American Legion cancels World Series, but SC teams hold out hope for in-state play
There might be American Legion baseball played in South Carolina this summer, but there won’t be much of a postseason.
American Legion on Tuesday canceled its eight regional tournaments and its annual World Series in Shelby, North Carolina. The region tournaments were set for the beginning of August with the World Series set for Aug. 13-18 in Shelby. The World Series is televised on ESPN’s family of networks.
Chapin-Newberry won the American Legion World Series in 2015 and is one of several Midlands teams, with others in Richland, Lexington, West Columbia and Camden. Blythewood also was set to field a team this year coached by Banks Faulkner.
“The decision to cancel was extremely difficult but deemed necessary, first and foremost in the interest of health and safety, and in the face of uncertainty,” National Americanism Commission chairman Richard Anderson said in a statement. “These times are unparalleled. And while it is distressing to think of all those youth across the nation who are disappointed to learn of the cancellation of American Legion programs this year, it would be a much, much greater tragedy if even just one of those youth were to fall ill during a program.”
“You could kind of see it coming,” said Florence Post 1 coach and former South Carolina standout Derick Urqhuart. “Way things were going with the British Open and Wimbledon starting to get canceled and then some states (Iowa and North Dakota) canceling their season, you couldn’t host a true national tournament.”
While there will be no World Series or regional tournament, Urquhart and other programs around the state are still hoping for some sort of season this summer, possibly beginning as late as July 1 and capped off with a state tournament. The S.C. state tournament has been held at Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies, the past two years.
There are more than 30 legion baseball teams in South Carolina, including several in Horry County.
“The state committee has been in talks remotely and are on the same page. If it is safe, we would like to get the guys going during the summer,” Urquhart said.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 2:17 PM.
