Chesapeake Post 280 battles past Portland (Ore.) Post 158 to win Monday’s first semifinal.
In knocking off Portland (Ore.) Post 158, 7-3, to advance to Tuesday's American Legion World Series championship game, Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 offered more proof on Monday why so many baseball players and coaches have superstitions.
With top Post 280 players Thomas Conrad and George Chevalier on their minds since they had to report to Virginia Military Institute on Saturday morning after playing in Friday's opener, head coach Larry Bowles has had to alter his lineup the last three games.
One of those replacements on Monday was designated hitter Colin Lebel. After Lebel struck out twice in his first two at-bats, he had four strikeouts in his first five plate appearances of the ALWS.
It gave Bowles reason to consider making a change.
“In the regular season, Colin led our team in home runs and was hitting .400,” Bowles said. “Once we got into the state playoffs and the Mid-Atlantic Regional, he just went into a funk. And he’s been trying to figure it out.
“He's the kind of kid who really worries about what he’s doing wrong. We’ve been trying to settle him down and get him to hit like we know he can hit. But with him struggling today, me and assistant coach Justin Shockley debated pinch-hitting for him.”
However, when Shockley put two fingers behind his back and Bowles guessed the number, Lebel stayed in and came to the plate with a 2-all score and Ben Kablach on first after a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Bowles’ non-decision paid dividends four pitches later as Lebel drove a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for a two-run home run that sparked a five-run, game-winning rally.
“It just doesn’t seem real,” Bowles said. “I just can’t say enough about these guys. I’m so proud they’re going to be playing for the big one tomorrow night.”
Chesapeake (26-4), which advanced along with Bossier City (La.) Post 202 in the Stripes Division after they won a three-team tiebreaker over Asheville (N.C.) Post 70, now becomes the fourth ALWS title participant from Virginia, and the first in 40 years.
Hampton was runner-up in 1959, Richmond was runner-up in 1981 and Midlothian won the state's lone title in 1985.
Reid Downs (2 hits, double, 1 RBI), Keegan Haesler (2 hits, 2 RBIs) and Lebel (2-run home run) were the offensive leaders for Chesapeake in the victory.
Just as impressive was the effort turned in by starter and winner Aiden Parker.
Facing a Portland team that entered with a .443 collective batting average and 35 runs scored in three games, Parker limited Post 158 to seven hits, three runs and no walks while striking out eight batters in 6 2/3 innings in his 107-pitch effort.
“Everybody's going to talk about Aiden Parker — and they should,” Bowles said. “They were the best hitting team in the tournament coming in and he came out and controlled the game.”
Portland, which finished its season 46-6, was led by Ryden Nakamura (2 hits, home run, 1 RBI).
- Baseball