Caldwell Invitational Tournament

Roxboro Post 138 vs. Chapel Hill 6

Saturday, 6/18 @ 5:00pm:
Roxboro 138 10 vs. Chapel Hill 6 3

 

2005 Caldwell Invitational Tournament Champions

Saturday, 6/18 @ 8:00pm:
Pineville Post 337 11 vs. Caldwell Co. Post 29 9

Team, Runs, Hits, Errors
Pineville Post 337, 11, 14, 1
Caldwell Co. Post 29, 9, 14, 3
WP: Aaron Bray
Save: Joey Cutler
LP: Russell Reid
2 Run HR: Kevin Glass – Pineville Post 337
Pineville Post 337 Pitchers:
Starting: Scott Edwards, then Thomas Welch, then Daniel Whitten, then Aaron Bray, then Joey Cutler.

A great game fought by two great legion teams, one from the NC Area IV Eastern Division (Pineville) and one from the NC Area IV Western Division (Caldwell Co). With the lead changing hands about 4 times, Pineville scored first over Caldwell holding a 2-0 lead through the first couple of innings. Caldwell then went ahead 4-2 and then Pineville fought back to tie the game 4-4. Pineville then went up 8-4 with what they thought was a decent lead at that point but then Caldwell battled back to take the lead 9-8.

In the top of the 9th with 2 outs and the score Caldwell 9 vs. Pineville 8, catcher Brandon Stanford got a hit down the right base line for a double. Next up 2nd baseman, Austin Henderson, singled up the middle for an RBI to make the score 9-9 still with 2 outs. Henderson then advanced to 2nd when Caldwell tried to throw out Stanford scoring at home. Zac Kennedy, 3rd baseman, then singled to score Henderson from 2nd making the score 10-9 Pineville. Jonathan Ahearn, centerfieldman, next beat out an infield single putting Kennedy on 3rd and Ahearn on 1st. Aaron Bray, shortstop, then singled scoring Kennedy from 3rd making the score 11-9 but then after that Ahearn was called out after trying to steal 3rd for the 3 out finally in the top of the 9th. With pitcher, Joey Cutler, coming in for Pineville in the bottom of the 9th, Caldwell was only able to put one runner on 1st base so Pineville was able to hold Caldwell scoreless in the bottom of the 9th for the win. Quite an exciting game overall with the game ending around 12:00 midnightish last night @ M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls, NC!!!

Pineville’s Record:
Overall: 12-2
Conference: 8-2

Caldwell’s Record:
Overall: 12-4
Conference: 8-1

 

Roxboro Post 138 entered the Caldwell Tournament with an 8-4 overall record. We are now 9-5 after losing to Pineville and then beating Chapel Hill 10-4.

Roxboro's American Legion program is in our fourth year. I wanted our players and their families to experience, what I consider, the ultimate in American Legion baseball in North Carolina. We were not disappointed. The passion that the fans and players from Pineville and Caldwell county was like nothing we have ever seen before. That's what I want for Roxboro. We have a very good parent following for our team, but there is not that many other fans come to our games. I thought the atmosphere at Caldwell was awesome and American Legion baseball is a way of life there. That's what I'm striving for in Roxboro.

We have 15 players on the team. That's all that tried out. Of the 15 players we have 2 graduated in 04 and did not play college ball this year. Three players were on their high school varsity team but did not see much playing time this year. Two players were on Person's J.V. team. That leaves 8 players who got a reasonable amount playing time for their respective High School this past year. For us to even be in the game with the likes of a Pineville will help these players and this program for the future years.

 

Pineville vs. Caldwell final

This was one of my personal 'TOP 10' games over the last 15 years!! Both teams showed a ton of fire and desire to win it all!! Comeback after comeback....Pineville felt comfortable with the 4 run lead in the 6th (I think!) but to only have it taken away in the bottom of the same inning!! Crucial hits from both sides with runners on would either tie the game or put them in the lead. This was one of those games where each player contributed something to keep their team in it!!

The atmosphere was true Caldwell County. With the exception of one or two fans that always seemed to be overly boisterous (the guy with the beige hat and tatoo and the guy keeping the book up in the stands), this was an energized game. Its OK to cheer on your team but when you start making it personal and verbally attack opposing fans, coaches and players, you step over the line!! But you know what....it did nothing but fire our guys up even more (so I guess a thank you is in order!!).

Hats off to both sides!!

I will also have to say thanks and that I was impressed with pretty much the entire Roxboro team hangin round to watch the final game. You guys gave Pineville a very challenging time.

 

Pineville and Caldwell

Are two teams with a good shot of playing in the state tournament in Cherryville later this summer.

 

Pineville Post 337 vs. Caldwell Co. Post 29 Championship Game

throwtheheat:
I really have to tell you though...that at one point when the Pineville vs. Caldwell legion game began...that the undersized number of Pineville parents and fans that were in attendance in relation to the Caldwell parents and fans base in attendance on Saturday night, that Pineville was thinking that they had possibly walked in to an alarming and dreadful situation when the guy in the beige hat and the guy keeping the book in the stands started yelling out rowdy and obnoxious remarks and then...the Caldwell Co. legion announcer (which I would like to add is one of two of the best legion baseball announcers that I have ever heard with the other being Marty Vartanian from Pineville Post 337) starting clapping on the intercom to rally the Caldwell parents and fans and asking the Caldwell parents and fans "come on Caldwell, where's my people", as ...like I said, our undersized Pineville parents and fans based group began thinking, "what in the world have we gotten ourselves in to?!?"

Long story short...I would like to thank the Caldwell Invitational Tournament legion director because he in fact was the one that very graciously and courteously asked the Caldwell legion announcer on this particular night in the M.S. Deal Legion Stadium to please be unbiased as a Home team announcer and to announce impartially in regard to both the Caldwell and Pineville teams which the Caldwell legion announcer so kindly agreed to so on this heated and stressful night for both the Pineville and Caldwell legion teams which I am guessing might not happen on other nights in the M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls, NC?!?

My hats off to the Caldwell Co. Post 29 legion group and tournament organizers for a great Caldwell Invitational inaugural tournament and here's to hoping that Caldwell and Pineville have many, many more games of enjoyment in the M.S. Deal Legion Stadium in Granite Falls, NC in the future and Pineville Post 337 looks forward to the day that Caldwell Co. Post 29 travels to Charlotte, NC to play a legion game @ Pineville's Home field @ South Meck High!

Thanks again for hosting a fun and competitive tournament; your hospitality was and still is now very much appreciated on being kind to the visiting team most overall with the exception in some instances?!?