Showing posts tagged “American Legion”
Mike Potter ·
28 Jun 2009, 10:22 PM ·
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DBAP/DURHAM OK baseball fans, today I’m “Safe at Home in Durham” (although I live in Brier Creek now) for Game 4 of the USA National Team’s five-game set with Canada.
The Red, White and Blue, which has won all three by comfortable scores, will be favored once again. Not just because the U.S. is just better than Canada in baseball at the amateur level, but also because the Canucks have sent an 18U team. Good for the young boys from Canada to get some experience - I mean every golfer would like to play a round with Tiger Woods, right? - but for competitive balance, not so much.
When I get to the press box I learn there will be a total of two keyboard journalists in the house, and that we will be the first to cover any game in the series, which started on Thursday night in Cary. Kudos to the News & Observer for getting to the game, and I’m not going to take shots at the papers in Burlington or Greensboro or any of the smaller surrounding cities for not being here. I’m just not. I would have been around for the first three myself, but I couldn’t be in Zebulon and Durham at the same time.
Today the buffet menu includes both your standard meat-and-tomato sauce lasagna along with a vegetable alternative and Caesar salad.
Canada scored five runs in the first inning on Saturday night before losing 14-5, and today it’s competitive early. After the USA, which is the designated “visiting” team, scratches out two in the first, the Canadians tie it in the bottom of the frame.
But when veteran Christian Colon of Cal State-Fullerton - the only school for which somehow game ops does not have the fight song - blasts a two-out, 0-1 offering over the Blue Monster wall in left in the second, the tricolor boys are off to the races. USA scores two in the third, two in the fifth, five in the sixth, four in the seventh and it’s a challenge to stay engaged in the process.
The homeboys eventually win it 20-3, with 11 different players hitting safely and Coastal Carolina’s Cody Wheeler (pictured) getting the win. In other USA Baseball action on Sunday, Babe Ruth beat Bryce Harper and the American Legion team 8-7 for the championship of the Tournament of Stars.
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ACC, Baseball, USA Baseball American Legion, Asher Wojciechowski, Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox, Bryce Harper, Cal State-Fullerton, Canada, Cary, Christian Colon, Coastal Carolina, Cody Wheeler, Cuba, Florida State Seminoles, Greg Hamilton, Jason Bay, Jerome Werniuk, Justin Morneau, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, News & Observer, Rick Jones, Russell Martin, Steve McKinnon, Texas Rangers, The Citadel, Tiger Woods, Tournament of Stars, Tulane, Tyler Holt, World Baseball Classic
Mike Potter ·
27 Jun 2009, 11:18 PM ·
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Maybe it was the managerial skills of “Trader Jack” McKeon that inspired a Red, White and Blue comeback on Saturday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Canada burst out to a 5-0 lead after half an inning, but the USA National Team pounded out 14 hits to claim a 14-5 victory and win its third straight to start the five-game series. Florida State’s Tyler Holt (pictured) reached safely six times with three hits including a pair of doubles with two RBI.
It was also another big day at the 18U Tournament of Stars at the National Training Complex in Cary, as uberprospect Bryce Harper and his American Legion team advanced to today’s 4 p.m. title game against the Babe Ruth team.
In the National Team’s win, Cal State-Fullerton’s Christian Colon had two hits including a triple with two RBI, while Rice’s Rick Hague added two hits including a double with two RBI.
T.J. Walz of Kansas got the win in relief, tallying nine strikeouts and allowing only one hit.
Cody Wheeler of Coastal Carolina is scheduled to pitch for the USA in Game 4 today at 5:05 at DBAP.
ACC, Baseball, USA Baseball American Legion, Babe Ruth, Bryce Harper, Cal State-Fullerton, Christian Colon, Coastal Carolina, Cody Wheeler, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Florida State, Jack McKeon, Kansas Jayhawks, Rice Owls, Rick Hague, T.J. Walz, Tournament of Stars, Tyler Holt
Mike Potter ·
24 Jun 2009, 7:25 PM ·
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NATIONAL TRAINING COMPLEX/CARY Today I’m at USA Baseball’s “Tournament of Stars,” an 18U event that matches all-star teams from most of the major national youth baseball organizations.
It’s certainly a showcase, but another key reason for it is to identify players for the 18U National Team, which will play in something called the COPABE Pan Am “AAA” (18U) Championships in late September in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
The most certain pick of all is Bryce Harper, who was MVP of the 16U National Team last year. Harper, who won’t turn 17 until the day before I turn 54 in October (think that isn’t scary?) is being called the best prospect in a generation by just about everyone who gets paid to keep up with such things. He plays for the American Legion’s team, which will take on the stars of the AABC (All-American Baseball Congress) in the first game today.
And there’s good news - at least for me - when I get to the park. The 1 p.m. opener of the day, which was supposed to be played on one of the auxiliary fields, has been moved to the showcase stadium with the air-conditioned press box. They’re estimating about 300 total pro and college scouts showing up for Harper’s games, and they are in evidence again today.
Meanwhile, the National Team is playing its final scrimmage before the roster is cut to 22.
In the press box I renew acquaintances with Matt White (pictured), the former Durham Bulls pitcher from 2000-01 and big-time bonus baby with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays who is now a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia Tech. White, who once played on the 18U team, will be its pitching coach this summer.
Fried chicken sandwich, cole slaw, some carrot cake that just hits the spot, and here we go. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay Rays, USA Baseball AABC, Alex Lavisky, American Legion, Athens Drive Jaguars, Austin Wilson, Bryce Harper, Charleston Southern, Drew Woodall, Georgia Tech, Griffin Murphy, Logan Ehlers, Manny Machado, Marco Gonzales, Marcus Littlewood, Matt White, Michael Wacha, Ryan Ford, Scott Frazier
Mike Potter ·
22 Jun 2009, 12:06 PM ·
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USA Baseball will be showcasing the best youth talent in the country this week, when the annual “Tournament of Stars” comes to the National Training Complex in Cary.
The action begins on Tuesday.
Among the standouts is 16-year-old Bryce Harper (pictured, photo courtesy USA Baseball) of Las Vegas, who will play for the American Legion team.
There are also a couple of local boys involved. Drew Woodall, a rising senior catcher from Cary who attends Athens Drive High, will be on the same team with Harper. N.C. State-bound infielder and Apex High alum Chris Diaz will play for the PONY team.
ACC, N.C. State, USA Baseball American Legion, Apex Cougars, Athens Drive Jaguars, Bryce Harper, Chris Diaz, Drew Woodall, PONY Baseball
Mike Potter ·
21 Jun 2009, 10:34 AM ·
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Florida State’s Tyler Holt (pictured) had a pair of doubles and scored twice, helping the Blues to a 4-2 win over the Reds in a USA Baseball National Team intrasquad on Saturday at the National Training Complex in Cary.
Florida’s Preston Tucker added a solo homer for the Blues, who also got a two-run single from Rice’s Rick Hague in the seven-inning contest.
Christian Colon of Cal State-Fullerton paced the Reds with two hits and an RBI.
The team will have another intrasquad today at 4 at the NTC, with its first game against outside opposition at the NTC on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Canada.
The NTC will also be the site of the 16U Tournament of Stars beginning on Tuesday. Bryce Harper, generally considered baseball’s best prospect in years, will play for the American Legion team in that event.
Baseball, USA Baseball ACC, American Legion, Bryce Harper, Florida Gators, Florida State, Preston Tucker, Rice University, Rick Hague, Tyler Holt
