When Salpointe Catholic grad Kevin Brice first decided he would continue his baseball career at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., he did not know that he would be coming back to play in Tucson as a college freshman.

He along with his Sagehen teammates will be playing three games at Kino Sports Complex later in March as a part of the Tucson Invitational Games.

“I found out I would be playing in Tucson for Pomona-Pitzer in the fall, and the first thing that came to my mind was how weird it would feel to be playing on the Kino fields that I've been playing on my whole life, but this time it would be as a college athlete,” Brice said.

Brice is one of five former high school players from Tucson who will be playing in the month-long tournament that started on Thursday, Feb. 28. The other players are C.J. Wienhoff (Canyon del Oro) with Presentation College from South Dakota, Nathan Wood (Ironwood Ridge) with William Penn University from Iowa, Mike Lachapelle (Sahuaro) and Michael Bregante (Cienega) who both play for Arizona Christian University.

2013 marks the third year that the Invitational has offered baseball. In those three years the tournament has provided college players like Brice an opportunity to comeback and play in front of their hometown.

“It means a lot being able to play in front of my family and friends again,” Brice said. “I haven't been in Tucson for three months, and for my family and friends to be able to watch me play without them having to make the sacrifice of driving all the way out to L.A. is a great feeling.”

The outfielder is in his first season with the Sagehens after batting .327 with five home runs as a senior at Salpointe. At Pomona, he was their opening day starter in right field and reached base twice in his first two college at-bats.

“I've enjoyed the great baseball environment that Pomona-Pitzer offers,” Brice said.

At the Tucson Invitational Games, Pomona will be playing against Macalester College on March 22, and Buena Vista University as well as Gustavus Adolphus College on March 23, providing family and friends of the former Lancer three opportunities to watch him play.

“I'm looking forward to seeing my parents and friends again, and to show my teammates the greatness of Eegee's and Guero Canelo,” Brice said.

A schedule of the games in which the Tucson players' are involved, is shown below.

(teams in bold with Tucson players)

Sunday, March 3

William Penn vs. Illinois Institute of Tech. 10 a.m. - Field 7

Illinois Institute of Tech. vs. William Penn (after 10 a.m. game) - Field 7

Monday, March 4

Northland vs. Presentation 10 a.m. - Field 5

Presentation vs. Northland (after 10 a.m. game) - Field 5

Morningside vs. William Penn 11 a.m. - Field 3

William Penn vs. Morningside (after 11 a.m. game) - Field 3

Tuesday, March 5

Presentation vs. St. Mary’s 11 a.m. - Field 3

St. Mary’s vs. Presentation (after 11 a.m. game) - Field 3

Thursday, March 7

Iowa Wesleyan vs. Presentation 11 a.m. - Field 4

Presentation vs. Iowa Wesleyan (after 11 a.m. game) - Field 4

Northern St. vs. William Penn 11 a.m. - Field 5

William Penn vs. Northern St. (after 11 a.m. game) - Field 5

Illinois Institute of Tech. vs. Arizona Christian 4 p.m. - Field 7

Friday, March 8

Presentation vs. Cornell 9 a.m. - Stadium

Cornell vs. Presentation (after 9 a.m. game) - Stadium

William Penn vs. Dakota Wesleyan 1 p.m. - Field 4

Dakota Wesleyan vs. William Penn (after 1 p.m. game) - Field 4

Northwestern College vs. Arizona Christian 1:30 p.m. - Field 7

Arizona Christian vs. Northwestern College (after 1:30 p.m. game) - Field 7

Saturday, March 9

Mount Marty vs. William Penn 10 a.m. - Stadium

William Penn vs. Mount Marty (after 10 a.m. game) - Stadium

Arizona Christian vs. Southwest Minn. St. 3 p.m. - Field 4

Sunday, March 10

Arizona Christian vs. Jamestown 11 a.m. - Field 4

Jamestown vs. Arizona Christian (after 11 a.m. game) - Field 4

Tuesday, March 19

Arizona Christian vs. Grand View 1 p.m. - Field 5

Grand View vs. Arizona Christian (after 1 p.m. game) - Field 5

Friday, March 22

Pomona-Pitzer vs. Macalester noon – Field 5

Saturday, March 23

Buena Vista vs. Pomona-Pitzer 12:30 p.m. – Field 5

Gustavus Adolphus vs. Pomona-Pitzer 4 p.m. - Stadium

For a complete listing of all the Tucson Invitational Games, that include 55 colleges from 17 states, click on the below link:

Tucson Invitational Games

 

 

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