The last time Billings played host to an American Legion regional baseball tournament was 16 years ago.

Jeff Ballard, the director of the Billings program, wants to change that in a couple of years. Because of some changes on the national level, the regional rotation that has been in place since 1991 is being scrapped and the tournament will now be awarded on a two-year basis beginning in 2011-12.

"Anytime you can bring a marquee event to Dehler Park, we should try to do it,'' Ballard said "Dehler is a great place. We meet all of the criteria for the field.''

The big question is transportation for teams into Billings, and that is likely to be a major factor for the national office when it makes a decision. The Region 7 lineup includes Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, Washington and one of two California teams (which will change in 2011).

Help from state group

Ballard said that Montana Legion baseball chairman George Haegele is going to help with the process.

"George is going to get involved,'' Ballard said. "If we can get it, I think it would do great here.''

The financial commitment would be $30,000 ($15,000 per year), and Ballard believes that is doable.

"You don't have to pay it all at once,'' Ballard said. "I think people will support it. Billings is a good baseball town. There are businesses that would sponsor at some level. It depends on what kind of packages you can put together.''

Under the old rotation system, Montana had a chance to get the Region 7 tournament every five years. Billings had it 1993, Miles City in 1998, Whitefish in 2003 and Bozeman last summer.

In addition to changing that format, the composition of the tournaments was changed. The states that qualified two teams will now be placed in the same regional. For example, California will be replaced by Hawaii in Region 7. Both California teams are going to Region 8. Minnesota and Nebraska will send two teams to Region 6, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey's two teams have been placed in Region 2.

The national office is also looking for a long-term commitment for the World Series. The plan is to initially have a four-year deal in place by next year. The bid for the World Series is $100,000 per year.

Bids for the World Series and regional tournaments must be made by Feb. 1, 2010. Sites will be announced in May.