Eight Collegiate Teams From Four States to Compete In Dugan Invitational Tournament at Hot Springs’ Historic Majestic Park

Eight collegiate teams from four states — Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas — will compete starting January 30 in the fifth annual Dugan Invitational Baseball Tournament at Historic Majestic Park in Hot Springs.

The tournament, which runs through February 1, will see competition among Southern Arkansas University (SAU), Henderson State University (HSU), Ouachita Baptist University (OBU), the University of Arkansas Monticello (UAM), Oklahoma Baptist, Pittsburg (Kan.) State University (PSU), Fort Hays (Kan.) State University (FHS), and Missouri Southern State University (MSSU).

“We’re looking forward to hosting the fifth annual Dugan Invitational,” Majestic Park General Manager Derek Phillips said. “Five of this year’s teams have played in Hot Springs in earlier Dugan Invitationals, and this year we are welcoming three new teams to Majestic Park — Pittsburg State, Oklahoma Baptist and Fort Hays.”

“The Dugan has become recognized as a quality tournament where teams face tough competition to help their rankings to get consideration for making their regional tournament,” Phillips said. “The Dugan Invitational in 2022 was the first ever official game played at Majestic Park. That year Northeastern State [Oklahoma] defeated SAU 7-5. The continued success of this tournament is one of our favorite accomplishments.

“Not only does the tournament showcase some really competitive teams from our region, but it also fulfills another goal of Majestic Park, which is to bring visitors to Hot Springs to enjoy all the attractions our city has to offer.”

The tournament is named in honor of Mike Dugan, the late Hot Springs baseball historian who spearheaded the creation of Majestic Park, according to Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison.

“Without Mike Dugan’s vision and leadership there would be no Majestic Park,” Arrison said. “No world-class baseball complex on the very site where Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron and other immortals played and practiced in the days when Hot Springs was the focal point of Major League Baseball spring training.”

This year’s Dugan Invitational schedule (three games will be played at Henderson State in Arkadelphia):

Friday, January 30

• 10 a.m. — SW Baptist vs Ouachita Baptist

• 1 p.m. — MSSU vs Henderson

• 4 p.m. — Pitt vs Southern Arkansas

• 7 p.m. — UAM vs Fort Hays

Saturday January 31

• 10 a.m. — Southern Arkansas vs MSSU

• Noon at Henderson State — Ouachita Baptist vs Fort Hays

• 1 p.m. — Pitt vs UAM

• 3 p.m. at Henderson State — Fort Hays vs Henderson

• 4 p.m. — SW Baptist vs Southern Arkansas

• 7 p.m. — Oklahoma Baptist vs SW Baptist

Sunday February 1

• 10 a.m. — MSSU vs UAM

• 11 a.m. at Henderson — Henderson vs Pitt

• 1 p.m. — Southern Arkansas vs Fort Hays

• 4 p.m. — Ouachita Baptist vs Oklahoma Baptist

For more information, contact Derek Phillips at 501-359-2414.