The Daily Inter Lake

Approximately 400 athletes will descend on the softball fields at KidSports Complex this weekend.

The Glacier Emeralds are hosting their annual Glacier Emeralds Invitational fastpitch tournament, beginning at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

Action resumes at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Pool play games end at 7:15 p.m. Saturday and the single elimination tournament is Sunday.

Championship games are slated for 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

This tournament had just 17 teams in three divisions last year - Kalispell hosted the state tournament the following week and several teams didn't want to commit to two weekends - but is back up to 30 squads this year.

Teams entered this weekend are from Montana, Idaho and Washington.

Athletes, range in age from 8 to 17 years old.

The Glacier Emeralds will have five teams competing - one in 10U, one in 12U, one in 14U and two in 16U. Teams from Columbia Falls, Polson, Whitefish, and Libby have are also entered.

Local teams include: Glacier Emeralds 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U 1 and 16U 2, Flathead Monsters, Flathead Lil Monsters 12U, Columbia Falls Clash 12U, Wildkats 14U, Hit and Run Softball 14U, Kootenai Crushers 12U, Polson Little Lakers 10U, Polson Purple Wave 12U, Polson Lakers 14U, Polson Purple Rain 16U, Kootenai Crushers 12U, Kootenai Crushers 16U.