Ruling reversal in Legion baseball

It may be difficult for the play on the field in next week's Cook County American Legion baseball tournament to match the drama off it this week.

The latest bizarre twist on Friday saw Illinois department chairman Harry Seiple reverse the rulings that made Northbrook and Portage Park ineligible to play in the tournament. As a result, they are back in and will play a play-in game Sunday.

Also as a result, Wilmette is out of the County tourney, as it had originally pledged it would not participate if Northbrook was allowed to play. Wilmette general manager Don Wallace and head coach Mike Napoleon made that decision after Seiple's ruling.

Cook County commissioner Don Torgerson had ruled this week that Northbrook and Portage Park would not participate in the tournament because both teams had to forfeit multiple victories for using ineligible players.

The double-elimination tournament begins Tuesday and runs through Saturday. The champion advances to the state tournament hosted by Crystal Lake at McHenry County College.