Sports Editor

Troy Post 70 will open play today at the American Junior Legion State Tournament in Montgomery.

Troy’s opponent in the first round of the double-elimination tournament was to be determined at a banquet held Wednesday night in Montgomery for all the teams participating. The tournament will be played at the Auburn University-Montgomery Baseball Complex.

Other legion teams in the tournament include: Hartselle, Austin, West Morgan, Opelika, Northview, Montgomery, South Tuscaloosa and West Alabama. The Troy Junior Legion has faced five of those teams already this season.

"We know what to expect from a few of the teams we’ll face," said Troy head coach Troy Jinright. Troy has played Northview, West Alabama, Montgomery, Opelika and South Tuscaloosa this year. Most of those teams Troy faced twice or more, with the exception being Opelika who beat Post 70 in the lone game played between the two teams.

A few key players have departed the team to prepare for the upcoming fall football season, but Jinright still remains upbeat about Troy’s chances.

"We’ve got some players that have really stepped it up for us and have been with us since the beginning of the year," said Jinright. "I’m looking forward to see how we do in this tournament."

Jinright expects to use Goshen two-sport athlete Wesley Wright and CHHS pitcher Justin Sims as his two main hurlers in the tournament. Matthew Johnson and Daniel Porter, who surprised Jinright with a clutch pitching performance against Montgomery in the District Tournament, to be his back-ups.

"I didn’t even know Daniel Porter could pitch," said Jinright after last week’s 10-9 win over Montgomery. Montgomery is the hosts for this year’s state tournament.

Troy enters the tourney with a 25-8 record. Wright and Drew Kilpatrick are 1-2 in hitting percentage for Post 70. Wright’s batting average is .426, while Kilpatrick’s is .419. Sims (.394), Luke Sanders (.393) and Porter (.341) round out the top five hitters for Troy.