Legion Teams Open Playoffs In 2 Divisions
Spokane American Legion baseball teams are beginning a marathon playoff schedule that will lead to one entrant in each of two state tournaments.
The Senior state tournament is Aug. 1 in Vancouver and the Junior tournament begins Aug. 5 in Yakima.
Senior League (AAA) playoffs begin tonight with loser-out games between the third-place Pullman Patriots and sixth-place Royals at 6 p.m. followed by the fourth-place North Stars against the fifth-place Cannons at Al K. Jackson Field.
Survivors enter a pair of best-of-3 series Wednesday and Thursday against the league champion Bandits and runner-up Blue Devils, who earned first-day byes.
The Blue Devils won three of four games against the Patriots during the weekend to finish second.
District championship series July 25, 26 and 28 will determine the state entrant.
Junior playoffs feature two four-team divisional best-of-3 series between July 21 and 25, winnowing down the teams to one each from the North and South.
The district championship series July 27-30 will determine the state qualifier.
Beginning tonight, North Division champion Panorama Twins (Colville) meet fourth-place Pepsi/CCS (Shadle Park) at Whitworth and second-place Mead Boosters against Granny’s Buffet (Mt. Spokane) at Mt. Spokane. All games for the playoffs are at 5:30 p.m.
South Division champion Kimmel Athletic (Ferris) plays fourth-place Whitman County Cougars at Gonzaga University and second-place Spokane Athletic Supply (Central Valley) plays third-place Spokane Olympic Sports (University) at CV. Both games are at 5:30 p.m.
Remaining games are at CV at 5:30 and 8 p.m.
During last week’s 16-and-under league playoffs, regular-season North Division champion Northwest Athletic from Mt. Spokane won two straight from South Division champion Ferris Boosters for the title.
Northwest Athletics had beaten Colville and Arby’s (Gonzaga Prep) in the divisional playoff, while Kimmel won over Central Valley and Cheney in the South.
AMERICAN LEGION PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE Senior Today: No. 3 Pullman Patriots vs. No. 6 Royals at 6 p.m., No. 4 North Stars vs. No. 5 Cannons at 8 p.m., both at A.K. Jackson Field. Wednesday: Bandits vs. lowest remaining seed, Jackson Field, 6 and 8 p.m.; Blue Devils vs. highest remaining seed, Gonzaga University, 6. Thursday: Blue Devils vs. Wednesday’s opponent, Jackson Field, 6 and (if necessary) 8 p.m. Bandits vs. Wednesday’s opponent (if necessary), Gonzaga University, 6 p.m. Saturday: District Championship game 1, Jackson Field, 7 p.m. Sunday: District Championship game 2, Jackson Field, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28: District Championship game 3 (if necessary), Jackson Field, 7 p.m., winner to state.
Junior Tonight: Panorama Twins vs. Pepsi/ CCS, Whitworth; Mead Boosters vs. Granny’s Buffet, Mt. Spokane; Kimmel Athletic vs. Whitman County, Gonzaga University; Spokane Athletic Supply vs. Spokane Olympic Sports, CV, all 5:30. Wednesday: Pepsi/CCS vs. Panorama Twins, Whitworth; Granny’s Buffet vs. Mead Boosters, Mt. Spokane; Whitman County vs. Kimmel Athletic, CV, all 5:30 p.m. Spokane Olympic Sports vs. Spokane Athletic Supply, CV, 8. Thursday: (if necessary) Mead Boosters vs. Granny’s Buffet, Whitworth; Panorama Twins vs. Pepsi/ CCS, Mt. Spokane; Spokane Athletic Supply vs. Spokane Olympic Sports, CV, all 5:30 p.m. Kimmel Athletic vs. Whitman County, CV, 8. Friday: North Championship series, A.K. Jackson Field, 6 and 8 p.m.; South Championship Series, CV, 5:30 and 8. Saturday: (if necessary) South Championship final, 1 p.m., North Championship final, 5 p.m., both Gonzaga University. Monday: District Championship game 1, Jackson Field, 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29: District Championship game 2, Jackson Field, 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30: District Championship game 3 (if necessary), Jackson Field, 7 p.m., winner to state.