CHANNAHON – Baseball long has been known as America’s pastime.

So, on the holiday that celebrates the nation’s independence, what’s more American than a bunch of young American boys playing baseball?

That’s what was going on Friday in Channahon, as Minooka took on Braidwood in the Channahon 12U Fireworks Tournament. Other teams in the five-team event are Channahon, Somonauk and Whiteford. This particular tournament is for in-house all-star teams only. House All-Star Teams or part-time travel teams – which have played fewer than 20 games together – are eligible. No full-time travel teams are eligible.

That suits Minooka Mudslingers head coach Joel Harris just fine.

“I put this team together to give some of the late bloomers and kids that can’t afford full-time travel ball a chance to play,” Harris said. “We did play a few games before this tournament, and they were all against full-time travel teams. We were competitive with the full-time travel teams.”

The Mudslingers were more than competitive against Braidwood, rolling to a five-inning, 10-run-rule victory. The highlight for Minooka was a combined no-hitter by pitchers Ian Ban and Jake Formenti. Ban threw the first three innings and retired all nine batters he faced. Formenti worked a perfect fourth before walking two batters in the fifth.

“I’ve never been part of a combined no-hitter before,” the left-handed Ban said. “It feels pretty good. My fastball was working the best today. That, and hitting the corners.”

It was a little extra special for Formenti, who previously played for Braidwood before moving to Minooka.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “My fastball and cutter both worked today, and I had good mechanics.”

The tournament began Monday, with Channahon recording a 5-3 win over Whiteford. On Tuesday, Minooka beat Somonauk, 7-6, and Channahon upended Braidwood, 8-1. There were five games Saturday. The top four teams in the round-robin advance to the semifinals, which take place Sunday. The semifinal losers will play in the consolation game at 2 p.m., with the winners playing for the championship at 4:30 p.m.

It’s a full slate of games all weekend, because there also is an 8U and 10U tournament going on at separate fields behind Pioneer Path School. Teams in the 8U tournament are Channahon Black, Channahon Red, Minooka, Whiteford, St. Joe’s Red, St. Joe’s Blue, Plainfield and Braidwood. Those competing in the 10U tournament are Channahon, Whiteford, St Joe’s Red, Troy and Coal City.

Along with the dominant pitching, the Mudslingers got the job done at the plate as well. They got on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-run single by Jonathon Forneris.

Also in the inning, Minooka got a sacrifice fly by Formenti and an RBI single by Julian Reyes. In the second inning, Forneris doubled with the bases loaded, scoring three more runs.

Other run-scoring hits came off the bats of Connor Gregorec, Bryce Barnes, Matt Nolan, Formenti and Bryce Harris.

“We played well today,” Joel Harris said. “We got great pitching, and we have plenty of other pitchers that haven’t thrown yet.”