The seventh-annual Austin American Legion Post 91 Baseball Classic begins with host Austin entertaining neighbor and rival Albert Lea tonight at 7 p.m. at Marcusen Park.

Austin has won three of the previous six tournaments, most recently in 2000 with a 5-3 win over Osseo in the championship game. The Sioux Falls Roadrunners routed Post 91, 12-2, in last year's finals.

The remaining six teams will begin pool play on Independence Day, with all but one game to be played at Marcusen Park. In Pool 1, Albert Lea, Austin, Eagan and Eagle Lake will play against one another, while Rochester Redhawks, Faribault, Rosemount and Osseo assemble in Pool 2.

"Eagan won the Faribault Tournament last weekend, and they're 12-2," Austin coach Bob Stratton said. "And based on the way the Rochester Redhawks hit, they'll be in it."

The top two teams from each pool emerge for Saturday's placement games.

Austin's schedule starts tonight with Albert Lea at 7 p.m. The local Legion takes Thursday off, but has a pair of pool-play games Friday.

Post 91 Classic Schedule:

Wednesday, July 3

Austin vs. Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 4

Rochester vs. Faribault, 9 a.m.

Eagan vs. Eagle Lake, noon

Rosemount vs. Osseo, 3 p.m.

Albert Lea vs. Eagan, 6 p.m.

Rochester vs. Rosemount, 9 p.m.

Friday, July 5

Austin vs. Eagle Lake, 9 a.m.

Faribault vs. Osseo, noon

Albert Lea vs. Eagle Lake, 3 p.m.

Faribault vs. Rosemount, 5 p.m. at Riverland

Rochester vs. Osseo, 6 p.m.

Austin vs. Eagan, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 6

Third-place game, 11 a.m.

Championship game, 2 p.m.