Another change-up in Cook County American Legion
There was another twist Saturday in determining who is playing in the Cook County American Legion baseball tournament.
Cook County commissioner Don Torgerson said Portage Park manager Sam Biondo wanted to run the team and use players who were ruled ineligible in the tournament. Torgerson denied those requests and Portage Park pulled out of the tourney.
That makes it an eight-team tournament starting Tuesday and running through Saturday. No play-in game will be necessary today.
On Friday, Illinois department chairman Harry Seiple reversed earlier rulings where Northbrook and Portage Park were removed from the County tourney after using players who violated residency requirements. Wilmette opted not to participate in the County tourney in protest of the reversal.
Wilmette also decided earlier this week it will continue its program but drop its American Legion affiliation.
"We tried to do what's best for the greater good of the (American Legion) program," Torgerson said. "Harry felt it wasn't right to punish teams because of the faults of a manager.
"We're really sorry to lose Wilmette but that's their choice. I tried, but in things like this you can't please everyone."
Last year a rule was implemented where a team that forfeited two league games was ineligible to play in the County tourney. The rule's intent was to keep teams from not showing up to play league games.
That rule was applied to Northbrook and Portage Park in their cases this week when they had to forfeit four and three victories respectively because of ineligible players.
Torgerson believes the rule voted on by County teams "was too harsh - and we will change that. We will have another way of punishing teams.
"This has been very difficult. The rule was too harsh but we were following it."
Northbrook will be the eighth seed and will open the double-elimination tourney at 4 p.m. Tuesday against No. 1 Palatine at Harper College. Torgerson said Northbrook coach and general manager Mitch Stewart can be on site but can't manage his team.
Tuesday's other 4 p.m. first-round games are No. 7 Mount Prospect vs. No. 2 Arlington at Rec Park, No. 6 Morton Grove at No. 3 Elk Grove and No. 5 Glenview at No. 4 Evanston.
Wednesday's 4 p.m. second round games will be hosted by the higher seeds. Games Thursday through Saturday will be at Rec Park in Arlington Heights to determine who advances to the state tournament hosted by Crystal Lake at McHenry County College.