The Road to Shelby...

Who are the favorites this summer to get to Gastonia for the State Tourney? Any of them have a chance to play well and bring home a World Series Championship down the road in Shelby?

How loaded will Caldwell, Cherryville, and Rowan be this year? Those three scare me.

Around the eastern half... I would have to think Nash County will be tough. Kinston has the talent down there but for some reason they never put together a real strong legion team. How about Greenville Rose/Pitt County team? It will be interesting to see how Morehead City bounces back after losing Chisenhall. Durham has some talent this year (Riverside boys) and a great coach to go along with it. How will Garner bounce back after losing Coach Moe Barbour? Last but not least... Wayne County should be loaded this year. If I am not mistaken, their starting lineup should be returning this year.

 

Isn't the state tourney in Gastonia with the SE regional and World Series in Shelby?

 

Yes

 

American Legion World Series in Shelby is HUGE.

 

what about clayton post 71- they return 7 college players (4 of which are pitchers). they are currently 3-0 in their conference, and my understanding have lost to a good Kinston team, undefeated Wilson, and to Cary while only having 9 players early on. Would hate to count this group out.

 

The thing that I have learned after years of watching legion ball is that teams quit before the state tourney roles around more than anything. Teams give up and rather go on vacation, go off to college, go to football practice, etc... anything but being on a legion field. This is why the same teams pop up year after year because of tradition and expectations.

I'd love to see someone like Clayton (or better yet, Cary) make the State Tourney. I'm getting tired of all the same ol' faces... but with the same teams coming back year after year, it does make for excitement and rivalries.

 

I don't know if I would agree that teams quit "before" the state tournament, but I agree with playing a long season in the heat, everyday, does start to take its toll on some teams when the reality sets in that they aren't going to win it all.

I've seen the same thing happen "AT" the state tournament, when 8 great teams arrive and have the opening night banquet, everybody is all excited, but when teams take that first loss, you can almost see it on some faces that its over, even tho its double-elimination.

Whether its other sports (football) interests, or college starting in Aug, or simply wanting to take a vacation, a long season does take its toll on some.

Now obviously people in Rowan County, or Shelby, or Cherryville or Caldwell County wouldn't know what we're talking about, and that is why those teams are THERE every year,,, so thats a good thing for them. Obviously, the better legion baseball programs try to pattern themselves after the better programs, and my hats off to these who tend to stay on top.

 

Yeah I know what you mean about losing one game at the state tourney and it virtually being over. When Rowan blew that lead and lost to Cherryville in last year's state tournament, they had nothing left in them against Wayne County. It is a long season, but if you truly love baseball, you don't want it to ever end.

 

sometimes when you lose you just get after it even more
you run on adrenaline
you have nothing to lose

it has happened before

 

ALL and I mean ALL of Cleveland County is getting ready .

Gonna be a great Series