Legion tourney group slates Sunday meeting

It’s still nearly a year away, but preparations for next summer’s American Legion Baseball Central Plains Division II Regional Touranment have begun.The local committee organizing the event will hold its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, in the back room at the Ely Dairy Queen.Anyone who is interested in working on the committee is invited to attend.The eight-team double-elimination tournament is set for Aug. 11-14, 2005 at Ely’s Veterans Memorial Field, and will involve state champions from Minnesota, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as the host Ely team and two at-large selections.The local committee is responsible for most of the expenses incurred in sponsoring the event, including meals and lodging for all participating squads, and a budget of approximately $30,000 is in place.The agenda for Sunday’s session includes the election of a tournament chairperson, the formation of several subcommittees and discussion about possible fundraisers, including the sale of a $10 tournament pass.Ely last hosted the Central Plains event in 2000, and the local ballpark has been the site of Legion state tournaments several times, most recently in 2003 and 1999.