Logan County's 14-year-old Babe Ruth team did its best to make visitors feel welcome by losing its tournament opener Wednesday night at Logan County High School.

All over Logan County, restaurants, motels and businesses are rolling out the red carpet to make teams from Owensboro, Glasgow, Louisville Germantown, Elizabethtown and Franklin welcome to this event.

At stake not only is a state championship but a chance to move on to a national regional tournament.

Yet no one has done more for them than the local Babe Ruth League.

Not only are league officials and volunteers working hard to make their stay here special, but the Logan team which was considered a contender for the championship dug themselves a hole by losing in the first night of action.

That means Manager Greg Meacham's team has to win the rest of its games, including two Sunday, to become state champion.

Logan leaders liked their team's chance of moving up a notch in this year's state tournament at the start of action, especially after Franklin-Simpson beat Owensboro 1-0 to start the tournament.

Owensboro is the defending state champion. Logan County was runner-up to them in the state tournament at Glasgow last year. Franklin lost twice to Logan in the district tournament but got to go to state because Logan was automatically in as the state host.

It was the team from the Glasgow area which punctured Logan's bubble in the second game, beating the home team 3-2. Now Logan must win five straight games to become champion.

Logan got good pitching from ace John Kenner, but ran into repeated baserunning and defensive problems that led to the loss.

Logan will play against the loser of Thursday's Germantown vs. Franklin-Simpson game at 8 p.m. Friday.

If the home team keeps winning, they will play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and again at 6.

If they win all three of those, they have to win twice on Sunday against the team that comes out of the winners' bracket in the double elimination tournament.

The first game Sunday begins at 2 p.m.

One of the best games of the tournament should be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the winners' bracket finals.

Whether the Logan County team keeps winning or not, Logan Countians will continue as hosts for the teams which remain.

A lot of work has gone into preparation for this event. Tim Hooper is tournament manager and David Taylor league president.

Three other local teams are still in action in Babe Ruth play. The 16-year-old Nation's Medicines Logan Legends and the 17-19 Logan Memorial Hospital/Cayce Mill Bees won state openers this week. They were scheduled to play in Louisville and Owensboro, respectively, Thursday.

The 15-year-old team is still in action in Greenville and will play one game tonight and two Saturday.

Details of those tournaments can be found in the Sports Section which begins on Page B-1.