Northeast qualifier set to begin with new 10-team format

The Connecticut Senior American Legion postseason will have a different look this year.

Instead of the state tournament deciding who will represent Connecticut in the Northeast Regional, a 10-team qualifying tournament will be held prior to the state tournament with the winner advancing.

Normally the Legion season ends by July 16 and the state tournament begins with a winner emerging by the first weekend of August and advancing to Regionals.

However, with the CIAC leaving a window open for spring football, the season began late and American Legion officials opted for the 10-team qualifying tournament as a way to keep the regular season the same length while still having a team qualify for Regionals.

Teams not competing in the qualifying tournament as well as teams eliminated from the qualifier are eligible to come back and play in the traditional state tournament, which begins Aug. 3.

The winner of the Northeast Regional, which also starts Aug. 3, will advance to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.

The qualifying tournament, comprised of the top two teams from each of the five zones, begins with two single-elimination play-in games Saturday.

No. 10 Norwich will travel to play No. 7 NCL at 1 p.m. and No. 9 West Hartford will be at No. 8 Greenwich at noon.

Waterford is the No. 1 seed and will host the winner of the Greenwich/West Hartford matchup Monday at 5:45 p.m.

The NCL/Norwich winner will visit No. 2 Madison on Monday at 5:45 p.m.

The other opening-round matchups in the doubleelimination tournament are: No. 5 Meriden at No. 4 Fairfield and No. 6 Wallingford at No. 3 RCP, both at 5:45 p.m.

The qualifying tournament will run from Saturday to Saturday with the semifinals and finals at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

Last season the Regionals and World Series were canceled due to COVID-19.

For teams not playing in the qualifying tournament, the regular Legion season will continue and end Aug. 1. Additionally, as teams are eliminated from the qualifying tournament, they may return to the regular season and play in the state tournament which will be comprised of 32 teams.