Field set for NH American Legion senior baseball tournament

The New Hampshire American Legion senior baseball tournament gets underway on Friday at Holman Stadium, with eight teams taking part in the double-elimination competition.

Included in the field is last year’s champion, Bedford Post 54, which not only won the state title, but took the Region 1 title and advanced to the American Legion World Series in North Carolina.

Friday’s action begins at 9 a.m., with Londonderry Post 27 (8-6) taking on Concord Post 21 (11-3). Concord is the No. 1 seed from District A and features players who won a division title during the high school with Concord (Division I) and Hopkinton (Division III). Londonderry is the fourth seed from District B, and won the state title in 2009.

Rochester Post 7 (10-5) and Goffstown Post 16 (12-3) will play in the second game at 12 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are returning to the tournament for the third straight year, and the fourth time in the last five years.

At 4 p.m., Bedford (11-4) will take on Portsmouth Post 6 (11-4), in what will serve as sort of a rematch of the 2012 Division II semifinal game between Bedford High School and St. Thomas Aquinas. Portsmouth is back in the tournament for the first time since 2009.

In Friday’s final game, Salem Post 63 (10-4) will take on Manchester Post 79 (10-4) at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule will also feature four games, starting at 9 a.m. at Holman, while Sunday’s action will include three games, beginning at 11 a.m. The tournament continues Monday, with a doubleheader that starts at 4 p.m.

The championship game will be on Tuesday, either at 4 or 7 p.m., depending on how many teams remain after Monday’s games.

The state champion will move on to the Region 1 tournament, which will be held Aug. 9-13 at The Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.