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American Legion tourney opens in Carol Stream

Twenty American Legion baseball teams from four states are in and around Carol Stream this weekend for the fifth annual Summer Classic Tournament hosted by the American Legion Post 76 Thunder.

The tourney runs through Sunday featuring 17- to 19-year-olds culled from high school squads to make up Legion teams. Games are played at several area venues, including Wheaton Academy and Glenbard North, Wheaton North and St. Francis high schools.

The opening game, though, which pitted the Thunder against a team from Blue Springs, Mo., was played Friday morning at the newly refurbished Lee Pfund Field at 570 S. Gary Ave. Built on seven acres, the $3 million facility named after longtime Wheaton baseball coach Lee Pfund, opened in April and includes artificial turf and lights.

The Wheaton College baseball team leases the field from the American Legion post and has been using it for the past several months.

“We’re so lucky to be partnering up with the college.” said Jerry Miller, coach of the Post 76 Thunder team and director of the tournament. “They are so good to us. We’re truly blessed.”

On hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitches were Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino, Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk and Wheaton College Athletic Director Julie Davis.

  Jerry Miller, center, coach of the Post 76 Thunder, meets with his team Friday on opening day of the Legion Post 76 Summer Classic Tournament in Carol Stream. The tourney, which runs through Sunday, features 20 teams from four Midwestern states. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Players warm up for the start of the three-day tournament. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk throws out one of the first pitches Friday for the opening day of the Legion Post 76 Summer Classic Tournament in Carol Stream. Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino and Wheaton College Athletic Director Julie Davis also threw out pitches. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino throws out one of the first pitches Friday for the opening day of the Legion Post 76 Summer Classic Tournament in Carol Stream. Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk and Wheaton College Athletic Director Julie Davis also threw out pitches. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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