Published: July 04, 2008 08:54 pm            

Junior Legion tournament canceled

The Effingham Post 120 Junior American Legion Fourth of July Tournament scheduled for this weekend has been washed out.



Heavy rains over the last few days have left local diamonds unplayable for the 15-team tournament, which was originally scheduled to begin Friday and run through Sunday.



Friday's pool play games were postponed Thursday and pushed back to Sunday, but Post 120 co-manager Howard Green, several of his players and Effingham Park District employees spent hours Friday attempting to get the fields at Community Park, Evergreen Hollow Park and Effingham High School in playing shape before deciding it simply couldn't be done.



"In the end, we just decided it would be better to call it off," said Green Friday evening. "The legion didn't want the injury risks that come with playing in such wet conditions, and I didn't want all those teams to come down here and not have an enjoyable experience."