Local baseball fans this year will have a chance to catch the boys of summer actually playing during the summer.

High school baseball is a spring sport in the state, but the Alabama High School Athletic Association allows teams seven dates to play exhibition games during the summer, and Chilton County High School will use three of those days to host a 13-team tournament June 10-12.

“I hope they enjoy the opportunity to play at home,” CCHS coach Josey Shannon said about his players, whose home games are at Clanton’s Jack Hayes Field. “I wanted to take advantage of having one of the nicest facilities in the state.

“And there’s money to be made. We’re not charging these teams to come in and play, but we’re just hoping, through the gate and concessions, we can make some money.”

Admission will be $5 for one day, or fans will be able to purchase a three-day pass for $10.

Money raised will go toward an indoor hitting facility Shannon said he is trying to get built before next season.

Shannon said the facility would be located behind the CCHS dugout, on the first base side of the field, and would allow the Tigers to practice no matter the conditions outside.

“If you don’t have an indoor hitting facility, you leave a lot of work on the table each day,” Shannon said about putting up the bats and balls due to the cold, rain or darkness. “That can be the difference between a win and a loss.”

Other than CCHS, teams participating in the Peach Classic will be Jemison, Maplesville, Thorsby, Benjamin Russell, Spain Park, Wetumpka, Holtville, Prattville, Elmore County, Bibb County, Beauregard and Chelsea.

“Even if you’re not coming to watch us play, you can watch these other teams play,” Shannon said.

First games are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on June 10 and 9:30 a.m. on both June 11 and June 12. Play will conclude at about 9 p.m. each night.