The 24th Annual Austin International Youth Baseball Tournament took over Todd Park's North Complex again this summer, sending 16 teams of 11- and 12-year-olds to do battle on the ball diamonds for a three-day event.

The local Austin squad of 12-and-under players went 3-0 through pool play, which lasted all day Friday and half of Saturday. Each team played round-robin games within their four-team division to determine seedings in Saturday's and Sunday's championship and consolation brackets.

This year's opening ceremonies dedicated the 24th annual event to Don Leathers, a man devoted to baseball and its players within the community. Leathers threw out the traditional first pitch Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. after thanking family and friends for the honor. Leathers was saluted for his dedication to the youth of Austin and the out-county area as a coach, a teacher, an umpire and as a friend.

Four Canadian teams, two Wisconsin squads and an Iowa team again made the trip to Austin for the three-day tournament, bringing back stories of years passed and preparing for those memories yet to be made.

Those on hand to see the Austin Jaycees watched the first girl to play with the team in 18 years. Catherine Wagner -- who was the bat girl for Austin last year -- shared time on the field with her teammates in international competition. Current River's Jolene Slobojan was the only girl in the 16-team field last year, but this year's list of players included a pair of girls. Brittney Hallahan and the Brownton Red Sox were in Austin's Division A during pool play Friday and Saturday.

The semifinals and finals of championship and consolation bracket action are slated for today, starting with consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. The Austin Jaycees, after taking the top spot out of Division A, suffered their first loss Saturday afternoon. Northfield -- emerging second from Division B -- knocked off Austin 5-1.

The tournament championship game will be played at 3 p.m. today.

Results:

Pool Play

Division A

Austin 13, Port Arthur Continentals 8

Austin 10, Brownton Red Sox 1

Austin 10, Blue Earth Area 5

P.A. Continentals 17, Blue Earth 3

P.A. Continentals 7, Brownton 6

Brownton 8, Blue Earth 1

Division B

Rochester Spartans 10, Port Arthur Nationals 0

Rochester Spartans 11, Northfield 1

Rochester Spartans 15, Cloquet 1

Northfield 20, Cloquet 12

Northfield 12, P.A. Nationals 1

Cloquet 8, P.A. Nationals 6

Division C

Albert Lea 10, Current River 0

Albert Lea 13, Mason City Newman 3

Mason City Newman 10, Lomira, Wisc. 2

Mason City Newman 14, Current River 0

Lomira 23, Current River 8

Lomira 7, Albert Lea 6

Division D

Mankato Royals 2, Rochester Rockets 1

Mankato Royals 6, La Crosse Shelby 5

Mankato Royals 12, Westfort 6

Rochester Rockets 20, Westfort 0

Rochester Rockets 6, La Crosse Shelby 5

La Crosse Shelby 8, Westfort 6

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.