Post 280 is looking for a hotter start offensively than they’ve had in their state and regional tournaments.
Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 got off to slow starts in both the Virginia state tournament and the Mid-Atlantic Regional.
Coach Larry Bowles is counting on a change in practice philosophy will ensure Post 280 (23-3) gets off to a better start when the 98th American Legion World Series begins Thursday.
“Between our state tournament and the Mid-Atlantic, we had about five days at home,” Bowles said Tuesday in Shelby, N.C., the permanent home of the ALWS. “We had just went through state, we had a regional tournament right before that, so I gave them a break. … We really didn’t practice, some guys hit on their own but we really didn’t have (organized practice).
“So I told them, you guys are guys that need to be swinging every day. We’ll find a place when we get here, we’re going to hit tonight, we’re going to hit tomorrow … just give them something to change.”
While Post 280’s offensive woes didn’t hurt them too much in the state tournament, when they won their opener 2-1, their loss to New Castle (Del.) Post 30 on opening day of the Mid-Atlantic Regional put them into the elimination bracket.
“The bats were kind of quiet the first game,” Bowles acknowledged. “Then we score 8 the next game. And then the next game, we’re down 4-1, and that’s the one that really changed everything. We had a 3-run home run to tie it, and then a 3-run double in the top of the seventh, we end up winning 8-4 … that was kind of a spark, because after that we scored 14, 13 and 10. They were hitting and hitting and hitting, those last three days.”
Post 280 was one of a record four teams that recovered from opening-round losses to win their respective regionals and advance to the ALWS, Aug. 14-19. They’re the only one of those in the Stripes Division for pool play.
This is Post 280’s third ALWS appearance, after advancing in 2010 and 2022. Bowles and his assistant coaches — Clayton Inskeep, Mike Johnson, Tyler Morgan, Justin Shockley — are counting on their experience from ’22 to help guide this year’s players.
That, and the talent that has all 18 players already signed to play college baseball, eight of whom will play Division I.
“On paper, we have everything we need. Will they show up when the lights come on?” Bowles said.
ALWS Schedule
Aug. 15: Game 2, vs. Greece (N.Y.) Post 468, 1 p.m. ET
Aug. 16: Game 7, vs. Asheville (N.C.) Post 70, 4 p.m. ET
Aug. 17: Game 9, vs. Bossier City (La.) Post 202, 10 a.m. ET
Roster*
No. Name Pos. Ht./Wt. B/T Graduates / School
24 Ben, Kablach P / 1B 6'3"/215 R/R 2025 / Cox
14 Bonney, Jack 3B / 2B 5'9"/180 R/R 2025 / Greenbrier Christian Academy
3 Campos, Trey P / CF 6'0"/190 R/R 2025 / Landstown
9 Chevalier, George P / 3B 5'11"/160 R/R 2025 / Landstown
16 Conrad, Thomas RF / SS 6'2"/190 R/R 2025 / Greenbrier Christian
1 Doon, Xavier 2B / SS 5'9"/140 R/R 2025 / Princess Anne
2 Downs, Reid LF / P 5'8"/160 L/L 2025 / Cape Henry
6 Gocio, Ryan C / RF 6'0"/210 L/R 2025 / Ocean Lakes
8 Haesler, Keegan 1B / P 6'3"/195 L/L 2025 / First Colonial
27 Hogan, Charlie P / CF 6'0"/185 R/R 2024 / Landstown
23 Lebel, Colin P / CF 6'2"/195 R/R 2025 / Cape Henry
25 Parker, Aiden P / RF 6'7"/205 R/R 2025 / First Colonial
15 Stubbe, Wes SS / C 6'1"/195 R/R 2025 / First Colonial
4 Vandergrift, Reid SS / P 6'0"/190 L/R 2025 / Princess Anne
17 Woods, Ty P / 1B 6'0"/220 R/R 2025 / Atlantic Shores
Manager: Larry Bowles
Assistants: Clayton Inskeep, Mike Johnson, Tyler Morgan, Justin Shockley
*Players will receive camo jerseys for Military Appreciation Day during team orientation which may be different numbers than listed here.
Regional results
Aug. 6: New Castle (Del.) Post 30 d. Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280, 4-1.
Aug. 7: Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 d. Ridge (Md.) Post 255, 8-3.
Aug. 8: Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 d. Cecil County (Md.) Post 194, 8-4.
Aug. 9: Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 d. Hazleton (Pa.) Post 76, 14-0 (6 innings).
Aug. 10: Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 d. New Castle (Del.) Post 30, 13-2 (5 innings).
Aug. 10: Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 d. Cherry Hill (N.J.) Post 372, 10-6.
- Baseball