Brooklawn eyeing ALWS history

Having an opportunity to make American Legion World Series (ALWS) history might seem to have the ability to create pressure on a team. But Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 doesn’t see it that way.

The Brookers, who open play at 12:30 p.m. Thursday against Medford (Ore.) Post 15, have won the past two ALWS titles. Another title in Shelby, N.C., would make it three in a row – a feat no other Legion Baseball team has ever accomplished. That fact isn’t lost on Brooklawn infielder Sean Breen, the 2014 George Rulon Player of the Year.

“It would be great to win three straight and make history,” said Breen, who is among several returnees from Brooklawn’s 2013 and 2014 squads – including 2013 George Rulon Player of the Year Anthony Harrold and Florida State-bound pitcher Tyler Mondile. “No one has ever been able to do that in American Legion Baseball history. But it would also be sort of bittersweet, because these will be the last five games of Legion ball that a lot of us are ever going to play.”

But that doesn’t mean Breen and his teammates are starting to tighten up. “I don’t think any of our guys who have already been here are really feeling any kind of pressure,” he said. “As always, our coaches just tell us to go out, give it everything we’ve got and have fun. Just get the job done.”

In addition to winning the player of the year award, Breen also earned the 2014 Louisville Slugger Batting Champion for hitting .579 during the season and shared the Rawlings Big Stick Award with two other players.

At the end of the summer Breen will head to Iona College to play baseball for the Gaels. He’ll take with him fond remembrances of Legion Baseball.

“It’s been really great being with all these guys throughout high school,” he said. “I’ve really had some great memories because of Legion Baseball. And it’s taken a lot of hard work to get where we are.”