Alton To Play At Highland In American Legion Baseball Fifth Division Playoff Opener Next Tuesday, Winner Advances To State Tournament

ALTON - The Alton Post 126 senior American Legion baseball team will start its playoff campaign at Highland on Tuesday, July 20 at Glik Park in the opener of the Fifth Division tournament.

The winner will advance to the Legion state tournament, which will be held July 28-31 in Mattoon. which will consist of the five-division champions plus the host team, for the right to advance to the Great Lakes Regional tournament Aug. 3-8 in Midland, Mich. The regional champions goes on to the American Legion World Series, set for Aug. 12-17 at its traditional home of Shelby, N.C., who will be hosting the Series for the 10th consecutive year. Last year's ALWS, along with the rest of the postseason, was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use Code: NFL10 for 10% Off Online Orders at EatJoes.com

Shop Local

Joe's Pizza & Pasta Godfrey

Get This Deal →

The Fifth Division tournament, as always, will be a double-elimination format, with a winners and losers bracket. Along with the Legionnaires playing at Highland next Tuesday, other first-round games will be Trenton at Centralia, Carbondale at Steeleville, Carrier Mills at Harrisburg and Carmi at Grayville. The next round's games will be played on Thursday, July 22, either in Centralia or at home sites, with opponents to be determined. The tournament bracket has yet to be released.

A pitch count rule will be in effect, along with no courtesy runners for the pitcher or catcher, and if a game goes into extra innings, a runner won't be placed on second base to start the inning, as is the case in Major League Baseball.

The Legionnaires have two regular-season games remaining, Wednesday night at Jerseyville, in a 7:30 p.m. first pitch, and then finish the regular season Thursday at home against the Piasa Southwestern summer team, also starting at 7:30 p.m. The Junior Legionnaires also will play in curtain-raiser games against the same two clubs, with start times being 6 p.m. against Jerseyville and 5:30 p.m. against Southwestern. The junior divisional tournament will take place the week of July 26-31, with the state tournament set for Aug. 5-8. Sites for both tournaments will be announced at a later date.

More like this:

Lowis Drives in Four Runs, Kunz Brings In Three, Post 126 Legionnaires Qualify For State Tournament With 10-0 Win Over Orient  

Jul 21, 2026

Joe Stephan and Abe Kribs Spark Alton Senior Legion Surge

Jul 8, 2026

Kribs Has Two Hits, Lowis Only RBI, Sievers Fans Eight, Kunz Scores Winning Run On Third Inning Passed Ball As Alton Wins Over St. Jacob 2-1  

Jul 17, 2026

Kunz Has Two Hits, Drives In Pair Of Runs, Powell Strikes Out Six, Legionnaires Explode For Nine-Run Sixth To Win Over Jerseyville

Jul 7, 2026

Post 126 Held To Four Hits, Carol Stream Post 76 Scores Twice In Third Inning, Ends Alton's American Legion Baseball Season 2-0

Jul 24, 2026