Featured photo by Bill Battle, Washington Missourian
The Bossier Phillies didn’t get much time to celebrate their American Legion Baseball Mid-South Regional championship.
Bossier finished the regional late Sunday in Washington, Mo., after defeating Tennessee state champion Columbia twice to win the title.
The Phillies open play in the 98th American Legion World Series Thursday in Shelby, N.C., against Southeast Regional champion Ashville, N.C., at 6:30 p.m.
Bossier is making its second straight appearance in the World Series. Last year, the Phillies went 1-2. Their losses were by scores of 3-0 and 1-0.
Eleven players return from that team, including former Minden star pitcher Brody Bower and former Glenbrook standout Easton Sanders.
Sanders, a pitcher and infielder, was named the Most Outstanding Player in the regional.
Asheville is making its first World Series appearance. It won its first state title since 1929 last month, according to the American Legion website legion.org.
There will be a new champion. 2024 champion Troy, Ala., did not return. Runner-up Midland, Mich., is also not in the field.
The eight-team series is divided into two divisions, the Stars and Stripes.
Bossier is in the Stripes Division with Greece, N.Y., Chesapeake, Va. and Asheville.
The Stars Division is comprised of Rockport, Ind., Lincoln, Neb., Portland, Ore. and League City, Texas.
League City, which is making its fourth straight appearance, lost to Troy in the semifinals last season.
Bossier faces Greece Saturday at noon and Chesapeake Sunday at 4.
The winner of the Stripes Division plays the runner-up in the Stars Division on Monday at 3 in the semifinals. The Stripes runner-up plays the Stars winner at 6
The winners face off for the title Tuesday at 6. Of course, the schedule could be affected by inclement weather.