SUMTER, S.C. - A brawl after a play at the plate has put American Legion baseball teams from North Carolina and Georgia out of a regional baseball tournament in Sumter.

The decision to remove both teams from the Southeast Regional Tournament came after organizers consulted with national American Legion officials.

The fight erupted after Cherryville, N.C., Post 100 scored two runs in the fourth inning to increase its lead to 4-0 over Douglasville, Ga., Post 145 on Sunday morning.

When the second Cherryville runner slid into home, words were exchanged with the Douglasville catcher, who threw the ball and hit the North Carolina player in the back, starting the fight.

It took about three minutes to restore order.

Two South Carolina teams and a Florida team are left in the tournament.