MIDDLETOWN — If you happen to see around 600 kids running around with big sticks at Smith Park today, don’t worry.

The boys, ranging in age groups from kindergarten to eighth grade, will be at the park for the sixth annual Steel City Shootout youth lacrosse tournament.

The tourney, which began five years ago with 11 teams, has grown to 67 teams competing in 14 divisions, said event organizer Phil Keegan, Fenwick High School’s boys lacrosse coach.

The action will begin at 8:30 a.m., with final games set to begin at 6:30 p.m. A total of 95 competitive games will be played, as well as a handful of exhibition contests on a smaller field for the younger teams.

Keegan said the teams are mostly from the Dayton-Cincinnati area, but 11 squads from Columbus and another one from Indianapolis are also scheduled to compete.

Trophies will be awarded for first- and second-place teams in each pool, which will consist of four to six teams,’ Keegan said. Members of the winning teams also will receive medals, he said.

Two equipment vendors will be on hand — Celtic Lacrosse from Springboro and Midwest Lacrosse of Dublin, Ohio — and concession stands will be available throughout the park. Keegan said a lacrosse speed shot booth is planned, and a made-to-order T-shirt company will also be on hand to make souvenir T’s.

Players and staff of Fenwick High’s girls and boys teams, and many of the players’ parents, will be on hand to provide the manpower needed to run the event.

Admission is free.

Contact this reporter at (513)

705-2851

or

jbombatch

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coxohio.com.