Post 159 Hoping To Turn State Tournament Fortunes Around Friday
Nick Henthorn Trending
LANCASTER - When St. Clairsville Post 159 plays its first game of the Ohio State American Legion Tournament Friday night at Beavers Field, it will also be seeking its first victory in the state tournament atmosphere.
Post 159, the Region 8 victor, takes a 20-10 record into its 7:30 battle with Region 7 kingpin Wayne County in the lid-lifter of the six-team event. However, the local squad is winless in six previous state tournament contests (2015, 2016 and 2021).
"This is our fourth trip to the state tournament now and in years past on paper we have taken some extremely talented rosters up to this tournament with little to show. One of which (2016) we were riding an incredible 19-game win streak heading in only to go two-and-out," said St. Clairsville veteran manager Mike Muklewicz," who is 166-73 in 10 years as head coach after two seasons as an assistant. "The 2024 group is different in the sense that we didn't necessarily cruise all year. We struggled midway and had to realize that everything is earned not giving and it really created a mindset to win every pitch, at bat, ground ball.
"For that reason, I think this year is going to be the year we make a run."
This summer's team is made up a little differently from those in the past as Post 159, for the first time, added players from Indian Creek, Steubenville High and Steubenville Catholic, due to Steubenville Teramana Post 33 not fielding a team this season.
"The 2024 team features an outstanding group of kids comprised from a variety of OVAC schools. They have meshed and come together as well as any of the teams I have had in my last 10 years as a head coach," Muklewicz said. "We did struggle a little mid-way through which I think motivated us to find an identity."
The team has players from Barnesville, Buckeye Local, Indian Creek, River, St. Clairsville, Shadyside, Steubenville, Steubenville Catholic and Union Local high schools.
"Leadership has been key and is spearheaded by OVAC Class 4A Player of the Year Hunter Hoffman, of St. Clairsville. In his third year with us, he has really set an example of how to conduct yourself and keep in every ball game," Muklewicz noted. "Hunter is a special kid in between the lines, in the dugout, and off the field"
He also leads by example with a .424 batting average that includes 28 hits (22 singles, 5 doubles and a triple). He has driven in 13 runs and scored 19. On the mound, the lefty, who is headed to Walsh University in the fall, is 2-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 23 innings of work. He has struck out 31 batters while walking just six.
"Our approaches at the plate have progressed throughout the season. That was our biggest issue early on. The bats would be hot one day and non-existent the next. We worked through that and they have really come on late.
"When you have 4-5 guys putting up .390-plus batting averages it certainly helps. When you have Peyton Blue, Brody Saunders, Hoffman, Max Castro and Evan White stacked up back-to-back in the lineup, all you have to do is get some guys on base and let them go to work. You can't really pitch around that chunk of the lineup and they are looking to do damage to move some guys and get them in."
Blue, a senior-to-be at River, leads the team with a .509 batting norm. He also slugs at a .873 clip and four of his 28 hits have been homers. He has knocked in 27 runs while scoring 14. Saunders, St. Clairsville junior-to-be, hits at a .442 pace, with a team-best 38 base raps, including seven doubles, a triple and two home runs. He is also 3-2 on the mound with a 3.80 ERA in 38.2 innings of work. He has fanned 55 and issued 19 base-on-balls.
Castro, also from River, leads Post 159 with 34 runs scored. He bats .403 with 27 hits, of which 11 are doubles. He has recorded 18 RBI. White, a Union Local grad who is headed to Bethany College, has a .377 batting average that includes 23 hits and 15 RBI.
"Our pitchers have continuously put us in a position to win ball games and make plays behind them while limiting walks," Muklewicz added. "Saunders, Hoffman, Sylus Hyde, and Kody Carver have put up some impressive outings this year. Carver leads the staff at 7-0 with a variety of pitches, while Saunders has had some big days this summer - the latest of which was the Region 8 championship blanking nemesis Beverly/Lowell with a complete game, two-hit shutout.
"I like our matchup on Friday night," he continued. "All of the other teams will be there and it's under the lights to open up the 2024 Ohio State Tournament. What cooler of a stage can you get?"
In addition to St. Clairsville and Wayne County, also entered are Lancaster Post 11, Harrison Post 199, Findlay Post 3 and Greenville Post 140.
"There will be some tough teams in the field - one of which has won three of the five last state titles - that being Harrison Post 199. It looks to be the juggernaut, as usual," Muklewicz assessed. "With a win Friday, we would be facing off against a tough host Lancaster squad. But it comes down to playing one game at a time and stringing together good clean ball games while minimizing mistakes, especially self-inflicted. "
Rounding out the St. Clairsville roster are Dylan Blon, Max Miller and Colin Powell (Barnesville); Kaleb Stang; Tyler Stottlemyre (Shadyside); Ayden Manning (Steubenville) and Rowan Mellott and Landon Stack (St. Clairsville).
Muklewicz is assisted by Tim Blue, Jeff Miller and Bruce Myers. Bat Boys are Kash and Deklan.