p.m.: Prattville vs Pike Road
4 p.m.: Alabama Christian vs Elmore County
6 p.m.: Brew Tech vs. R.E. Lee
Saturday (3/11) schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
2 p.m.: Trinity vs Pike Road
4 p.m.: Holtville vs. St. James
6 p.m.: Greenville vs. R.E. Lee
Paterson Field
10 a.m.: Prattville vs Providence Christian
12 p.m.: Providence Christian vs Catholic
2 p.m.: Elmore County vs LAMP
Monday (3/13) schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
2 p.m.: Park Crossing vs. Brew Tech
4 p.m.: Catholic vs Jeff Davis
(Note: any rain out games to be made up will be played at a later date)