Big matchups on ALWS Day 4 schedule

Six teams will vie for the three remaining semifinal spots when they take to the field at Keeter Stadium today in Day 4 of The American Legion World Series, making for an interesting final day of pool play.

On the “Stars” side of the field, it’s simple. Two-time defending champ Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 and Waipahu (Hawaii) Post 35 – in the field for the fourth time since 2011 – each are 1-1 in pool play. The winner of their 4 p.m. game today will earn a spot in Monday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal game.

Waipahu edged Omaha, Neb., 5-4 on Day 1 and then lost 2-1 to Medford in the bottom of ninth inning on Day 3. Post 35 enters today hitting .344 as a team since the regional round; seven players with 26 or more at-bats are hitting.300 or higher, led by Cameran Igarashi (.423, six runs scored).

Brooklawn lost 3-2 to Medford in the ALWS opener but bounced back to down Omaha 15-1 on Day 3. The Brookers banged out 16 hits – including a home run from 2014 American Legion Player of the Year Sean Breen – and led 11-0 after two and a half innings.

Breen is batting .423 with seven runs batted in since the regional round, while teammate Anthony Harrold – the 2013 Player of the Year – has a home run and 10 RBIs while hitting .423.

In the “Stripes” side of pool play, things aren’t as clear. Retif Oil (New Orleans) is 2-0 in the pool and can clinch the top spot, and a spot in Monday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal, with a win against Midland (Mich.) Post 165 (1-1) in today’s 7:30 p.m. game.

Retif Oil’s Brandon Briuglio, who picked up the win on Day 3 and is hitting .333 with seven RBIs, said his team isn’t taking anything for granted despite being 2-0. “Obviously it’s big, but we still have to focus on (today) and hopefully focus on the semifinal and final game,” he said. “That’s huge to go into (the semifinals) undefeated. Hopefully we just go out (today) and play the type of ball we played all year.”

Midland opened the Series with a 12-1 win against Cromwell (Conn.) Post 105 but then lost 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth to Chapin-Newberry (S.C.) Post 193 on Day 2. Midland is hitting .349 as a team, led by Cole Brooks (.484, nine RBIs) and Carson Eby (.483, seven runs scored).

Chapin-Newberry Post 193 suffered its first loss of the entire season when it fell to Retif Oil on Day 3. Post 193 is 1-1 in pool play and faces Cromwell Post 105 (0-2) at 1 p.m. today.

Kevis Burton is hitting .444 for Post 193, while Justin Hawkins (.440) has two home runs and seven RBIs. Kevin Radziewicz (.458) and Chris Bouchard (.435, eight RBIs) leads Cromwell.

All three games will be streamed live on ESPN3.