ALWS Game 14: Texas rallies to reach state’s 1st title shot
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League City (Tex.) Post 554 accomplished something no other team from its state had ever done in the 96-year history of the American Legion World Series on Monday night at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
A 4-1 come-from-behind victory over all-time ALWS participant Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 makes League City the first ever Texas participant in the ALWS title game.
Post 554 will play Lincoln (Neb.) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU for the 2023 ALWS championship.
“It feels great,” said League City outfielder Kyeler Thompson, one of five players who played on Post 554’s team that was eliminated in pool play in last year’s ALWS. “I couldn’t be happier with the team and how everybody has helped us to get here.”
Ronnie Oliver, in his 37th year coaching American Legion Baseball, echoed those sentiments.
“These boys don’t quit,” Oliver said. “I’ve been here several times. You need some breaks.”
As they did on Monday, League City is finding way to get those breaks, this time scoring all four runs without the benefit of a hit.
Trailing 1-0 with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the sixth, Thompson drew a walk, advanced to second on a balk and advanced to third and home for the tying run on wild pitches.
Simply tying the score seemed to swing the momentum League City’s way as starter and winner Braden Castle retired three of the five batters he faced in the top of the sixth before Post 554 notched the three decisive runs.
Ayden Roecker-Allen drew a leadoff walk, then Scott Martinez also walked before Noah Ferraro’s sacrifice bunt was fielded cleanly by Brooklawn first baseman Jack Mustaro before Mustaro’s errant throw got past his third baseman to allow two runs to score.
After a wild pitch moved Ferraro to third, he scored on Erik Anchondo’s sacrifice fly to center field.
“We’ve got good pitching and just look for opportunities on offense,” Oliver said. “If you can move people around when you get somebody on base, good things can happen.
“That’s really been our game, just being scrappy.”
Brooklawn, which has made an ALWS-record 17 appearances, had taken its 1-0 lead on a League City throwing error by rightfielder Roecker-Allen in the third inning.
Castle yielded six hits, two walks and the one unearned run with two strikeouts in his six innings. Brice Smith retired three of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh for the save.
Matthew Leahy had two of Brooklawn’s seven hits and Thompson had two of League City’s five hits and also drew two walks.
