CROWN POINT (7-07-2007)  - When Crown Point Post 20 lost 2-1 to Cedar Lake Post 261 in June, it was a bad sign for the CP American Legion team for two reasons.  First of al, it was the first time they'd lost to Post 261 since this version of the Cedar Lake Post team was born four years ago.  Secondly, they lost 2-1.  Crown Point traditionally has the kind of offensive-minded team that shouldn't be playing 2-1 games win or lose.

Saturday was different.  With CPHS grad Chris Saroff pitching, Kankakee Valley grad Matt Dobin back in the lineup and Post 20's three Merrillville stars going a collective 5-for-11, Post 20 led all the way in a 9-4 victory in 90-degree heat at Hanover Central High School.

"This was a big game for us," said manager Larry Samano.  "They beat us before.  They led our league by a game.  We needed to get even."

The victory, fueled by two homers and five doubles for Post 20, was striking because Post 20 was consistently effective against Hanover Central pitchers Joe Angone and Mark Furman, scoring in five of the seven innings.   The game also featured some old school American Legion ruckus as Saroff (6-2), the winning pitcher, hit three batters including Post 261's No. 3 hitter Justin Faught twice.

"I know he didn't mean to do it," said manager Craig Faught, Justin's dad.  "It's part of the game.  But when three batters get hit, he (CP manager Larry Samano) should have taken him out.  That's what I would have done."

That was wishful thinking.  Samano never considered pulling Saroff, the Most Valuable Player of the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC), who was undefeated as a pitcher for Crown Point High School last spring.  Saroff, who was 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA for CP this spring, never let Cedar Lake take the lead by ending four different innings with strikeouts.

"He didn't mean to hit him," said Samano of Morton high's Faught.  "He (Saroff) threw a couple of inside pitches and they hit him.  That's just part of the game.  You've got to pitch inside.  The last one (hitting John Singel in the back) just got away.  But you can't get mad every time you get hit with a pitch."

Faught was hit on the left elbow in a way that was obviously painful.  Saroff, a right-hander, throws sidearm pitches and he has a sharp-breaking slider.  Right-handed batters school themselves not to move when the ball appears to be heading for them, anticipating the breaking pitch.  The CP grad does hit his share of batters but he certainly didn't want to hit Faught a second time.

The second and third hit batters came in Cedar Lake's two-run fifth inning that cut a 5-2 lead to 5-4.  Losing pitcher Joe Angone followed Faught and lined an RBI double to left field.  Saroff then hit Singel, but got Mark Furman to hit the first pitch to shortstop to end post 261's last scoring inning.  CP got the two runs back when Merrillville junior Rahdric Dix hit a long home run to left center.  In the seventh RBI doubles by Saroff and Dobin helped CP pull away.

"They outplayed us today," said Faught, whose squad has been bolstered since Angone joined the pitching staff.  "I don't think Joe pitched badly.  They just got some big hits.  He's going to help us a lot.  He does a good job every time out."

"He thought he was going to play for the Hammond Chiefs," explained the manager.  "But he decided he didn't want to do that.  He's working, but he wasn't playing anywhere.  He just dominated Highland when we played them last week. We needed pitching and he really gives us a chance to win the sectional."

CP's early-season offensive problem have seemed to disappear with the return of Kankakee Valley graduate Matt Dobin, who missed three weeks in June.  Dobin, who homered in a 5-4 loss to Hammond Post 168 early in the week, had three hits and four RBIs batting in the cleanup slot.

Post 20 needed Dobin's return.  The four-year KV starter who batted .553 with seven home runs during the high school season, hits the ball with disgusting ease.  Batting behind Saroff, who hit .412 with four homers during the 31-game high schools season, Dobin's return gives CP's lineup an RBI man against all kinds of pitching.

"I'm really going to miss him next season," said Samano.  "He's always happy and having a good time.  And he always hits.  You don't often see a hitter like that.  Hopefully somebody else will come along."

Part of Post 20's future may be Merrillville's Dix, a natural center fielder with great potential, who has struggled at the plate in his rookie season in American Legion ball.  Dix is always over swinging which keeps him from making good contact and using his speed.  But he waited on an Angone pitch Saturday and hit the ball about 375 feet for a home run over the left center field fence.

"He hasn't hit like he can," said Samano.  "Today he did.  I keep talking to him about how he's got to make contact.  I've played him a lot and he really hasn't hit.  I can't play him if he doesn't hit."

Samano also commend the contribution of catcher Bob Anderson, who was pulled up off the 'B' team for one day to fill in for regular catcher Adam Kennedy, who was unavailable.

"I called by Marty (B team manager Marty Zubriggen) and asked him if his son (catcher Matt Zubriggen) fill in for us.  But Matt's been hurt so I asked if he had another catcher.  Their game was cancelled today so he sent me Bob.  Saroff isn't easy to catch.  He did a good job."

Saroff is so good he almost gets overlooked.  He threw 105 pitches, pitched a four-hitter and struck out 14 while going 3-for-4 with three extra base hits.

"He just loves the first pitch," said Samano. "He's so aggressive and he's always ready to play.  We needed this game and he got it."

Samano was happy with the victory, although he'd still like a more balanced performance.

"The top five in our batting order are the ones doing all the damage.  We've got to get more out of the bottom of the order.  It was still 5-4 in the sixth inning. we need to take people out."

"But we need to re-establish that we're the team to beat.  They (Cedar Lake) are in our sectional and they have to know that to win the sectional title, they have to go through us."

POST 20 NOTES:  The Hanover Central baseball field has been invaded by weeds, small white flowery weeds that have infested the turf.  The two-year-old home of the Wildcats did not look good Saturday and both teams were unhappy.  The grass had clearly been cut but the green grass parts of the infield and outfield, which looked good when the high school team played in late May, were dotted with the little white weedy invaders.

The surface was also very dry and hard.  To be fair, the HC baseball field is still under construction and much more is planned (scoreboard, concession stand, washrooms) than is in evidence now. But there's going to have to be some serious weed-killer put into action at Wildcats diamond before the 2008 high school season because weeds are moving in.

Morgan Drazer allowed just two hits Friday night (7-6-2007) in a 12-2 win over East Chicago Post 329.  The Kouts high junior allowed only one base hit.  Chris Saroff had a triple, double two singles and four RBIs while Chris Samano drove in three runs.

Post 261 manager Craig Faught said there was no news on Post 261's team for next season.  The 2007 squad is made up of boys from Lake Central, Hanover and Morton and, in a best case scenario, Morton would like to be sponsored by a Hammond post.

"Everything's been good for us this year," Faught said.  "We play half the games at Hanover and half at Morton.  It's a little tough for some of our (Morton) guys to get here (Cedar Lake) by 6  o'clock.  I know how to come up the back roads through Crown Point but I can't tell the boys to come that way.  They won't make it."

"There's another team, the Hammond Hurricanes and they're also coached by a Morton coach.  But we have 14 or 15 sophomores who will be looking for a place to play next year."

Post 20 has added CPHS senior Eric Clayton (4-0 at CPHS) to the pitching staff.  He was listed on both the 'B' (17 and under) and the 'A' (19 and under) teams because he is 17 years old.  Clayton, Drazer, Saroff, Mike Hernandez, Andrew Higgins and Marty Rasala should be the post-season Post 20 staff.

Higgins, a Hebron grad, has missed most of the season, but is expected to join Post 20 for the playoffs.  Post 20 will host Kokomo Post 6 Saturday after noon at 1 p.m. and they then host Lafayette Post 11 (14-7) next Sunday at 12 noon.

2007 American Legion
CROWN POINT Post 20 (12-10)

"A" TEAM (19 and under) SCHEDULE
Manager Larry Samano (ages 19-and-under)

6/7 - HAMMOND 168A (postponed)
6/9 (W) 4-2 LOWELL 101 (3-6)
6/10 (L) 0-2 Bristol 143 (11-5)
6/10 (W) 5-4 Bristol Post 143  (11-5)

6/12 (W) 18-2 @ EAST CHICAGO 369     
6/14 (L) 7-8 @ HIGHLAND 180  (6-2)         
6/15 (W) 14-4 (5 inn.) ILLINOIS. LIGHTNING   
6/16 (L) 1-2 CEDAR LAKE 261   
6/17 (L) 8-10 Churubusco - 157      
6/19 (W) 8-0 HOBART (54)  
6/20 (W) 10-0 ( 5 inn.) HOBART (54)

Terre Haute Invitational
6/21 (L) 1-11 Terre Haute - 346 (13-2)
6/22 (W) 7-2 Evansville - 246 (6-6)
6/23 (L) 0-4 Madison 9 (9-3)
6/24 (L) 1-7 Bristol 143 (11-5)
6/25 (L) 8-9 Bristol 143 (11-5) 3rd place
6/26 (W) 4-0 WHITING - 80 (3-5)
6/27 (L) 1-3 (12 innings) PLYMOUTH -27 (9-5)
6/28 (W)  6-2 @ LOWELL 101 (4-7)
6/29 (W)  6-3 HAMMOND 168B (12-4)
7/3 (L) 4-5 @ HAMMOND 168-A (14-5)
7/6 (W) 12-2 (5 innings) EAST CHICAGO - 369 (6-6)  
7/7 (W) 9-4 @ CEDAR LAKE - 261 (9-5)  
 
7/8 (Sun) ANDERSON (127) NOON  - DH 
7/10 (Tues) HIGHLAND (180) 6 PM
7/14 (Sat) KOKOMO (6) 1 PM  - DH  
7/15 (Sun) LAFAYETTE (11) NOON  -  DH  
7/17 (Tues) 20A @ 20B 6 PM -  Post 20 Team picnic
7/19 (Thu) WHITING (80) - 7 PM
7/20 (F) @ PLYMOUTH (27) - 7 PM 
7/21 (Sat) @ VALPARAISO (94) -- 1 PM at Washington Township

Crown Point Sectional (vs. Lowell, Hobart & Cedar Lake) 
7/25  (W)   CP Sectional  - 1st round
7/26  (Th) CP sectional  - 1st round
7/27  (Fri) CP Sectional - semifinals
7/28 (Sat) CP Sectional - championship round
7/29 (Sun) CP sectional - championship round