American Legion World Series

World Series Live Webcast

If your computer can get it, go to national website http://www.baseball.legion.org and click on green banner at top of home page about webcast. First time I tried it, it took awhile to come up, but 2nd time it came up quickly, has very clear picture and sound.

 

Day 1, 2nd Game...

Texarkana,Tx defeated Mt.Airy,Md by a score of 3-2.

 

Day 1, 3rd Game...

Midland,Mi over Medford,Or by a score of 4-2.

 

Day 1 Game 4

Rowan
Festus
The game never got start tonight before the down pouring rain started. They don't know when the game will start tomorrow as it was still raining when the game was called and there was about two inches of water around the field and on the tarp. They said they would have to wait till they took the tarp off to make decision

 

Just heard from the players that as of right now game time will be tomorrow morning at 8:30

 

http://www.salisburypost.com/Sports/081509-Rowan-game

 

Rowan Loses a Heartbreaker

Festus (MO) 6
Rowan 5

Rowan trailed 3-0 after 7 because MO pitcher Stites was as advertised if you've read the Post at all this week. However, he was pulled after 7 and Rowan answered with a 4-run 8th. Even though Rowan took the lead, they lost a major opportunity to add to it with 2 baserunning mistakes in the inning that would end up costing them. Festus answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie it before Rowan took a 5-4 lead in the 9th on Jon Crucitti's sac fly. Preston Troutman was summoned to the mound in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and 0 outs. A popup and strikeout got Rowan to the brink of a victory, but a bloop hit fell between the Rowan 1B, 2B and RF to score two runners and win the game for Festus. I think Rowan will play later this afternoon and it will be a tough chore from here as their pitchers will have a day's less of rest than everybody else's.

 

Stites was as good as advertised....and fast. I was a little surprised that more wasn't done by the Rowan hitters to slow him down, upset his rythem. Maybe that's too bush or advanced at the Legion level, but I know it's done at the college level and beyond.

Unfortunately, this is the first game I've seen Rowan play this year so I really don't know the players like most of you guys do, but I thought Shive looked uncomfortable the whole time he was out there. Maybe I just expected too much or maybe he was just too excited/nervous. It looked at times like he didn't finish his pitches and other times he just over threw trying to make something happen. This is by no means an inditment, just an observation. I've kept up with the team in the paper and he is certainly a better pitcher than he showed today. It happens and has happened to every great pitcher that has ever taken to the mound.

I was a little surprised to see Coach Gant put 3 of his top pitchers out there in the first game. I was under the impression that Rowan's pitching was deeper than that. Again, just an observation. Coach Gant didn't get his team to Fargo by not knowing his pitchers.

Austin Shull did commit a big base running mistake and it probably cost Rowan a run in the inning, but let's not forget that in HS baseball catchers are seldom asked to run bases. They are generally pinch run for either because of their speed (or lack there of), to speed up the game (allowing them time to get the "tools of ignorance" on), or to rest them as much as possible between innings. Ofcourse they have to run in Legion ball but it's a little different starting to run bases in early Feburary then it is in late June or early July. Besides, he did drive in 2 runs.

This is a good team and they are well coached. They over came a loss to win the Regional Tournament. This is a little different tournament venue and is a little more difficult to win from the loosers bracket but I'm confident that if any of the teams there can do it, Rowan can.

Good Luck.

 

Shive did look a little off and I think a lot of that had to do with pitching on 4 days' rest with a cross-country flight in between. The only pitchers that are asked to do that in this country are generally Major League pitchers. And I wasn't trying to indict Shull or anything (I wasn't going to give names). His mistake probably was a result of there being about 10 minutes between out #1 (Holmes 6-3) and out #2 (Veal thrown out at plate).

 

Tough loss to swalow today. We didn't play particularly well but we battled back and had a chance to pull it out, it just didn't happen. Regarding Austin's baserunning blunder, no catchers are not used to running the bases, but EVERYBODY knows that with two outs, you just run at the crack of the bat. But that wasn't the reason they lost. I thought that ball at the end was going to get caught, but it was just hit in one of those places. It was a little wet out there and I believe Zach Smith slipped a little, but three people were going for the ball and it just couldn't be caught. Rowan will battle back, this team has shown resiliency all year long and they will have to do it again, if they get to play again today (still raining). No Corbin did not have his best stuff today, but he wasn't rocked or anything, just too many walks. Festus scored their first run without a hit. Rowan gave up two runs because of passed balls.

Forrest Buchanan will get the start for Rowan when they take on Mt. Airy, Md.