Break out the peanuts, warm up the vocal cords. It’s Take-Me-Out-to-the-Ballgame, River City style.

Today marks the first day of the annual River City Baseball Festival, one of the premier high school events in the Midwest.

The three-day tournament, hosted by Free State High, features 27 local and regional teams competing at three sites: Free State High, CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

For years, the event has delivered exciting baseball and attracted many college coaches and professional scouts.

“We are very proud of this event and the attention it has brought to not only our program but so many student-athletes throughout the region,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said.

The games get under way at 11 a.m. today, with four slated for play at CommunityAmerica and two apiece at FSHS and KU.

Lawrence High (4-3) and Free State (7-0) open today at Hoglund Ballpark, with LHS scheduled to face defending Class 6A state champion Blue Valley at 5 p.m. in a rematch of last season’s state semifinal matchup.

The Firebirds will take on Roeland Park Miege at 7:30 tonight.