A well-balanced mix of teams will participate int the Southeast Louisiana American Legion Tournament beginning today at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

The Hahnville-based Otto Candies team earned its first appearance in the tournament since the team played in the mid 1990s with former LSU pitcher Weylin Guidry. The Tigers held on to second place in District 2 standings, trailing a few games behind Archbishop Shaw-based First Bank and Trust and stayed only a half game ahead of foe Destrehan-based East St. Charles Post 366/195. The Tigers will play Hannan-based Capella/All-State Insurance at noon.

The Curtis-based River Ridge Chiropractic and Dental Care team will also make their first appearance in the legion’s regional tournament since winning the championship in 1990. River Ridge Chiropractic and Dental Care will take on the first-placed Shaw team in the opening game at 9:30 a.m.

The Brother Martin-based Peake BMW team participated in the tournament a couple of times throughout mid 1990s and will play Slidell-based Thomas Pump at 3:30 p.m. Shaw Brother Martin and Jesuit mark the only Catholic League teams in the tournament. For the first time in 12 years, the Jesuit-based team, Retif Oil, will bypass the regional tournament, having won their district and gaining an automatic spot in the state tournament and the right to host the event. The three teams amount to the lowest number of teams in the legion tournaments since they began in 1976. Shaw and Brother Martin are the only District 9-5A schools in the tournament.

Two newcomers to the Legion, Newman-based Dr. Tichenor’s and Fontainebleau-based RWO will play at 6:00 p.m.

For the first time in 10 summers Rummel-based Schaff Brothers did not earn a spot in the tournament. Schaff Brothers was the only Catholic League team that did not play recent graduates in their lineup.

Coincidentally, the team finished the Second District with a losing record.

Teams from Holy Cross and De La Salle were eliminated in the First District Tournament. St. Augustine’s team did not qualify for the First District Tournament.