MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – After waiting nearly six hours, tournament officials were forced to postpone the entire schedule Friday in the American Legion Northeast Regional.

The two night games in the winner’s bracket — Branford, Conn., vs. Barnstable, Mass., and host Middletown vs. Worcester, Mass., were called off early in the afternoon.

Officials still were hoping to play the two losers’-bracket games — Woonsocket, R.I. vs. Rochester, N.H., and Colchester, Vt., vs. Windham — beginning at 4:30 p.m. But a torrential 20-minute downpour shortly before 3 p.m. made that impossible.

Officials waited all day because the national organization inexplicably did not build any rain dates into the eight regional tournaments around the country. In addition, a winner in each regional must be certified by Monday night, according to Legion rules.

Further complicating matters is that Legion rules also prevent any team from playing three games in a day.

To get back on schedule heading into the final day, nine games would have to be played over the next two days, raising the possibility of five games taking place Saturday or Sunday. The weather is favorable for the rest of the weekend.

The tournament director, Mike Gort, told the Middletown Press that if two teams remain after Monday, a coin flip may be necessary to determine the regional champion.

Windham fell into the losers’ bracket by suffering a 13-4 loss to Middletown on Thursday night.

 

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