Byron Cox Post 72 earned the right to participate in the eight-team American Legion Baseball State Finals in southern Indiana beginning Friday. Rockport Post 254 is the host.
The double-elimination tourney begins 11 a.m. Friday with Princeton Post 25 (19-9) playing Terre Haute Post 346 (31-3). Terre Haute won their own regional on Sunday by defeating Post 72.
Post 72 earned the right to play in the state tourney by finishing as the regional runner-up.
Crawfordsville (22-10) will play the 1:30 p.m. game Friday when they face Lafayette Post 11 (22-12). Post 72 has beaten Post 11 twice by scores of 7-6 and 5-3.
Post 11 got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season due to not having their complete roster available. Post 11 had several players in the IHSAA state tournament and could not join the Legion team until their prep teams were eliminated from the statewide tourney.
Once Post 11 had all their players, the team went on a six-game winning streak. Post 11 has won 13 of 15 games in July.
Lafayette played through the regional losers bracket and beat Plymouth Post 27 twice, 12-2 and 8-2 to win the Kokomo Regional.
The winner of Game 2 will play at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The loser of Game 2 will play at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Plymouth Post 27 (12-11) will play Valparaiso Post 94 (17-11).
Friday’s Game 4 will feature South Haven Post 502 (21-14) playing host Rockport Post 254 (11-6).
The state tournament will continue daily until the July 28 championship game.
Fans need to recognize Rockport is one hour behind Indiana time.
All Post 72 State tournament games will be aired on Thunder 103.9 FM with Jeff Nelson on the call.
