American Legion baseball finals near

As the American Legion baseball regular season nears its 2010 conclusion this week the upper level teams from across South Carolina will focus on the playoffs that begin Monday, July 5 at the home sites of the higher seeded teams.

Then, starting July 23, everything shifts into semi-neutral as the surviving teams from South Carolina’s eight leagues will convene at two Columbia venues – Capital City Stadium and Dreher High School’s field – for the American Legion State Championship double elimination tournament. The schedule calls for 11 games to be played at Capital City with three at Dreher High field.

Scheduled start time for the first three days will be 9:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. There will be two games on day four with the championship game slated for Tuesday, July 27.

Then, the eight teams advancing out of state tourneys play at the next plateau. For instance, the South Carolina champions will move on to the Southeast Regionals in Columbia, TN from August 5-9. That will be followed by the American Legion Baseball World Series Championship played between eight Regional Championship teams at Avista Stadium in Spokane, WA.

Two of the past three S.C. state champions have come from Columbia area League VIII – Post 6 in 2007 and Irmo/Chapin Post 193 team in 2009. The other team midlands area team to win the title in that span is the Sumter P-15s.

Single game tickets are priced at $6, all-day passes are $12 each and tournament passes good for at least 14 games are priced at $25 apiece.

Among other payment methods, major credit cards will be accepted when advance tickets for the S.C. championship will are placed on sale Tuesday, July 6 at Richland Post 6 headquarters 200 Pickens Street in person or by phoning 799-2735. Fans may order tickets also by contact Post 6 Athletic Officer Doyle Tipton at 753-7055