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For the second time this decade, the Gaithersburg Post 295 American Legion baseball team will host the Maryland State American Legion tournament.

This time, the eight-team midsummer event will take place at the University of Maryland. It will be the tournament's first appearance at the state's flagship school since the mid-1960s, Post 295 manager Rick Price said last week.

Post 295, the defending state champion, last hosted the tournament in 2003 at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda. It won the state title that year and the next at McCurdy Field in Frederick.

"[Gaithersburg High athletic director Jason] Woodward and I talked about it," said Price, who has won eight county titles since 1990. "He said he had a contact. They eventually responded and we're very excited about it. I think we have an open invitation if we want to [host again in the future]. …

"We'll see how it goes. It's a long way to go for the host team to be going over there and putting things together, but they've been so accommodating to this point, we think it's going to be fun."

As the host, Post 295 receives an automatic bid into the tournament. Another Montgomery County team will also be entered, either the county champion or runner-up, if Gaithersburg wins the title.

A third county squad could also play in the state tournament. Price said the Northeast division has folded and that spot could be given to Montgomery County because it has the most teams of any division in the state.