Casper - After 78 years of sponsoring Legion teams in Casper, American Legion Post No. 2 announced today that they will suspend operations of their Legion Baseball program for now. The decision is based on the delay in the civil lawsuit asking for return of their assets and facilities and their concern for the many other Legion Teams across the state and region that are scheduled to play Casper’s American Legion Team.

The American Legion George W. Vroman Post #2 filed suit in November against the Casper Legion Baseball Club, Inc. and its individual Directors, seeking the removal of the Directors, and injunctive relief to return the corporation's assets, including Lansing Field - donated and acquired for the benefit of American Legion Baseball in Casper - to the use of American Legion Baseball in Casper. A January 3rd hearing on the Legion's Motion for TRO, was vacated when the Defendants swore off District Judge David Park from the case, causing its reassignment to Judge Wade Waldrip of Rawlins.

"The Legion is awaiting a ruling on the defendants' procedural motion and looking toward a hearing on the merits of the civil suit. However, time is of the essence and we felt it only fair to let the many teams that we are scheduled to play and the tournament directors in Alaska, Rapid City and Cheyenne know that we may not be fielding a team. That allows them plenty of time to reschedule their teams,” Stan Lowe, Commander of Legion Post No. 2, said.

“To suspend, even temporarily, the American Legion Baseball program in Casper after 78 years is a travesty and a very sad event. We could never have imagined that the actions of a few individuals - who claim to care about youth baseball - could bring us to this place,” Lowe added.

“It is indeed a bitter pill for Casper Legion baseball, our youth - particularly those who aspire to follow in the footsteps of former Casper Legion Baseball players that went to the major leagues: Tom Browning, Mike Deveraux, Mike Lansing (for whom our Legion baseball park was named) and Mark Lee - as well as the supportive Legion baseball parents of this year’s disappointed hopefuls, and the entire Casper community,” Lowe concluded