Two years after a loss in the championship game, Post 165 is back in Shelby, N.C.
The 2026 season, in Dan Cronkright’s estimation, was going to be a bit of a rebuilding year for his Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 team.
Then again…
“We’re quite young. We do have three guys that were (in the ALWS title game) two years ago, but it’s a lot of young guys,” Cronkright said.
“But they’re talented.”
No doubt, as Post 165 (29-5) is back in Shelby, N.C., after winning the Great Lakes Regional for the fourth time in six years.
“We sometimes play young, but sometimes we play like a veteran team. So I think we’ve done a really nice job probably exceeding my expectations, but they’ve played well. And we’re hoping to have a really good showing this next week,” Cronkright said.
At the 2024 ALWS, Midland finished pool play with a 3-0 record, then ended League City (Texas) Post 554’s bid for a second straight title with a 1-0 win in the semifinals. In the championship game against Troy (Ala.) Post 70, however, Midland couldn’t maintain a 2-0 lead and Troy won its second ALWS title in three seasons.
In this season’s Great Lakes Regional, Midland also started off 3-0 before an 11-5 loss to Terre Haute (Ind.) Post 346, then avenged that loss with a 10-2 win over Terre Haute to claim the regional title.
Co-MVPs of the Great Lakes Regional Aryan Punjabi (.461 average, 5 runs, 4 RBIs as a batter and 5 2/3 innings, 4 hits, and 4 strikeouts as a pitcher in the regional) and Taber Edwards-Benner (.400 average, 6 runs, 7 walks) lead the Midland offense along with 2024 holdovers Cayden Nieto (.429 average, 5 RBIs) and Jayden Mieske (.438 average, 5 RBIs).
“It’s wonderful to see our hosts again. Ernie and Amy and Clarence are just wonderful people. It’s good to see them again. Good to be back,” Cronkright said.
ALWS Schedule
Aug. 13: Game 1, vs. Bedford (N.H.) Post 54, 10 a.m. ET
Aug. 14: Game 6, vs. Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316, 7 p.m. ET
Aug. 16: Game 11, vs. Portland (Ore.) Post 158, 4 p.m. ET
Roster
No./Camo* Name Pos. Ht./Wt. B/T Graduates / School
14/14 Dominowski, Owen CF/RF 6'0"/185 R/R 2027 I Bay City Western
4/4 Edwards-Benner, Taber 3B/SS 5'11"/180 R/R 2027 I Midland HS
13/13 Elford, Jaden C/LF 5'10”/165 R/R 2027 I HH Dow HS
17/17 Harcek, Carter P/LF 6'2"/195 R/R 2027 I HH Dow HS
21/21 King, Evan P/1B 6'2"/205 L/L 2028 I HH Dow HS
11/24 Love, Landon P/CF 6’3”/215 L/L 2026 I Beaverton HS
10/10 Malley, Keegan RF/P 5'8"/175 R/R 2026 I HH Dow HS
12/12 Mieske, Jayden 1B/P 6'1"/205 R/R 2025 I Gladwin HS
9/9 Nieto, Cayden C/1B 6'1"/295 R/R 2025 I Midland HS
3/3 Piotrowski, Eli 2B/SS 5'10”/170 R/R 2028 / HH Dow HS
15/15 Punjabi, Aryan P/LF 6'2"/192 R/R 2027 I Mt Pleasant HS
16/16 Roper, Jay 3B/2B 5'10”/175 R/R 2028 / Standish-Sterling Central HS
1/1 Schultz, Nate 2B/ P 6'0"/180 L/R 2026 I HH Dow HS
2/2 Sequin, Jimmey SS/P 5'11"/175 L/R 2028 I Bay City Western
8/8 Sian, Blake P/RF 6'0"/170 R/R 2027 I Clare HS
7/7 Smith, Cuyler SS/P 5'10”/160 R/R 2027 I Beal City HS
6/6 Sommerfield, Caden P/LF 6’1"/180 R/R 2026 I Frankenmuth HS
5/6 Wegener, Gabe P/LF 5'11"/170 L/L 2027 I Bay City Western
Manager: Dan Cronkright
Assistants: Michael Goodwin, Ryan Longstreth, Brian Money
*Players will wear camo jerseys for Military Appreciation Day.
Regional results
Aug. 5: Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 d. Pittsburg (Kan.) Post 64, 9-0.
Aug. 7: Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 d. Lexington (Ky.) Post 8, 2-1.
Aug. 7: Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 d. Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9, 5-4 (8 innings).
Aug. 8: Terre Haute (Ind.) Post 346 d. Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165, 11-5.
Aug. 9: Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 d. Terre Haute (Ind.) Post 346, 10-2.
- Baseball