MONROE — Bill Aulph has created a lot of family memories at the Monroe County Fair Tournaments.
Aulph will coach one of his children in the annual showcase of 12-under baseball and softball for the seventh summer when the baseball tourney begins on July 18.
It started when he coached his daughter Alana in softball for three years, finishing second the first year and then taking two straight titles.
Then he joined the coaching staff for Monroe’s baseball program when his son Nolan reached Fair tournament age.
After placing third in back-to-back years, Monroe broke through to carry off the Bill Brenton Memorial trophy last summer.
Nolan is one four players returning from the winning roster in his final year of eligibility.
His father will walk away with him.
“This is it,” Bill Aulph said. “This is (emotional), especially with him (Nolan). He was so young. I don’t think he really remembers when his sister played.”
Aulph believes the Monroe American team that he is coaching with Jeff Ball has a good chance to repeat as champion.
“We have a pretty good team, a good mixture,” he said during media day for the tournaments at the Fairgrounds Diamond on Tuesday, July 7. “We have a decent shot. It will be a good tournament.”
There are 11 teams entered in the baseball tournament, including three from Bedford and two each from Monroe and Ida.
The other teams are Dundee, Frenchtown, Erie Mason and South Rockwood.
The defending champs kick off the tournament at 8 a.m. July 18.
Later that day it will be Bedford 11U vs. Monroe National at 10, Frenchtown vs. Ida Gold at noon, Bedford 12U vs. Ida Blue at 2 p.m., Dundee-Monroe American winner vs. Erie Mason at 4 and South Rockwood vs. the Bedford 11U-Monroe National winner at 6.
The only team that won’t take the field on opening day is Bedford 3B, which received a bye into Day 2 on Sunday July 19.
The softball champion will be crowned before baseball begins.
Defending champion Ida will be challenged by Dundee, Frenchtown, Erie Mason, Monroe, South Rockwood and Whiteford.
Dundee and Monroe will battle in the opening game at 8 a.m. Sunday.
The rest of schedule that day are Whiteford vs. Ida, 10 a.m.; Mason vs. Frenchtown, noon; South Rockwood vs. the Dundee-Monroe winner, 2 p.m.; the Whiteford-Ida loser vs. the Mason-Frenchtown loser, 4 p.m.
“I think we have a good chance,” Frenchtown coach Jeff Johnson said. “We have an opportunity to win every game.”
“I am super excited,” said Mason coach Kayla King.
“I think we have great chance,” Monroe coach Derek Kaczor said. “We’re a young team, but super athletic.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Schedules set for Monroe County Fair Baseball and Softball tourneys
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Niles Kruger, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
