The Stevens Point Sixers will host the AAA Region 2 Regional Tournament at Bukolt Park Friday through Monday, July 19-22. (John Kemmeter photo)

Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

The host Stevens Point Sixers and Plover Black Sox will be among the seven American Legion Baseball teams battling for a berth at state when they compete in the AAA Region 2 Regional Tournament at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point Friday through Monday, July 19-22.

The winner of the double-elimination tournament will advance to the AAA State Tournament at Chippewa Falls Friday through Tuesday, July 26-30.

The Sixers (17-8, 7-7) and Wisconsin Valley Legion League (WVLL) Champion Black Sox (27-11, 13-1) will meet in their Regional opener at 5 p.m. Friday, with the winner to play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, and the loser to play in an elimination game at noon Saturday.

Plover won 6-0 over Stevens Point at Bukolt Park June 18, and then beat the Sixers 8-5 at home July 3.

In the other first-round matchups, D.C. Everest (3-11, 3-11) will take on Marshfield (11-19, 5-9) at noon Friday, and Wausau (7-19, 5-9) play against Merrill (2-12, 1-12) at 2:30 p.m., while Wisconsin Rapids (22-7, 12-2) will face the winner of the D.C. Everest and Marshfield game in the nightcap of the opening day at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last season, Plover overcame a 1-1 start in the Regional at Wisconsin Rapids, as it won 7-1 to eliminate Stevens Point, then followed with 13-2 win over defending Regional Champion Wausau, and beat Wisconsin Rapids 12-3 in the Regional Championship Game to advance to the State Tournament.

AAA Region 2 Regional Tournament at Bukolt Park

Friday, July 19

Game 1: D.C. Everest vs. Marshfield, noon

Game 2: Wausau vs. Merrill, 2:30 p.m.

Game 3: Stevens Point vs. Plover, 5 p.m.

Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs. Wisconsin Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 20

Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, noon

Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 2:30 p.m.

Game 7: Loser Game 2 vs. Winner Game 5, 5 p.m.

Game 8: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 21

Game 9: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6, 2 p.m.

Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 9, 4:30 p.m.

*Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 7 p.m.

Monday, July 22

**Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 4:30 p.m.

Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12 (if necessary), 7 p.m.

*Note: Thirteen games will be needed if Winner Game 9 loses Game 11, or Winner Game 10 wins Game 12.

**Note: If three teams remain after Game 11, the last team to lose receives a bye to Game 13.