New Region, Big Expectations For Post 1
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WHEELING -- At this point in their summer-ball season, Wheeling Post 1 has a long road behind them-- and, as a credit to their success so far, a long road ahead of them too. About 7.5 hours to be specific.
Post 1 embarked Tuesday morning to Gastonia, North Carolina, which will be their homebase for the duration of their stay at the American Legion Southeast Regional Tournament. After previously playing in the Midatlantic Regional the past two years, Post 1 was shuffled into a new region this time around.
"You look at the states that are there, and it’s a little bit different than what we’re used to," Post 1 head coach Jon-Michael Brunner said. "We’ve been looking at the teams that we’re potentially going to run into, the North Carolina. We know the Ohio Yeager-Benson squad. We played them in Morgantown."
In Region 3, the Southeast Region, Wheeling will be joined by Ohio state champions Yeager-Benson Post 100, Puerto Rico champions Dorado Post 45, Virginia state champions Chesapeake Post 280, Florida state champions Jacksonville Post 316, South Carolina state champions Florence Post 1, North Carolina state champions Garner Post 232, and the host team, Cherryville Post 100.
The games will be played at Fraley Field in Cherryville, North Carolina.
First up for Wheeling Post 1 will be Garner, who they will face on Aug. 5 at 4:30 p.m.
"We’re looking forward to it," Brunner said. "We know it’s a tough region to come out of. North Carolina is-- I think it’s Garner we play first. They have two losses on the year, something like that. We know that they’re tough and we’re just going to go get after it. These guys have played well all season, it’s tough this week off in-between, because we're eager to go."
Wheeling, West Virginia state champions for three years in a row, has plenty of players on their squad with experience on the regional tournament stage. Their veterans know what to expect.
"We’re not gonna be seeing 80-mile-per-hour arms, we’re probably going to see 85 and higher, especially going all the way to the Southeast," outfielder Braxton Billick said. "So it’s going to be a little difficult, but we honestly did see good pitching at States, so I think if we just put the bat on the ball, we’ll be pretty good."
"The pitching, it’s good no matter who you’re going to play," outfielder Chris Upton said. "You know you’re going to face somebody that can throw. So, instead of focusing on that, just focus on being the best team we can be, play some ball, do all we can do."
Post 1 is bringing most of their roster to N.C., though a few of their pitchers have left the team to focus on their upcoming college or high school years.
"We’re taking down everybody that’s left basically," Brunner said. "There’s some kids that aren’t coming, just from college decisions and things like that. I wouldn’t say we’re handicapped going in, because all of our guys have proven to play well throughout the year."
"We have 100% faith and confidence in these guys going out there, but it'll just be a little bit different rotation than what we’re used to doing. I think that, in terms of Legion in general, I wish we could have everybody at full strength because we’re definitely not the only team that’s going down with some guys that aren’t going to be there. It’d be interesting if this was a couple weeks earlier, and you get everybody’s best roster down there and really see what that tournament would look like."
Upton and Billick think the team's offense will have to perform at its best in Regionals.
"It’s more of the pitching that we've been leaning on, so losing a couple of those guys is going to hurt," Billick, who is tied for third on the team with 23 RBI this season, said. "But I mean, we know we’re going to lose a couple guys going down there, so we just need to be able to swing it and put a few more runs up, and I feel like we’ll have a good shot."
Upton, Post 1's everyday leadoff hitter who leads the team with a 1.280 OPS, has a bit of a chip on his shoulder entering Wednesday.
"I don’t think I had a hit down in the Regionals last year, so just finding a way on base, that’s the first goal because the dudes behind me, they’ve been coming through all year, so I know they’ll be able to come through if I get on base down there.
"It’s been a really fun summer. It’s definitely a wider variety than last year, and it’s cool to see that these guys who were maybe rivals in the high school season, now they’re some of my best friends."
Post 1 went 0-2 in Regional play last year, and won two games the year before. Brunner sees a lot of potential in this year's trip.
"I know we have a lot of veteran guys that have been down to the Regional before, and they’re ready to win some games," Brunner said. "And, you know, the big thing down there in the State tournament was, you know, obviously these are all kids from different high schools, but when we’re together, it’s for what’s on your chest. We have a lot of support from Wheeling, a lot of old alumni reaching out to us, people from all over. So I think this group’s bought into playing for their town, playing for their city. That pride right there, it can carry you a long way."
The double-elimination tournament runs from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9. One team from each of the eight American Legion Regions will make up the field for the 99th American Legion World Series. The ALWS will take place Aug. 13-18 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.