NEW ORLEANS — It may be no surprise that the Pedal Valves and Townsend Homes baseball teams both ended up at the American Legion State Tournament, which begins today at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

What is surprising is how each got there.

The St. Charles Catholic-based Townsend Homes team took the short route, securing its spot by winning the Second District West championship June 29 with a 7-6 upset of Pedal Valves.

It also was the long way because it gave coach Wayne Stein and his players nearly two weeks to kill before the start of the tournament.

Townsend Homes  (6-6-1) will play the Crowley Millers (10-7-1) at 3:30 p.m. today in the double elimination tournament.

Stein tried to fill the gap with several practice games, including some against teams he will be facing in the upcoming days.

“It was an opportunity to get our pitchers out there,” Stein said.

“We threw four guys each day to break the game up and we didn’t have to have the guys go out there and have an organized two-hour practice. That’s what we’ve done to try and stay sharp.”

Pedal Valves was the defending Second District West champ and the defending state champ.

Despite returning former Riverside players Mason Vicknair and Connor Poche and  former Comets Zachary Roussel and Justin Ory, this year’s team found the road to state much rougher.

After losing to Townsend Homes for the district title, the Cardinals had to fight their way through a tough field at the heavily rain-delayed Southeast Regional Tournament over the past week.

The Cardinals defeated Shaw-based Refuel, 11-1, Jesuit-based Retif Oil, 3-0, and Rummel-based Deanie’s Seafood, 4-3, before losing to Gauthier & Amedee, 12-0.

After beating Retif  Oil a second time  Wednesday, 1-0, thanks to a walk-off bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, Pedal Valves and Gauthier & Amedee were awarded the two available berths at state.

Pedal Valves (20-6) will play the Southland Hogs of Houma (12-4) at noon today.

“I was just really proud of the kids,” coach Danny Riehm said. “They had to beat Retif Oil twice in five days, and that wasn’t an easy task.”

Riehm said it should be no surprise both teams with area ties have a chance to win the state championship.

“I think it shows the quality of baseball from the River Parish region,” Riehm said.

“Our toughest games the past two summers have really been against Townsend Homes. They just come to play. They compete, play hard and are always a very tough opponent.”

The double elimination tournament runs through Wednesday, before crowing a  champion.

That winner advances to the Mid-South Region Tournament Aug. 2-7 at Kirsch-Rooney.

The American Legion World Series begins Aug. 10 in Shelby, N.C.