Sr American Legion(Here is what we have so far)

...that reason was pretty good

 

Sorry....I got some very bad info.Should have checked it out further own my own before I posted here.My apologies to the state commish and to Area IV.



BTW.....Kannapolis 3
...........Kernersville 3......rain delay bottom of the 4th.

Once again my apoligies for posting some very bad info.

 

kannapolis 501 2004 glory days.

Mike London Kannapolis Citizen The Post 501 notebook ... The Kannapolis American Legion team is deeper than the Pacific Ocean at eight positions
Brief Query needs backup
By Mike London





By Mike London

Kannapolis Citizen

The Post 501 notebook ...

The Kannapolis American Legion team is deeper than the Pacific Ocean at eight positions, but A.L. Brown rising senior Ryan Query is performing ironman duty behind the plate.

Josh McKnight, an outfielder who figured to be Query's top backup, pulled a hamstring Friday in his debut at catcher. McKnight, a burly young man who just finished his freshman year at North Carolina A& T and has already hit two homers, probably won't grab the chest protector for another week or so.

Jerod Faggart, a rising junior at Northwest Cabarrus who caught most of 501's games last season, has been cleared to play following ACL surgery, but coach Tate Osborne would like to work him back into the mix slowly. He'd like for Faggart to test the repaired knee at less taxing positions than catcher -- the most taxing position on knees.

Osborne's ace in the hole might end up being recent A.L. Brown graduate Andrew Mead, who can literally play all nine positions. Mead caught down the stretch last last season and was especially good against South Rowan in a memorable playoff series.

Osborne is reluctant to use Mead at catcher, though, because Mead's also one of the team's top pitchers. When Mead's not pitching, Osborne would like to rest his valuable right arm as much as possible.

Until McKnight recovers or Faggart's ready, Query will get a serious workout and will be thankful for every break in the schedule.

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WHO'S 26? An unfamiliar face was walking around in a familiarPost 501 uniform on Monday.

After a short investigation, No. 26 turned out to be southpaw Nick Diakun, who threw for Greensboro Post 53 (Ragsdale) in 2003.

Daikun's family has moved into the Kannapolis area, just as slugger Marcus Smith's did last year. Daikun, who was on East Carolina's practice squad, contacted Osborne and asked for a tryout, and Osborne agreed. He already knew Diakun a little because he pitched two scoreless innings with two Ks against Kannapolis last season in the game in which the locals eliminated Post 53 from the playoffs.

"He had some options," Osborne said. "He could play here or he could have gone back to Greensboro. He decided to play here."

Diakun accompanied 501 to the Veterans Memorial Tournament at Caldwell County, and when Kannapolis fell behind the host team 6-2 in the second inning in Sunday's championship game, Osborne figured he had nothing to lose. That's when he decided it was the ideal time to take a look at the new left-hander.

Diakun didn't sink, he swam. He proceeded to shut down Caldwell's loaded lineup. He worked into the eighth inning and earned the win as Kannapolis rallied for a 9-7 victory.

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MEAD'SBACK: Recently returned from his senior beach trip, 501 right-hander Andrew Mead hasn't started on the mound yet (probably he'll debut Thursday against South Rowan), but he's already earned a save.

Mead entered the Caldwell game after Diakun ran into trouble in the eighth and got a double-play ball on his first pitch. Then he fanned the side in the ninth.

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HAMSLAM:First baseman Michael Hamilton hit a grand slam as Kannapolis crushed Surry 11-0 in the Veterans tourney semifinals.

"I was lucky and got hold of one," said Hamilton modestly.

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TAGTEAM: Amazingly enough, both injured Faggart twins (Jerod and Jake) might be full-time players shortly.

Jerod (left knee) was originally supposed to be a part-timer all summer and Jake (blood clot, right arm)had just about been ruled out completely.

But Jerod has been swinging away in recent games and now Jake has been cleared to hit and run. Jake could be throwing -- putting the finishing touches on his comeback -- in another two weeks.

Both Faggarts are ultra- talented, which makes 501 that much stronger and Osborne's job making out the lineup card that much tougher.

"Good problems to have," Osborne smiled.

Another bonus for 501 in having two frisky Faggarts is the presence at games of their mom, a former track star at Northwest Cabarrus.

She spent Monday night sprinting around the hillsides selling half-and-half tickets out of a baseball-shaped Easter basket.

There was no official accounting, but jackpot records may have been set.

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DIFFERENT STROKES: Last year's Post 501 team could hit, but usually had to play station-to-station on the bases.

Osborne can be more creative this summer with the addition of some serious speed. He was delighted to see Brett Bartles and Garrett Sherrill pull off a double steal in the first inning of Monday's 14-4 romp over Mooresville.

Shortstop Bartles and outfielders Jake Faggart, Jeremiah Worthington and Ryan Petty could make up a pretty good 4x100 team.

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THEBIGQUESTION: Can 501 be as good as last year's Area III champions -- or even better?

Maybe.

The team's won five in a row, including early prime-time victories over Caldwell, Pineville and Chapel Hill.

Kannapolis beat Chapel Hill's ace on a homer by Petty and knocked off a veteran Caldwell team that had been pounding people.

"Coach tells us this is the most talent and the most depth he's ever coached," said Hamilton. "Caldwell was a great win, with all those fans up there."

The Caldwell fans are so loud -- and at times, obnoxious -- that former Rowan County coach Jim DeHart used to take electric fans into the dugout and turn them up full blast so his players couldn't hear what the Caldwell folks were yelling at them.

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PITCHINGIN:Kannapolis' offense, with more speed and more power than last year, might be devastating.

"Offensively, we might be better," admitted Osborne. "But out pitching has got to hang in there."

The mound is a concern because 501 lost co-aces Zach Ward and Lucas Dalton.

But Nolan Patterson and Jonathan Goodman pitched very well in the Caldwell tournament and Osborne knows the right-handed trio of Blake Ketner, Garrett Sherrill and Mead is going to be at least solid -- maybe super.

Then there's Drew Burris, who looked good for two innings against Mooresville on Monday. And lefties Diakun and Robert Bowers will give Osborne a different look.

Petty and Bartles can also pitch in a pinch.

"So far so good," Osborne said. "We'll see how it goes when things heat up."

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CHEMLAB:One thing 501 had going in a big way last year was super chemistry.

Everyone knew his role and exactly what was expected.

Can that be maintained in 2004 with even more talent on hand? Even good people can become frustrated people when they sit, and some very good players are going to be catching splinters every night.

"Coach says whoever's hot is going to be in there," Hamilton said. "We know that."

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Dual Participation

If High Point players are playing AAU now, does it really matter? Is there a state rule that forbids it? Caldwell County's best player, Madison Bumgardner played baseball all over the country during the regular legion season and showed up for Caldwell when the playoffs started. If he's legal then why would the High Point players not be legal? This is a serious issue with Legion baseball. I believe players should have to make a choice whether or not they want to play Legion ball. Dual participation should not be allowed, in my opinon.

 

Dual participation isn't allowed once Legion playoffs begin - legion rules. A kid can only play Legion OR play on another team and attend camps/showcases. He cant do both after Legion playoffs start - cant be on 2 different rosters at 1x.

Makes it kinda tuff on players that sign up during the spring to participate in baseball camps/showcases during the summer & are then selected to their local post for Legion play. Chances are not that grate that your team will get to the playoffs but for those that do and have players that had previously committed to other events, it can create problems. Especially for kids who are gonna be seniors and are wanting to get as much exposure as they can....