07/13/26 - 2026 Minnesota Gopher Classic Legion Baseball Tournament

2026 Minnesota Gopher Classic Legion Baseball Tournament

Friday July 10 - Monday July 13, 2026 - Twin Cities and surrounding Minnesota

https://sites.google.com/view/gopher-classic/home

Rock Island/IL Post 200 finishes 4-1, 27-6 on the season (so far)

*The Northwest Association of Umpires is proud to partner with Jim Peck to announce the 2026 Minnesota Gopher Classic Legion Baseball Tournament, to be held Friday July 10, 2026 - Monday July 13, 2026.

*The Gopher Classic was founded by Jim Peck at Excelsior Legion in 1977 and has developed into the largest American Legion baseball tournament in the United States.

*Note that each team plays all of their pool games at the same site, two games on Friday and two games on Saturday. The pool winner will play one or two games on Sunday. The winner from Sunday (4 teams) will play one or two games on Monday.

Price?: $900, I believe -

4 game minimum (16 pools of 5 teams)

8 teams play 5 games

4 teams play 6 games

2 teams play 7 games

2 teams play 8 games

Friday, July 10, 2026 -

*Rock Island/IL Post 200 7, East Grand Forks/MN Post 157 0

*Rock Island/IL Post 200 11, Pierre/SD Post 8 3

Saturday, July 11, 2026 -

*Rock Island/IL Post 200 11, Excelsior/MN Post 259 Legion White 2

*Rock Island/IL Post 200 4, Maple Grove/MN Post 172 2

Sunday, July 12, 2026 -

Sunday, July 12, 2026 -

(1) Bejmidi/MN Post 14 4, Rock Island/IL Post 200

(2) Team Manitoba/CAN 5, Omaha/NE Westview 4

(3) Team Manitoba/CAN 10, Bejmidi/MN Post 14 2

(Team Manitoba/CAN plays Monday - semifinal, Championship?)

Field Locations / directions - https://www.google.com/maps/@44.6951833,-94.1209037,9z/data=!4m3!11m2!2stx1clVR8Q5eeUEbDvZ1fWg!3e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Schedule - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SDHY01uB875Znr9rT8OF2I-BTQ-Dump4OpJUBHn6XBE/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0 (google doc - tabs at bottom of page)

TourneyMachine Link - https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Tournament.aspx?IDTournament=h20260615194500234bda6fcb99c4d42&

Pools - (state allocations are my best guesses)

A - Anoka -

Anoka (MN)

Orono Maple Plain (MN)

Sartell (MN)

Brookings (SD)

Team Manitoba 17U (CAN)

B - Bloomington

Bloomington (MN)

Rosemount (MN)

Elk River (MN)

Mitchell (SD)

Invictus Eagles (NE)

C - Coon Rapids

Coon Rapids (MN)

Chaska (MN)

Bemidji (MN)

Huron (SD)

Team Manitoba 16U (CAN)

D - Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie (MN)

Farmington 1 (MN)

Hastings (MN)

Yankton (SD)

Lincoln Hotel Group (NE)

E - Edina

Edina (MN)

Bayport (MN)

New Ulm (MN)

Farmington 2 (MN)

Monticello (MN)

F - Hopkins

Hopkins (MN)

Minneapolis Northside (MN)

Rogers (MN)

Renner Royals (SD)

Omaha Roncalli Catholic (NE)

G - Lakeville/Elko

Lakeville North (MN)

Eastview Thunder (MN)

Holmen (WI)

Hibbing (MN)

Ralston (NE)

H - Mankato

Mankato American (MN)

New Prague (MN)

Lakeville South (MN)

Omaha Electric (NE)

Rapid City 320 (SD)

I - Maple Grove

Maple Grove (MN)

Excelsior White (MN)

East Grand Forks (MN)

Rock Island (IL)

Pierre (SD)

J - North St Paul

North St Paul (MN)

East Ridge (MN)

Chippewa Falls (WI)

Grand Rapids (MN)

Lincoln Northwest (NE)

K - Prior Lake

Prior Lake (MN)

Burnsville (MN)

Mankato National (MN)

Brandon Valley (SD)

Middleton (WI)

L - Shakopee

Shakopee (MN)

Champlin Park (MN)

Sioux Falls West (SD)

Gillette (WY)

Creighton Prep (NE)

M - St Michael Albertville

StMA Mikes (MN)

Buffalo (MN)

Brainerd (MN)

Harrisburg (SD)

Omaha Westview (NE)

N - Victoria

Hamel (MN)

StMA Golds (MN)

Willmar (MN)

Sioux Falls East (SD)

Omaha Wolfe Electric (NE)

O - Waconia

Waconia (MN)

Wayzata (MN)

Marshall (MN)

Superior Reds (WI)

Rapid City 22 (SD)

P - Woodbury

Woodbury (MN)

Forest Lake (MN)

Alexandria (MN)

Wausau (WI)

Lincoln North Star (NE)

* * *

07/08/25 - 2025 Gopher Classic July 10-15 sponsored by Excelsior Post 580 Chanhassen, MN

07/08/25 - 2025 Gopher Classic July 10-15 sponsored by Excelsior Post 580 Chanhassen, MN

General site for Gopher Classic: https://www.excelsiorlegionbaseball.org/page/show/6299379-gopher-classic-american-legion-baseball-tournament

Schedule / Brackets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lVIPE93wI-N1MVWRXHGIDwk1_2pV7tOTpV8uEd5kAxI/edit?gid=0#gid=0 

SECLMW's unofficial notes: https://albdistrict2mi.blogspot.com/2025/07/070825-2025-gopher-classic-july-10-15.html

Format -

* 16 six team pools (5 games pool play guaranteed) July 10-13 - 1 or 2 games per day

* 16 pool champions in four brackets (1 or 2 games) July 14

* 4 bracket winners (semifinal / championship - 1 or 2 games) July 15

* pool play is at the one site for all six teams - all fields are in greater Minneapolis

* earliest start is 9:00am, latest start is 7:00pm

* 96 American Legion Teams (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana & Canada)

Of interest to me (teams from Great Lakes Regional states):

* Anoka Castle Field Pool - Wausau/WI Post 10

* North St Paul McKnight Legion Field Pool - Holmen/WI Post 284

* Bloomington Red Haddox Field Pool - Middleton/WI Post 245 Red

* Eden Prairie Round Lake Stadium Pool - Superior/WI Red

* Shakopee Pool - Middleton/WI Post 245/jr White

* Lakeville North Fredrickson Field Pool - Plover/WI Black Sox

* Maple Grove Gleason Fields Pool - Rock Island/IL Post 200

Thursday July 10 - Pool

Friday July 11 - Pool

Saturday July 12 - Pool

Sunday July 13 - Pool

Monday July 14 - Bracket

Tuesday July 15 - Semifinals / Championship

* * *

06/24/25 - American Legion Southern Excursion June 18-22 - unofficial

 06/24/25 - American Legion Southern Excursion June 18-22 - unofficial

Some "Northern" American Legion Baseball teams showcasing in the South - I'd call it "Southern Exposure"

*Wednesday June 18 -

+Randolph County/NC Post 45 5, Beverly/Lowell/OH Post 389/750 4

*Thursday June 19 -

+Horry/SC Post 111 13, Ottawa/OH Post 63 3

+Berkeley/WV Post 14 12, Socastee/SC Post 178 7

+Florence/SC Post 1 10, Excelsior/MN Post 259 0

*Friday June 20 -

+Excelsior/MN Post 259 11, Beverly/Lowell/OH Post 389/750 1

+Excelsior/MN Post 259 17, Greenville/OH Post 140 14

+Beverly/Lowell/OH Post 389/750 5, Greenville/OH Post 140 2

+Ottawa/OH Post 63 7, St Clairsville/OH Post 159 2

+Horry/SC Post 111 9, Berkeley/WV Post 14 8

*Saturday June 21 -

+Florence/SC Post 1 1, Beverly/Lowell/OH Post 389/750 0

+Florence/SC Post 1 6, Greenville/OH Post 140 0

+Berkeley/WV Post 14 10, Ottawa/OH Post 63 4

+Ottawa/OH Post 63 10, Excelsior/MN Post 259 7

+Horry/SC Post 111 5, St Clairsville/OH Post 159 2

+Berkley/WV Post 14 8, St Clairsville/OH Post 159 4

*Sunday June 22 -

+Beverly/Lowell/OH Post 389/750 9, Ottawa/OH Post 63 1

+St Clairsville/OH Post 159 9, Greenville/OH Post 140 4

+Horry/SC Post 111 12, Excelsior/MN Post 259 8

* * *

 

08/03/24 2024 Minnesota American Legion State Tournaments -

08/03/24 2024 Minnesota Americn Legion State Tournaments -

Minnesota American Legion - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/

*Minnesota Senior Legion DI-A - Burnsville, MN - July 29, 2024 - August 1, 2024 - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/copy-of-junior-and-tier-1a-info.

*Minnesota Senior Legion DI - Maple Grove, MN - August 1, 2024 - August 4, 2024 - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/division-i - Winner and Runnerup advance to Region 6 Central Plains Tournament August 7-11, 2024 at Young Field - West Fargo, N.D.

*Minnesota Junior Legion DI - Bloomington, MN - August 1 - August 4, 2024 - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/junior-division-i

*Minnesota Junior Legion State DII - Bird Island, MN - August 2, 2024 - August 4, 2024 - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/division-ii

*Minnesota Senior Legion DI - Maple Grove, MN - August 1, 2024 - August 4, 2024 - https://www.minnesotalegionbaseball.com/division-i - Winner and Runnerup advance to Region 6 Central Plains Tournament August 7-11, 2024 at Young Field - West Fargo, N.D.

Schedule / scores - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jaLKlFT_6x5aLKyXCOtcmN2-WqvjTqqEfpfspQidoh4/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0

#Single Elimination Bracket - August 3 - August 4 -

*Saturday 08/03 -

B1-Mankato National/Silver #1 9, Rochester Redhawks/Gold #2 6

B2-Osseo/Blue #2 8, Burnsville/Red #1 3

B3-Forest Lake/Silver #2 7, Fridley Gold/Gold #1 4

B4-Farmington/Blue #1 8, Eden Prarie/Red #2 0

Semifinals -

B5 4:00pm Gleason Fields - Mankato National / Osseo - in progress

B6 7:00pm Gleason Fields - Forest Lake / Farmington - later Saturday evenings

*Sunday 08/04 -

B7 Third Place 10:00am Gleason Fields - Loser B5 / Loser B6

B8 Championship 1:00pm Gleason Fields - Winner B5 / Winner B6

*Championship team and Runnerup advance to Central Plains Region 6 Tournament

* * *

#Pool Play Games (4 pools) - July 31 - August 1 -

(Format - four 4-team pools, top 2 teams from each pool play single elimination baracket)

*Red Pool / Gleason Field -

1 Burnsville (2-1) - advances

2 Eden Prairie (2-1) - advances

Duluth (1-2)

Maple Grove (1-2)

+Maple Grove 8, Burnsville 6

+Burnsville 8, Duluth 2 - 8 innings

+Eden Prairie 6, Duluth 0

+Eden Prairie 7, Maple Grove 1

+Duluth 5, Maple Grove 4

+Burnsville 11, Eden Prairie 1 - I had this reversed)

*Silver Pool / Delano Municipal Stadium -

1-Mankato National (3-0) - advances

2-Forest Lake (2-1) - advances

Sartell (1-2)

Hastings (0-3)

+Mankato National 13, Hastings 3

+Mankato National 4, Forest Lake Post 225 2

+Forest Lake Post 225 5, Sartell 0

+Sartell 7, Hastings 2

+Mankato National 4, Sartell 0

+Forest Lake 13, Hastings 2

*Blue Pool / Osseo Memorial Field -

1-Farmington (3-0) - advances

2-Osseo (2-1) - advances

Champlin (1-2)

Pierz (0-3)

+Farmington 5, Osseo 3

+Champlin 2, Pierz 0

+Farmington 2, Champlin 1

+Osseo 4, Pierz 2

+Farmington 11, Pierz3

+Osseo 4, Champlin 2

*Gold Pool / St Michael Lower Rec Center -

1-Fridley Gold (3-0) - advances

2-Rochester Redhawks (2-1) - advances

Bemidji (1-2)

Shakopee (0-3)

+Rochester Redhawks 8, Shakopee 1

+Fridley Gold 2, Rochester Redhawks 1

+Fridley Gold 10, Bemidji 8

+Bemidji 8, Shakopee 3

+Rochester Redhawks 3, Bemidji 2

+Fridley Gold 12, Shakopee 2

* * *