American Legion Baseball in North Carolina begins a new chapter this week with a revamped format for the State Tournament.  Eight teams from across the state’s four American Legion regions will converge on the Triad. Hosted by Post 87 and the Thomasville Hi-Toms, the tournament will feature the use of three facilities.  Along with Post 87’s home, Finch Field, High Point University and UNC Greensboro will also host games.

The new format features two pools of four teams.  Each team will play the other 3 teams in their pool producing the top two seeds from each pool advancing to the semi-finals.  As the tournament reaches the semi-finals, with four teams left, a single elimination format will determine the state champion.  

Along with the new format, each game in the tournament will be seven innings in length.  This is a major change that came after the national tournament was interrupted last year in Shelby, NC due to rain.  With the schedule changes, and television considerations, the national organization decided to make most of last year’s world series 7 inning games.  After the season the national organization ruled to make all of the post-season seven innings in length, prompting the state association to have regular season games follow suit.  

The seven inning contests, and a scripted schedule, will allow coaches to control pitch counts and the usage of their arms throughout the tournament.  It should allow the tournament to start its games on-time, weather permitting, without many exceptions.

The winner of the State Tournament will advance to the Southeast Regional in Asheboro, NC, hosted by Randolph County Post 45.  The Southeast Regional will begin on Wednesday August 8th.

2018 Pools

Stars Pool

Area II Champion: Wilmington Post 10
Area IV Champion: Shelby Post 82
Area I Runner Up: Garner Nationals
Area III Runner Up: Thomasville Hi-Toms Post 87

Stripes Pool

Area I Champion: Pitt County Post 39
Area III Champion: Rowan County Post 342
Area II Runner Up: Whiteville Post 137
Area IV Runner Up: Caldwell County Post 29

Schedule - Thursday July 26 - Monday July 30

Thursday July 26th

Finch Field - Thomasville

4:00pm Garner Nationals vs. Wilmington Post 10
7:00pm Hi-Toms Post 87 vs. Shelby Post 82

Coy Willard Stadium - High Point University

4:00pm Whiteville Post 137 vs. Pitt County Post 39
7:00pm Caldwell County Post 29 vs. Rowan County Post 342

Friday July 27th

Finch Field - Thomasville

4:00pm Caldwell County Post 29 vs. Whiteville Post 137
7:00pm Rowan County Post 342 vs. Pitt County Post 39

UNC Greensboro Baseball Stadium

4:00pm Garner Nationals vs. Hi-Toms Post 87
7:00pm Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10

Saturday July 28th

Finch Field - Thomasville

4:00pm Garner Nationals vs. Shelby Post 82
7:00pm Wilmington Post 10 vs. Hi-Toms Post 87

UNC Greensboro Baseball Stadium

4:00pm Rowan County Post 342 vs. Whiteville Post 139
7:00pm Pitt County Post 39 vs. Caldwell County Post 29

Sunday July 29th - Semi-Final Round

Finch Field - Thomasville

4:00pm Stars No. 2 Seed vs. Stripes No. 1 Seed
7:00pm Stripes No. 2 Seed vs. Stars No. 1 Seed

Monday July 30th - Championship Game

Finch Field - Thomasville

4:00pm Winners of the July 29th Semi-Final Games