Retif Oil Hopes to Sparkle Like the Diamond at the American Legion State Championship Tournament

Posted July 17, 2014 / Last updated July 18, 2014

Nick Ray takes a strike in Retif Oil’s game against Otto Candies in the S.E. Regional Tournament. Ray, who has played at 3rd base, shortstop, and center field, singled at this at-bat.

Heavy rains have forced the American Legion to move all four games scheduled to be played on opening day, Saturday, July 19 from Kirsch-Rooney Stadium to Jesuit’s John Ryan Stadium. Legion and Kirsch-Rooney officials will assess field conditions on Saturday with an eye towards going back to Kirsch-Rooney as soon as possible.

Retif Oil may have sneaked in the American Legion’s State Championship Tournament by way via the back door, but that’s baseball.

The Legion’s big 8-team double-elimination tourney is set to go on Saturday, July 19 at Jesuit’s John Ryan Stadium. (Note the change in venue from Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, where field conditions from heavy rain on Friday triggered the tournament’s relocation to the artificial turf field of the Ryan, at least for Saturday.) If thunderstorms mess with the tournament’s schedule, like past history has dictated, fans and players will just have to hurry up and wait. The championship game is tentatively scheduled Wednesday afternoon, July 23.

Even though Retif is the “host” team − who said the Oil has to be nice? Retif’s players are hoping to spoil the party. Just which team remains to be seen, but Coach Joey Latino’s players would be thrilled to snatch a victory from Otto Candies (Hahnville), a heavy favorite for this year’s tournament.

Retif and Otto get down to business on Saturday evening as the Legion scheduled the two teams to play in the fourth and final game on opening day. Depending on when the first three games start and end will determine the first pitch for Retif’s game against Otto Candies. Starting time will be 35 minutes after the conclusion of the game between Brother Martin-based Peake BMW and the Gulf Coast Bank 49ers (N. Vermilion High School).

Refuel (Archbishop Shaw) and Deanie’s Seafood (Archbishop Rummel) will be joined by the following participants: Crowley Millers (made up of players from Crowley, Notre Dame, and Church Point High Schools), St. Landry Bank Indians (Opelousas Catholic High School); and the Gulf Coast Bank 29ers (N. Vermilion High School).

View the Brackets & Schedule for the 2014 American Legion Championship Tourney.

Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Retif Oil Hopes to Sparkle Like the Diamond at the American Legion State Championship Tournament

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