Post 70 having an historic season in winning the program’s first state title since 1929.
When Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 began the 2025 American Legion Baseball season in late May, coaches were confident their team could be competitive in North Carolina’s often-challenging Area IV.
Four of their nine league rivals — Caldwell County, Cherryville, Hickory and Shelby — had previously won state titles and Cherryville and Shelby had advanced as far as the American Legion World Series.
As Post 70 prepares for the 2025 ALWS at Shelby's Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, head coach Chris Decker says it’s now obvious they had underestimated their team’s chances.
“When we looked at the roster and determined what players and what schools that we wanted to keep (out of 40 tryout campers), we as a coaching staff felt like we would have a legitimate chance to compete in our area,” Decker said. “So I could say I dreamed we’d be this far and, sure, coaches dream about a lot of things.
“But it’s just been a magical season.”
The success comes only a few years after three teams in their area folded. The Haywood County Post 47 program that produced current major league Home Run Derby champion Cal Raleigh folded after 2017, Burnsville Post 122 after 2019 and Henderson County Post 77 after 2022.
The departures of those three teams allowed Post 70 to pursue a large area of talented players.
And the current 33-3 overall record includes an impressive 16-1 mark in postseason play that has been highlighted by amazing comebacks.
Most notably, Asheville needed an 11-run bottom of the sixth inning in a 12-6 state championship game victory over Garner on July 30.
That historic victory qualified Post 70 for the Southeast Regional in Asheboro with Asheville’s first state championship since 1929.
“We didn’t know much about 1929 coming into the season,” Decker said. “We were just focused on this year. But as the season progressed and we realized that we had a shot at our area title and then got to the state tournament, that’s when 1929 was thought about.
“When you realize it’s been since 1929, you’re like, ‘Wow!’ So the players know that we're writing history.”
Asheville’s regional wins were highlighted by a pair of walkoff wins over defending ALWS champion Troy (Ala.) Post 70. In each contest, UNC-Wilmington pitching recruit Micah Simpson had game-winning RBI singles, in the seventh inning of the Aug. 8 winner's bracket 4-3 victory and in the eighth of the Aug. 10 7-6 title game.
“We've had a fantastic year and we're celebrating what we've accomplished because it's phenomenal,” Decker said. “I don't think I've slept more than two years the last few nights in happiness and in thinking and preparing for the next game.
“So we're really pleased with what we've accomplished but we're not satisfied.”
ALWS Schedule
Aug. 15: Game 4, vs. Bossier City (La.) Post 202, 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 16: Game 7, vs. Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280, 4 p.m. ET
Aug. 17: Game 12, vs. Greece (N.Y.) Post 468, 7 p.m. ET
Roster*
No. Name Pos. Ht./Wt. B/T Graduates / School
4 Brown, Jordyn SS / P 6'2"/170 R/R 2025 / Brevard
6 Buchanan, Grant 2B/ SS 6'0"/160 L/R 2026 / Brevard
12 Connor, Evan C / LF 6'0"/195 R/R 2025 / Tuscola
20 Davidson, Caden 1B 6'2"/220 R/R 2025 / T.C. Roberson
1 Hillier, Hayes CF 5'9"/175 R/R 2025 / Asheville
8 Nelson, Kolt SS / P 6'0"/170 L/R 2025 / Tuscola
21 Nesbitt, Luke 1B / P 6'5"/230 L/L 2025 / A.C. Reynolds
9 Nix, Brady P 6'3"/195 R/R 2024 / East Henderson
11 Pavone, Jackson CF / P 6'0"/195 L/R 2025 / A.C. Reynolds
18 Randall, Deegan P 6'2"/210 R/R 2025 / Enka
5 Raye, Brady P 6'0"/185 R/R 2025 / North Buncombe
15 Simpson, Micah P / RF 6'2"/195 L/L 2025 / T.C.Roberson
13 Smith, Reagan SS 5'9"/165 R/R 2024 / North Buncombe
19 Sumner, Ayden P 6'3"/205 R/R 2024 / East Henderson
3 Trantham, Tae 2B 6'0"/165 R/R 2026 / Asheville
2 Wallace, Carson Lee SS 6'0"/175 R/R 2025 / Erwin
Manager: Chris Decker
Assistants: Ryan Decker, Will Lindsey, Jacob Raby
*Players will receive camo jerseys for Military Appreciation Day during team orientation which may be different numbers than listed here.
Regional results
Aug. 6: Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 d. Florence (S.C.) Post 1, 10-6.
Aug. 8: Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 d. Richland (S.C.) Post 215, 3-1.
Aug. 8: Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 d. Troy (Ala.) Post 70, 4-3.
Aug. 9: Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 d. Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316, 8-2.
Aug. 10: Asheville (N.C.) Post 70 d. Troy (Ala.) Post 70, 7-6 (8 innings).
- Baseball