Five of the 12 top-ranked high school softball teams in Florida, including overall number one ranked Bartow, will invade Kissimmee beginning Thursday (Apr. 4) for the 32nd edition of the Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic.  The three-day tournament will feature 32 teams playing in two 16-team brackets (Blue and Gold), with championship games in each bracket slated for 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Formerly known as the Kissimmee Klassic, the tournament was renamed in 2019 in honor of Roger Jones, a long-time coach, administrator youth sports mentor, tournament co-founder and long-time Executive Director of the event that passed away in 2018.  The MVP trophies for the event are named after former Osceola coach George Coffey, another co-founder of the event, who passed away in 2021.

The Blue Bracket is loaded with outstanding teams and talent.  Bartow is the defending 5A state champion and took a 10-0 record into last weekend’s games.  The Yellow Jackets have lost only 11 times in the last four years (89-11, .890 winning percentage).  

They are led by pitcher Kaetlyn Oxley.  A University of Florida signee, Oxley is considered the top high school pitcher in the state by many ranking services.  Through last week’s games, she was 6-0 this season with a 0.00 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.  In leading Bartow to a state title last year, she was 23-2 with a 0.50 ERA.

Led by pitcher Jasmine Francik (11-0, 188 strikeouts in 77 innings), Melbourne is another top team in the Blue Bracket.  Francik led the state in strikeouts last with 411, and is currently number one in that category this season.  Melbourne takes a 15-0 record into this week’s tournament.

Doral, ranked 6th in Florida, features one of the state’s outstanding pitchers in Yessenia Lopez and one of the top hitters in Sarah Breaux.  A Division-1 signee with UCF, Lopez is 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA this season after winning 19 games last year with 246 strikeouts.  Breaux (.700 batting average) is 12th in the state among players with 20 or more plate appearances.

Other top ranked teams in the Blue Division include Montverde (7th) and Hagerty (12th) to give the Blue Division five of the top 12 teams in the state across all classifications.

Although not considered the top bracket in the tournament, the Gold Division also features some outstanding teams.  Lake Wales is the defending 4A State Champion and Sumner ranks 45th overall among Florida’s 500 schools that play softball.  The division, which includes St. Cloud and host Osceola, also features regional powers Clermont East Ridge and Viera.

Both local teams will be facing tough first round challenges.  

St. Cloud (5-3) is scheduled to open play in the Gold Bracket at 6 p.m. Thursday night against Deltona (8-2); while Osceola (3-5) will take on Riverview Sumner (7-1) at 8 p.m. If St. Cloud wins its opener, it would face the Viera/Lake Wales winning in a 6 p.m. Friday quarterfinal game.  A loss would put them in a 10 a.m. consolation game against the Viera/Lake Wales loser.  A Kowboys win would put them in an 8 p.m. Friday game against the Canterbury/Palatka winner; they would face the loser of that game in a 12 noon game on Friday with a loss.

 “The Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic has a long-standing reputation of attracting the top teams and players from around the state,” Osceola Coach Miranda Watford said.  “We are pleased that tradition continues this year.  This is a great opportunity for the fans to witness some great softball action.”

“It was Roger’s and George’s dream to build a high-profile softball tournament in Kissimmee.  Through hard work and determination, they were able to accomplish that,” Watford said.  “That dream  will continue to live on with this year’s event.”

Tickets to the tournament are $33 for an all-tournament, all-week pass or $15 for a one-day pass.  They can be purchased at the gate or in advance at 

https://kissimmeeklassic.hometownticketing.com/embed/all.

Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic

At Fortune Road Softball Complex

Opening Round Games – Thursday

Blue Bracket

  • Rockledge vs. Monteverde 8 p.m.
  • Somerset vs. Eau Gallie, 8 p.m.
  • Dwyer vs. Florida Chrisitian, 6 p.m.
  • Winter Springs vs. Pine Charter, 6 p.m.
  • Oakleaf vs. Jensen Beach, 4 p.m.
  • Doral vs. Hagerty, 4 p.m.
  • Melbourne vs. Coral Reef, 2 p.m. 
  • Bartow vs. University (Orange City) 2 p.m.

Gold Bracket

  • Lake Wales vs. Viera, 8 p.m.
  • Osceola vs. Sumner, 8 p.m.
  • Canterbury vs. Palatka, 6 p.m.
  • Deltona vs. St. Cloud, 6 p.m.
  • Merrit Island vs. east Ridge, 4 p.m.
  • West Florida (Pensacola) vs.Cooper City, 4 p.m.