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11 teams in Ely Echo Legion Classic; event starts with Vets’ Night
All that’s missing is the postseason drama.
As the American Legion baseball season winds down and playoffs approach, 11 teams will be in Ely for one of the largest tournaments in Minnesota - and a test of what may be the come when the postseason begins.
Loaded with 11 teams, including several of state tournament caliber, the Ely Echo Midsummer Classic starts Thursday and, runs through Sunday, July 14 and promises a full weekend of top-flight baseball at Ely’s historic ballpark.
Viroqua (Wisc.), a perennial powerhouse in Badger State baseball and the tournament champion in 2022, is back and figures to face a stern challenge from several potential challengers to the thrown.
Northeast Substate Division I contenders Hibbing and Proctor, which advanced to state a year ago as a Division II team, are two of the many teams that could make a run at this year’s title.
Host Ely (11-3) has championship aspirations and Roseau has traditionally fared well here.
Tournament newcomers including Aitkin, Crookston and Warroad join holdovers including Thunder Bay, International Falls and Moose Lake-Barnum to make for a very deep tournament feel.
The tournament also has a new look this year including a new sponsor, with the Ely Echo stepping in to support this year’s event.
Meanwhile, the tournament will include an array of promotions designed to get more people to the ballpark, starting with the Ely Baseball Association’s annual Veterans Night on Thursday, July 11.
A late dropout reduced the field from 12 to 11 teams but the tournament has expanded this year to encompass four days instead of the traditional three.
“I know I say this every year, but I think it bears repeating that from top to bottom, you’re not going to find a better American Legion tournament than this one in northern Minnesota,“ said Ely Head Coach Tom Coombe. “There’s a great mix of talent from across the state. Whoever wins this thing will beat some very, very good teams.”
The historic ballpark also figures to be a hub of activity throughout the four days, starting with Veterans Night to start the tournament, and a special salute to Ely Girls Youth Softball participants on Friday, July 12. The third day of the tournament includes a “Dinner at the Ballpark” promotion to coincide with Ely’s 5:30 p.m. game on Saturday, July 13.
To close things out, church-goers are encouraged to bring their church bulletins to the ballpark on Sunday, July 14 for free admission and a deal at the concession stand.
On the field, fans will see an array of high-caliber talent.
Located near La Crosse, Viroqua has racked up numerous Wisconsin state tournament appearances and generally plays one of the most ambitious schedules in the region.
Coach Pete Swanson, who has amassed over 1,000 wins, is expected to bring another talented team to Ely on the heels of a first-place finish in 2022 and a 3-1 mark last summer.
Hibbing and Proctor are two of the top northeastern Minnesota teams in the field, and Ely will be invaded by Legion teams from the northwest, with tournament mainstay Roseau joined by both Warroad and Crookston.
Ely will be tested immediately by Warroad and will follow up with contests against Crookston, Aitkin and Moose Lake-Barnum.
“It will be a great test for us right out of the chute,” said Coombe. “That’s one of the nice things about this tournament is we see some new teams. It can only help us come playoff time.”
Ely is the smallest program in the field, with the rest of the entries coming from Class AA, AAA or AAAA high school teams.
The action starts at 3 p.m. Thursday (see schedule) and the lineup includes 18 games over four days in Ely. Another five contests are set for Legion Field in Soudan.
While the event calls for all teams to play four predetermined opponents, the final day schedule could be altered to allow for two unbeaten teams to meet in a true championship game.
