American Legion Baseball is the finest summer baseball program for high school students in Ohio and the nation today. American Legion Baseball serves as the largest source of talent to major league teams of any youth baseball program. In 2018, over 55% of all players on 30 major league team rosters played American Legion Baseball. 2019 marks the 94th year for American Legion Baseball, an enviable anniversary in any field. For these past 93 years American Legion Baseball has strived to maintain the reputation as the highest regarded youth baseball program in the nation.
This year’s senior tournament kicked off on July 31st at Beavers Field in Lancaster Ohio. This tournament was an 8 team, double elimination tournament. The 8 teams who won each of their regions were the following.
Region 1- Pemberville Post 183
Region 2- Sidney Post 217
Region 3- Wayne County Post 68
Region 4- Lancaster Post 11
Region 5- Circleville Post 134
Region 6- Meigs Post 39
Region 7- Conneaut Post 151
Region 8- Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750
The final game of the tournament started on Sunday August 4th at 1:00pm. Wayne County and Beverly/Lowell faced off for the final game, both teams only having one loss after their games on Saturday wrapped up. Last years tournament runner-up, Beverly/Lowell defeated Wayne County 7-1.
They immediately moved on to the Great Lakes Regional Tournament which was held at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Their first game was Wednesday August 7th against Gladwin County Michigan Post 171. They defeated them 13-5 and went on to play Terre Haute Indiana Post 346 and defeated them 10-2. Day three of the tournament, they defeated Danville Post 210 15-16, then moved on and defeated Swoyersville Pennsylvania Post 644 9-8….. making them the ONLY undefeated team in the Great Lakes Regional Tournament and advancing them to the final game.
The final game was our faithful “Boys of Summer” versus Danville Illinois Post 210, which were the winners of the loser’s bracket. Danville defeated Beverly/Lowell 14-6, forcing them to play a second game because that was Beverly/Lowell’s first loss. In the last game of the Great Lakes Regional Tournament, Danville defeated Beverly/Lowell 4-3.
These young men played their hearts out. They left it all on the field. To say they made Ohio proud, is an understatement. They were the state runner ups last year and came back this year with a hunger. They won the Ohio Senior State Tournament and went straight to the Great Lakes Regional Tournament. They defeated many good teams and were undefeated until the final day. You can’t win em all boys, but we are so very very proud of you!
You made your community, your Post, Department, the State of Ohio, and The American Legion so proud. You make us feel grateful that you wear the patch! Great season! Until next year…..
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”
-Babe Ruth
