Crown Point (20) defeats Bristol (143) 8-2, hopes to advance to state in American Legion Baseball
	A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith 7-27-2010

Monday, 7-26-2010  -  Crown Point Regional, 85-degrees at Teagle Field at CROWN POINT, IN

WP - Mike Manion (5-2) 10K, 5 walks (7 inn. - 110 pitches)
LP - Seth Huxford (4-3) 2K, 8 walks (5.7 inn. - 109 pitches)

Bristol (21-10)
Jordan Smith (LF) 0-for-4
Jeremy Hall (2B) 1-for-3, walks
Gatlin Ross (CF) 2-for-4
Troy Pickford (RF) 0-for-4
Logan Draus (SS) 0-for-4
Steve Reed (DH) 3-for-3, walk
Brandon Wein (3B) 0-for-2, HBP, walk
Travis Pickford (C) 0-for-1, sac bunt, walk
Taylor Short (1B) 0-for-2, walk, RBI

CROWN POINT Post 20 (25-7)
(CP) Beau LaSalle (2B) 1-for-5
(CP) Scott Donley (SS) 1-for-4, walk
(CP) Josh Negele (RF) 4-for-4, walk, double, RBI
(North Newton) Mike Schroeder (1B) 1-for-4, walk
(CP) Jose Andrade (DH) 2-for-5
(CP) Jeff Limbaugh (LF) 0-for-3, 2 walks
(CP) Colin Casey (3B) 0-for-2, 2 walks, HBP
(CP) Alex Doppler (C) 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, walk
(CP) Mike Kessler (CF) 0-for-1
(CP) Brian Holloway (CF) 1-for-2, 2 walsk, RBI
 

Sunday, 7-25-2010  -  Crown Point Regional, 85-degrees at Teagle Field at CROWN POINT, IN

WP - Cody Schell (5-1) 3K, 6 walks (8 2/3 inn. - 144 pitches)
LP - Josh Negele (5-1) 6K, 3 walks (6 /23 inn. - 120 pitches)

CROWN POINT Post 20 (24-7)
(CP) Beau LaSalle (2B) 1-for-3, 2 walks
(CP) Scott Donley (SS) 1-for-3, 2 walks
(CP) Josh Negele (P-RF) 0-for-4, walk
(North Newton) Mike Schroeder (1B) 0-for-4
(CP) Jose Andrade (C) 1-for-4, walk
(CP) Jeff Limbaugh (LF) 1-fdor-3, RBI, double
(CP) Colin Casey (3B) 2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs
(MERRILLVILE) Xavier Ponce (RF) 0-for-2, walk
(KV) Tyler Simons (CF) 0-for-2

SOUTH BEND Post 50 (29-6)
(Clay) Devon Bailey (CF) 0-for-5
(St, Joe's) Robert Jamieson (3B) 2-for-5
(Washington) Malcolm White (LF) 1-fort-2, double, 2 walks
(Clay) Cody Schell (P-SS) 1-for-2, double, sac.bunt, walk
(Clay) Conner Hudnall (SS) 1-for-4, 2 RBIs
(Washington) Alex Kohler (RF) 2-for-3, double, sac.fly, 2 RBIs, stolen base
(Washinhgton) Cody Tharp (1B) 2-for-3, 2 doubles, sac. fly, RBI
(Riley) Brett Carlson (2B) 1-for-3, walk, RBI
(Washington) Zach Dashner (C) 1-for-4, RBI
 

Saturday, 7-24-2010  -  Crown Point Regional, 95-degrees at Teagle Field at CROWN POINT, IN

WP - Mike Schroeder (5-1) CG, 6K, 0 walks, 126 pitches
LP - Sean Liedtky (4-2) (2K, 3 walks (6 innings) 85 pitches

CROWN POINT Post 20 (21-6)
(CP) Beau LaSalle (2B) 0-for-4, sac bunt
(CP) Scott Donley (SS) 1-for-5, RBI
(CP) Josh Negele (LF) 2-for-4, HR, walk, RBI
(North Newton) Mike Schroeder (P) 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, walk
(CP) Jose Andrade (C) 3-for-4, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs
(CP) Josh Limbaugh (1B) 2-for-4, HR, HBP, RBI
(CP) Colin Casey (3B) 0-for-4
(CP) Mike Manion (RF) 2-for-4
(CF) Mike Kessler (CF) 1-for-3

PLYMOUTH Post 27 (21-10)
(Plymouth) Joel Solis (2B) 2-for-5, RBI
(Plymouth) Kyle Cartwright (DH) 1-for-4, sac bunt
(Plymouth) Damon Allen (LF) 2-for-5, RBI
(Tippecanoe Valley) Brody Andrews (C) 1-for-4
(LaPorte) Jake McMahan (3B) 1-for-4
(LaPorte) Sean Rogers (1B) 1-for-1, sac bunt
(Rochester) Mark Bowers (SS) 1-for-3, sac bunt
(LaPorte) Ben Irons (RF) 1-for-4
(Bremen) Cody Barrier (CF) 1-for-4

CROWN POINT Post 20 REGIONAL
at Teagle Field- Crown Point

July 23
CROWN POINT Post 20 - 8, Plymouth Post 27 - 4
South Bend Post 50 - 11, Bristol Post 143 - 5
July 24
all games postponed - wet grounds
July 25
South Bend - 9, CROWN POINT - 7
Bristol - 7, Plymouth - 3
July 26
CROWN POINT 8, Plymouth - 2
July 27
SB Post 50 (29-6) vs. CP (25-7) 5:00 p.m.
SB Post 50 (29-6) vs. CP (25-7) 8:00 p.m.
*Winner advances to five-team state finals beginning Friday, July 30 at Bill Nixon Field - Plymouth.


2010 American Legion State Finals
[4 regional champions and host- double-elimination at Plymouth (27)]
Thursday, July 29
CROWN POINT (27-7) vs. (host) Plymouth Post 27 (21-11) 4 p.m.
Evansville Post 265 (27-16) vs. Madison Post 9 (18-4) 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 30
CROWN POINT/Plymouth vs. Kokomo Post 9 (24-11) or
Terre Haute 346 (35-5)
Thursday's losers meet - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 31
winners bracket final - 10:00 a.m.
loser's bracket semifinal- 1:00 p.m.
losers bracket final - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 1
Championship game one - 12:00 noon
Championship game two - 3:00 p.m.*


2010 American Legion Midwest Regional
[7 state champs and host - double-elimination at Mattoon, Illinois (88)]
8-5 (Th) 1st round games
8-6 (F) elimination games
8-7 (Sat) elimination games
8-8 (Sun) final round (TBA)
8-9 (Mon) final round (if necessary)

CROWN POINT (07-26-2010) The question about Crown Point Post 20 baseball was, would they get through the sectional with state class teams like Highland Post 180 and Hammond Post 168.  A lot of us assumed that if they could beat their local rivals, the next challenge would come from somebody like Terre Haute Post 346, largely regarded as the state's top team, in the state finals this weekend in Plymouth.

By the time you read this, you'll know whether CP even got to Plymouth.  South Bend Post 50 (29-6) derailed Crown Point's victory train with a 9-7 upset Sunday night, changing the face of the 2010 American Legion playoffs.  Post 20 (27-6) rebounded from the loss with an 8-2 victory over Bristol Post 143 early Monday night.  But even with that win, CP needed to defeat South Bend twice Tuesday night to stay alive in their quest for Post 20's first ever state crown.  And even if they did, Post 20 then had to play Thursday and Friday to start the state finals.  Did CP have enough to win a do-or-die double-header and still have anything left for the state's best?

"I think we do," said right-hander Mike Manion, who struck out 10 in seven-innings to help eliminate Bristol.  "We've got Mike Schroeder and (Brian) Holloway and we've still got Negele.  We can do it.  I just threw 120 pitches, but I could come back Friday if we get there."

Monday night was Manion's finest hour.  With Post 20 needing to win or go home, Manion started very slowly, walking four batters in the second inning.  But the right-hander got better as the game went on and he struck out Bristol's No. 4 and No. 5 hitters (Troy Pickard and Logan Draus) three times each.

There is a feeling that Post 20, largely the highly-rated Crown Point high school varsity, is better than all the teams at the regional.  Unfortunately, Post 20's players seem to believe that and they haven't played with a lot of emotion yet in the state tournament.  That had to end Tuesday night or the summer baseball season would end.

"I don't say much to them," said Post 20 manager Marty Zubriggen, "and they wouldn't listen to me if I did.  They know what they have to do."

Crown Point left nine runners on base in the first five-innings against Bristol and they seemed obsessed with trying to lift the ball out of the ballpark.  When Logan Draus, Bristol's shortstop made a leaping catch of Beau LaSalle's bases-loaded line drive in left center and turned it into a double play, ending the fourth-inning, there was serious concern that CP would not continue.  But in the sixth, Brian Holloway walked and LaSalle singled to deep short before a four pitch walk to Scott Donley.

Negel hit a line drive of the pitcher's glove for an RBI infield hit and CP's fourth run scored when Schroeder hit into a double play.  Hits by Jose Andrade and Alex Dopler made it 6-2 before a bases-loaded walk to Holloway endied the inning where 12 Crown Point players batted.  Bristol's enthusiasm appeared to slip away after that.

"We didn't play really well," said Zurbriggen.  "We haven't really played well in the entire state tournament.  Will we play (with emotion) tomorrow?  I hope so.  I think so.  But you do not know what you're going to get everyday."

Manion suggests that hitters excel in summer ball and pitchers suffer for more than one reason.

"We're a lot more relaxed out here," he says.  "In high school, every single game matters, especially conference games matter.  When we come out here, it's summer time.  The weather is much warmer.  We always say that, 'Once the weather breaks, we'll be fine.'  It does help.  And the fatigue definitely sets in for the pitchers."

That's what was worrisome about Post 20, as they entered their biggest day of the summer season.  CP had scored 23 runs in the first three games of the regional.  But in Legion playoff ball, full of juiced up batting orders and tired late summer staffs, you need to average 10 runs a game to win the state title.  You won't win any nine-inning American Legion regional games 3-2.

"We left a lot of runners (12) on base again," said Zurbriggen.  "We ground out a win.  But these last couple of games, we aren't close to what we've played all year.  I don't know if we're getting tired or what.  But as long as we can fight through a game like this, we're still all right."

REGIONAL NOTES:  Crown Point Post 20 was shorthanded without pitcher/outfielder Brian Holloway and outfielder Mike Kessler in the 9-7 loss to South Bend Post 50 Sunday . Holloway, CP's leadoff man and Kessler, a top glove in center, were missed.  But, in truth, the postponed games Saturday helped CP because Kessler and Holloway were scheduled to miss Saturday and Sunday.  As it turned out, the CP grads just missed one game.

Post 50 manager Lenny Kuespert said he replaced starting pitcher Cody Schell with two out in the ninth inning for two reasons Sunday in the key winner's bracket game against Crown Point.

"He didn't want to come out," said Schell.  "He really didn't like it that I took him out.  But he'd thrown 144 pitches."

Why use Riley's Cameron Evans in relief?

"We played them (Post 20) earlier in the season," Schell said.  "We lost 2-0.  He pitched that game.  I have a lot of confidence in him."

All the Post 50 boys are from the South Bend schools Riley, Clay, St. Joseph's and Washington.  Post 50 has a great tradition.  They are the only Indiana American Legion Post to ever (1978) win the American Legion World Series.

Crown Point's Mike Manion says that we shouldn't doubt left-hander Ronnie Plesac just because he's only 15 years old.

"I've seen him throw all through the high school year," Mike reported Monday night. "I know he can do the job."

Crown Point Post 20 (25-7)
Manager Marty Zurbriggen - home games at Teagle Field - post number in parenthesis
6-9 (L) 7-10 Highland-180 (17-6)
6-10 (canceled - rain) at Bristol (143)
6-12 (W) 10-3 South Bend -50 (29-6)
6-12 (W) 3-0 South Bend -50 (29-6)
6-13 (canceled) Kenosha, Wisconsin (21)
6-15 (rain) Hammond (168)

West Lafayette Invitational
6-17 (W) 3-0 Decatur (Ill.) Commodores
6-19 (W) 10-3 Indiana Renegades
6-19 (W) 2-1 Indiana Black Sox
6-20 (W) 11-0 (5 inn.) Hoosier Express
6-20 (L) 2-3 Bloomington Normal

Cincy (Ohio) Flames, Wooden Bat Tournament
6-24 (W) 2-1 (Lakewood, Ohio) J&A all-stars
6-25 (L) 2-4 (Nicholasville, Ky.) Kentucky Baseball Club
6-25 (L) 1-3 (Columbus, Ohio) Team EAS
6-26 (W) 8-5 (Cincinnati )Playground All Stars

6-29 (W) 6-2 at Highland-180 (17-6)
6-30 (W) 3-2 at Highland-180 (17-6)
7-1 (W) 12-7 at East Chicago-369)
7-2 (W) 13-2 (5 inn.) Highland 180-B
7-3 (W) 16-3 (5 inn.) Plymouth-27 (21-11)
7-5 (L) 3-6 at Plymouth Post 27 (21-11)
7-6 (W) 3-2 Norwood, Ill Blues
7-7 (W) 3-2 Hammond-168 (17-7-2)
7-9 (W) 14-2 East Chicago-369
7-10 (W) 10-6 Lafayette-11 (18-13)

CROWN POINT (20) Sectional
double-elimination at Teagle Field - CP
7-14 (W) 8-7 Hammond-168 (18-7-2) p.m.
7-15 (W) 16-11 Highland Post 180 (17-6)
7-17 (L) 3-13 Highland Post 180 - 7 innings (17-6)
7-18 (W) 17-9 Highland Post 180 (17-6) title

CROWN POINT (20) Regional
at Teagle Field - Crown Point
7-23 (W) 8-4 Plymouth Post 27 (21-11)
7-26 (L) 7-9 South Bend Post 50 (29-6)
7-26 (W) 8-2 Bristol Post 143 (21-10)
7-27 (Tues.) South Bend Post 50 (29-6)
7-27 (Tues,.) South Bend Post 50 (29-6)

2010 American Legion State Finals
4 regional champions and host- double-elimination at Plymouth (27)
7-29 (Thurs.) at Plymouth (21-11) 7 p.m.
7-30 (F) 1st round double-header
7-31 (Sat) 3 games
8-1 (Sun) final round (TBA)

2010 American Legion Midwest Regional
7 state champs and host - double-elimination at Mattoon, Ill (88)
8-5 (Th) 1st round games
8-6 (F) elimination games
8-7 (Sat) elimination games
8-8 (Sun) final round (TBA)
8-9 Mon) final round (if necessary)