After hosting and playing in the 2018 Independence Day Classic in Columbia the Columbia American Legion Post 19 team boarded a plane the following Monday for the long trip to Kenai, Alaska for the 37th Annual Bill Miller Memorial Tournament. The tournament features teams from the lower 48 which includes posts from Utah, Minnesota, Tennessee, along with local teams Bartlett and East.
This excursion has become annual event for Post 19 and this year they won it all.
Columbia went undefeated (4-0) in the wooden bat event.
In semifinal action, Excelsior Post 259 out of Minneapolis defeated East 10-1 and Columbia Post 19 defeated the Lone Peak Post 19 Misfits of Highland, Utah, 5-4.
Facing a Post 259 squad with lots of success over the years, 2002 World Series Runner-Up, Regional Champs 1998 & 2002, MN State Champions 1991 & 1998. 24-time & defending South Hennepin League Champions. But Columbia also has some great accolades….2007 American Legion World Series “Champions”. 2010,2011,2012 Mid-South Regional Runner-Up. 2014 Mid-South Regional Champion.
In the Championship game Cam Kennedy, Ethan Mealer and Jackson South combine for a 4-0 shutout of Excelsior Post 259. In the four games played Post 19 pounded out the hits scoring 42 runs and giving up only 5.
Post 19 will travel to Anchorage on July 5-7, before making an excursion on July 8 and returning home on July 9.