American Legion Great Lakes Regional preview
Eau Claire poses with its state championship trophy in Kimberly on Saturday.
Eau Claire Post 53 and Oshkosh Post 70 both earned berths to the American Legion Great Lakes Regional with champion and runner-up finishes in the Class AAA state tournament, respectively. The regional, hosted by Napoleon, Ohio, gets started on August 2. Eight teams from the region will compete for a spot in the American Legion World Series. Here are this year's qualifiers:
Wisconsin: Eau Claire (28-5), Oshkosh (29-5)
Illinois: Metro East (40-8), Danville (36-5)
Michigan: Midland (34-1)
Indiana: Rockport (19-5)
Ohio: Napoleon (32-13), Beverly-Lowell (27-14)
Indiana state champion Rockport (19-5) opens the regional with a game against Illinois champion Metro East (40-8) on Wednesday morning. Following that game, Oshkosh (29-5) takes on Michigan state champion Midland (34-1)—a team that has had great success on the national stage in recent years.
In the third game, Illinois runner-up Danville (36-5) plays Ohio runner-up Beverly-Lowell (27-14). The final game of the opening day pits Eau Claire (28-5) against host Napoleon (32-13).
Wisconsin has had a team advance deep in the tournament three years in a row. Three years ago, Plover finished as runner-up in the regional. In 2015 and 2016, Madison took third place.
This is Oshkosh’s first trip to the Great Lakes tournament since 2006, and Eau Claire’s first since 1986. The two could potentially play each other in the second round if they both win or lose their opener. Eau Claire beat Oshkosh twice at the state tournament last week.
Oshkosh will have a tough task on their hands when they take the field against Midland. The Michigan powerhouse is one of the best teams in the country, so it’ll be a chance for Oshkosh to test itself against elite competition.
Eau Claire certainly has one of the more favorable matchups in the opening round against a Napoleon team that has the second-most losses at the regional. Nothing will be easy in Ohio though, and Eau Claire will need to rely on strong pitching throughout the tournament—a task they are definitely capable of.
Day one game schedule
Game 1: Rockport, Ind. vs Metro East, Ill.
Game 2: Oshkosh vs Midland, Mich.
Game 3: Danville, Ill. vs Beverly-Lowell, Ohio
Game 4: Eau Claire vs Napoleon, Ohio
