Carrying the torch a little further

In 1979, Rockport, Ind., Post 254’s baseball team lost in the regional final. Three years later it fell short in the regional final.

The connection to this year’s squad that won the Great Lakes Region and brought a 32-1 record into the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.? Another Hayden player.

Andrew Hayden is a starting pitcher for Post 254, going 1-0 in his only regional start. Thirty-seven years ago, Hayden’s uncle, Russ, was on a team that won the state title but lost in the regional. And four years later, Post 254 lost in the regional final. A member of that team: Steve, Andrew’s father.

Andrew said he knew both his father and uncle had come close to a World Series appearance. Steve’s ’83 squad came very close, going undefeated in the regional before losing the final two games of the tournament. One of those losses came against a squad with Kent Mercker, who went 74-67 during an 18-year career in Major League Baseball.

“There hasn’t been any ‘you couldn’t get it done and we did it,’” said Hayden, who will play for Murray State this season. “(Steve) has just been supportive and cheering us on. He’s just really happy that we could get it done.”

Steve said he and his brother have always joked about who played on the better team. Now that argument is irrelevant. “I was talking to Andrew (after the regional tournament), and he said, ‘Well dad, I just one-upped you and Uncle Russ,’” Steve said. “And I said, ‘Andrew, you did. You forever have the bragging rights in the Hayden household.’”

Andrew came into the World Series with a 7-0 record – the same as his uncle’s in 1979. He made it 8-0 by gutting out seven innings of five-hit ball in Post 254’s 6-3 win against North Carolina on Thursday.

The win pushed Rockport’s record to 33-1 – a record that Steve said is no fluke. “They’re just good,” he said. “That’s all I can tell you. They hit the ball. Their defense is spectacular. And they’ve got good, solid pitching.”

Andrew has been a key contributor to the effort, something dad has been proud to watch.

“It really is special that (Andrew) has been able to not only carry the torch, but take the torch a little bit longer,” Steve said. “I guess you could say it shined a little bit brighter in his eyes. And in my eyes, too.”