Legion Baseball Tourney Opens at Blair Field in Long Beach

Eight teams will vie for the title of the 60th American Legion Western Regional Baseball Tournament at Blair Field next week. The event begins Wednesday and runs through Aug. 25.

Peterson Post No. 27, composed mainly of players from Poly High, is the host team for the event. The tournament was last played at Blair Field in 1963 and was won by Peterson Post, which went on to capture the national American Legion baseball title.

In the opening round Wednesday, Hawaii meets Arizona at 10:05 a.m., followed by a Nevada-Colorado match-up. At 4:35 p.m. New Mexico takes on California. Peterson Post plays Utah in the main event, which follows the New Mexico-California game.

The winner of the event advances to the national finals Aug. 28 in Kokomo, Ind.

A tournament pass at Blair Field is $20. Single-game ticket prices are $3. Admission is $2 for senior citizens and high school students. Children under age 10 will be admitted free.

A banquet honoring the athletes is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cal State Long Beach. The cost is $12 per person. Reservations may be made by calling Ray McKinstry at (213) 498-8500.