Gibbs Construction, Retif Oil ready for American Legion state tourney

A long-standing tradition with wonderful memories and stories of storied success among local teams continues as the Louisiana American Legion State Tournament gets underway Friday in Ascension Parish.

Only seven teams are competing in the state tournament as the once popular organization has dwindled to include just two competitors from the New Orleans area.

That includes independent Gibbs Construction (21-3), with team members from UNO, Delgado, Millsaps, Archbishop Rummel, Archbishop Shaw, Chalmette, Hahnville, Brother Martin, St. Charles Catholic, Holy Cross, Lutcher and Patrick Taylor.

The Cardinals are once again coached by Danny Riehm.

“We’re excited to go on the road to Gonzales, a new venue this year,” Riehm said. “We know it will be a tough tournament like it always is. We had to really rely on our traditional weekend exposure showcase-type tournament schedule. We used to have legion games during the week but that did not happen with the changes that occurred.”

Gibbs Construction has enjoyed a very good summer, led by Bradley Pelle of Millsaps, Logan Bertucci and Cameron Senior of Delgado and Trey Usey of UNO.

A rare school-based team in the tournament, Jesuit-based Retif Oil, which defeated Gibbs Construction in the title game a year ago in New Orleans.

The Oilers (14-1) just won the inaugural Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League and will compete in the legion tournament with the same roster of underclassmen against older, more experienced teams.

Retif Oil is led by a trio of pitchers in Gates Barre’ (3-0, 1.16 ERA), Bryce Pitts (3-0, 1.45) and Lee Bridgewater (3-0, 1.73) while at the plate, Hunter Oufnac (.340, 16 RBI), William Good (.439, 3 RBI) and Everett Deny (.392, 8 RBI) lead the way.

“We look forward to the challenge,” Retif coach Kenny Goodlett said. “It’s the next game up. We worry about our team and how we play. We saw a lot of different guys on the mound in the Crescent City Sports League. We saw 11 different arms which was exciting for us to see them succeed. Guys got in different positions and gives us a good heads-up for next season.”

Retif Oil is the defending state champion and Jesuit-based teams have won the American Legion World Series in 1946, 1960 and in 2012.

An S.J. Peters-based team captured the title in 1932.

Archbishop Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration captured the national title in 2006.

Gibbs Construction, who won the Louisiana state title in 2016, 2017 and 2019, got the luck of the draw to receive a bye in the seven-team tournament.

Retif Oil opens against the Crowley Millers Friday at 1 p.m. All three games Friday are scheduled for East Ascension High School. The winner of the first game will face Gibbs Construction Saturday at 10 a.m. at Dutchtown.

Gauthier Amedee, which won the state title in 2018, is a home team with some of its players based at East Ascension. Gauthier Amedee also has players from Dutchtown, St. Amant, Ascension Catholic and a few college players who have returned as well.

The other teams are the Benton Tigers, St. Landry, and the Lafayette Drillers.

“The teams that were usually there at the end of a normal state tournament are still going to be there,” Riehm said. “Retif Oil, Gauthier Amedee, Crowley, Lafayette, St. Landry Bank are always good. I know Benton is good as well. It will be just as difficult to win this one as it was to win the other ones.”

The winner advances to play in the Mid-South Regional in Pelham, Alabama, August 2-7. The American Legion World Series is slated for August 11-16 in Shelby, North Carolina.

“That is the goal,” Riehm said. “Once you have been there, you want to get back.”

Retif Oil will keep its deep history in Legion alive by competing this weekend.

“Going back 90 plus years, it’s a strong tradition here at Jesuit,” Goodlett said. “At Carrollton and Banks, it’s something that many of our alumni look forward to and seeing how we do in the summer. We look forward to it, going back to 2012 and winning the World Series and going back to it in 2015 and winning the state title last year. We’re excited about it.”