Two Canadian teams kick off the 14th annual Keith Sell Invitational Legion Baseball Tournament this morning at Kindrick Legion Field.

The squads from Moose Jaw (Sask.) Cardinals and Calgary Cubs will face off in the 9 a.m. spot and add a little international flavor to the seven teams that are vying for this year's tournament crown.

Along with the two Canadian squads is another, the Edmonton Cardinals, while host Helena Senators are among four U.S. teams, including the Casper (Wyo.) Oilers, Butte Miners and Colorado Bobcats.

The Senators will have their first game tonight at 8 p.m. against Colorado, who will be coming off a game with Butte. With a team canceling a few days early of the tournament, organizers scrambled to fill a spot and the Bobcats volunteered to play the extra seven innings.

There will be five games contested the first two days, and four on Saturday, all in pool play.

Sunday will have the championship and consolation games with the title game scheduled for 6:15 p.m.

Always facing beautiful Mount Helena and with games being played early on Saturday for Fourth of July festivities, the event is a memorable event each year.

"It's a great atmosphere," said Senators head coach Dave Thennis. "It's typical baseball with with upsets, great comebacks and some strange things that will happen."

Thennis remembers a game in the late 1990s when his squad was a pitch away from being eliminated by the 10-run rule, then came back to win it.

They've faced female players and draft picks, including an Edmonton pitcher who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, and have finished off some really close games, and the occasional blowouts.

"I, personally, really enjoy the tight ball games," Thennis said.

The tournament is named in honor of longtime helena Legion advocate Keith Sell. Sell served the club for almost four decades - from the early 1960s to the late 1990s - as an assistant coach, head coach and general manager. He remains a supporter and fan of the local squads.

Tournament schedule

Thursday

Game 1 -- 9 a.m. -- Moose Jaw vs Calgary

Game 2 -- 11:45 a.m. -- Casper vs Calgary

Game 3 -- 2:30 p.m. -- Casper vs Edmonton

Game 4 -- 5:15 p.m. -- Butte vs Colorado

Game 5 -- 8 p.m. --Senators vs Colorado

Friday

Game 6 -- 9 a.m. -- Edmonton vs Colorado

Game 7 -- 11:45 a.m. -- Edmonton vs Moose Jaw

Game 8 --2:30 p.m. -- Butte vs Moose Jaw

Game 9 -- 5:15 p.m. -- Butte vs Casper

Game 10 -- 8 p.m. -- Senators vs Calgary

Saturday

Game 11 -- 9 a.m. -- Casper vs Colorado

Game 12 -- 11:45 a.m. -- Butte vs Calgary

Game 13 -- 2:30 p.m. -- Senators vs Moose Jaw

Game 14 -- 5:15 p.m. Senators vs Edmonton

Sunday

Game 15 --10 a.m. -- Colorado vs No. 7

Game 16 -- 12:45 p.m. -- No. 6 vs No. 5

Game 17 -- 3:30 p.m. -- No. 3 vs No. 4

Game 18 -- 6:15 p.m. -- No. 1 vs No. 2