ALTOONA – The Clearfield Bisons will be one of the eight teams in the area’s premier in-season high school baseball tournament, the Dean Patterson Curve Classic, this weekend at Blair County Ballpark, the home of the Altoona Curve.
The sixth annual event, which is sponsored by Dean Patterson Chevrolet Cadillac in Altoona, will run from Friday through Sunday.
Highlighting the field are the two-time defending DPCC champion Altoona and defending PIAA Class AAA state champion Punxsutawney, who will square off at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the last of four quarterfinal games.
The rest of the field includes returning participants Central (Martinsburg), Central Cambria and Hollidaysburg and newcomers Bishop Carroll and Bishop Walsh of Cumberland, Md. Bishop Walsh is the first out-of-state school to participate in the event.
Clearfield and Hollidaysburg will play at 12:30 p.m. in a game that also will count in the Central Penn League.
All teams will return Saturday, with Friday\’s winners advancing to the semifinals Saturday at 12:30 and 5:30. Consolation games are booked for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Depending on the outcome of the first round, Clearfield will go against Bishop Carroll or Central Cambria on Saturday.
The champion of the 2008 Dean Patterson Curve Classic will be crowned on Sunday. The first pitch will be thrown at 1 p.m.
The 2008 Dean Patterson Curve Classic Tournament schedule is as follows:
Friday (Quarterfinals)
Bishop Carroll vs. Central Cambria, 10 a.m.
Clearfield vs. Hollidaysburg, 12:30 p.m.
Bishop Walsh vs. Central, 3 p.m.
Altoona vs. Punxsutawney, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday (Consolation Games and Semifinals)
Bishop Carroll/Central Cambria loser vs. Hollidaysburg/Clearfield loser, 10 a.m.
Central/Bishop Walsh loser vs. Punxsutawney/Altoona loser, 12:30 p.m.
Bishop Carroll/Central Cambria winner vs. Hollidaysburg/Clearfield winner, 3 p.m.
Central/Bishop Walsh winner vs. Punxsutawney/Altoona winner, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday (Championship Game)
Saturday semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Dean Patterson Chevrolet Cadillac once again returns as the title sponsor of the Curve Classic, continuing its tremendous support of youth athletics in the region. In addition to the Dean Patterson Curve Classic, the dealership has title sponsorship of the Dean Patterson Little World Series, the Dean Patterson Great Chevy Shootout and the Dean Patterson Little Stanley Cup.
“I am proud to be able to provide a family-oriented event, along with the Blair County Ballpark, where our youth can show their determination and skills in a team environment,” said tournament sponsor Dean Patterson. “ Each year, the talent demonstrated by these young athletes is overwhelming, so I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of this community-supported event and the Dean Patterson Curve Classic MVP Sponsorship.”
For the sixth consecutive year, admission and parking for the tournament will be free of charge.
Donations will be accepted for both the Dean Patterson Curve Classic Scholarship Fund and the Dean Patterson Athletic Fund during each of the nine games.