Crown Point (20) and Highland (180) suspended at 6-6 after 8-innings in American Legion opener
	A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith 6-19-2011

Thursday, 6-16-2011  -  80-degrees at Highland HS in HIGHLAND, IN

John Livingston (Highland) 1K, 2 walk (5 inn.)
Zach Plesac (CP) 3K, 3 walks (7 inn.)

CROWN POINT (20)
(CP) Kevin Brunski (CF) 1-for-4
(KV) Tyler Simmons (3B-SS) 0-for-4
(CP) Zach Plesac (P-3B) 0-for-4
(CP) Brett Bayer (SS-P) 2-for-3, HBP
(CP) CJ Becerra (LF) 0-for-3, RBI
(CP) Jake Negele (1B) 1-for-2, double, walk
(CP) Nick Brun (2B) 1-for-3, double, RBI
(CP) Aaron Orosz (RF) 1-for-3, RBI
(CP) Adam Kutemeier (DH) 0-for-2, walk
(CP) Bobby Morgan (C) 0-for-2, Sac Fly, RBI

HIGHLAND (180)
(Highland) Billy Gertsner (CF) 1-for-5
(Highland) Jordan Minch (1B) 1-for-4, RBI
(Highland) John Linvingston (P) 0-for-3, walk, RBI
(Highland) Nik Mason (3B) 1-for-4, RBI
(Highland) John Cristo (DH) 0-for-3
(Highland) Rich Fowler (2B) 1-for-4, double, run scored
(Noll) Cody Moskovsky (RF) 3 walks
(Highland) Tariq Suboh (C) 1-for-4
(LC) Jordan Polito (SS) 2-for-2, Sac. FLy, HBP, 2 RBIs

HIGHLAND (06-16-2011) Just five days after they were eliminated at the semistate level of the Indiana high school baseball tournament at South Bend's Covaleski stadium in front of noisy fans, Crown Point was back on the field last Thursday.

Crown Point's American Legion Post 20 all-stars, almost entirely the varsity from Crown Point high school, took on Highland's Post 180 in a delayed start to the American Legion baseball season in front of a crowd that could be counted on two hands and two feet.

It was more fun than anything else. Post 20, which had just 10 players in uniform, rallied in the late going for a 6-6 tie in a game called due to darkness as the clock edged past 8 p.m. The two teams will finish the game when they play in Crown Point on June 21.

It was pure American Legion regular season ball. Not everybody ran out every ball. Not everybody caught every fly ball. Not everyone played the position they played during the high school season. But if these are the only two remaining American Legion teams in Lake County (and they are), these are two pretty good teams. And when they get up to full strength and go head-to-head in July for the Crown Point Sectional championship, it should be well worth seeing.

Highlad led 5-2 after Jordan Polito's double started a two-run third inning and Polito's sacrifice fly against CP starter Zach Plesac keyed a two-run fourth. But Crown Point scored twice in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by CPHS grads Jake Negele and Nick Brun and a sacrifice fly ball from junior catcher Bobby Morgan.

Highland took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth on Polito's RBI double, but Post 20 sent the game to extra innings on an unearned run in the seventh. Aaron Orosz walked and stole second base against Highland relief pitcher Jim Hinkleman. On a wild pitch, Highland catcher Nik Mason threw the ball past third base trying to get Orosz, who was 14 of 14 in stolen bases for CPHS this last spring.

"These guys are faster than I thought they were," said Post 20 manager Marty Zurbriggen. "I knew they were fast, but Brunski and Orosz and CJ (Becerra) are even fast. Tyler Simmons can run, too. We'll be pretty good when we get everybody back."

LEGION NOTES: Both CP Post 20 and Highland Post 180 are scheduled to play in the Plymouth Patriot Tournament over the fourth of July weekend. But while Highland will play in the pool at Bill Nixon Field, Post 20 will play in the four-team pool at Ancilla College.

"I'd imagine it's a college field," said Marty Zurbriggen. "So it has to be pretty good and fairly large."

Plymouth Post 27 general manager Dean Colvin was injured when he was hit by a ball during a game on June 10. Colvin, who stated the Post 27 team in 2001 when South Bend Post 357, the team for which his son played, folded, was in the dugout at Logansport Post 60 when hit by a foul ball sliced past a safety screen into the first base dugout.

Colvin, who is a Superior Court Judge in Howard County, was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for two days. He suffered a broken nose and a fractured skull above the left eye. Judge Colvin is responsible for Post 27's status as an elite American Legion team. His fund-raising and sponsorship efforts allows Post 27's team to play and travel for free. Plymouth is one of the few American Legion teams which do not charge players a fee to play each season. He may be back at the ballpark for the 4th of July tournament.

Highland won't have the Andrean graduate and Highland native Ken Mahala this summer. Mahala is to undergo what is called 'Tommy John' surgery this summer, after injuring his arm at Ball State University.

"Its about six months," he said of the rehab. "I'll be able to play next season but not pitch."

Mahala, who played on Andrean state title teams in 2009 and 2010, played for Post 180 last season.

Crown Point senior Brett Bayer pitched the final inning, striking out Post 180's Billy Gertsner with the bases loaded to preserve the 6-6 tie.

"It's a good thing I have Ernie (assistant coach Ernie Huffman) with me because he coached the JV a couple of years ago so he knew about him. He's got a good curve and a nice change up. He did a good job."

"I pitched last year at Legion," Bayer said. "Fastball, curveball, change up. I pitched on the JV a little. I'm OK."

The first thing you think about when you see Bayer playing shortstop for Post 20 is: How do you find the time?

"I'm just going to try to get here whenever I can," he said of this summer, which will include football and soccer responsibilities for him. "Whenever I can find the time. I love baseball."

Bayer, who was was a starter in all three of his sports (football, soccer and baseball) during the just-completed school year, could certainly play small college ball in three sports. But soccer and football are in the same season so he has to make some choices.

"Hopefully, my goal is to do baseball and football somewhere," Brett said. "That's what I'm looking at. I may have to let soccer go."

AMERICAN LEGION
Crown Point Post 20
2011 Baseball Schedule - Post number in parenthesis
June 8 (Wed) at Plymouth (27) postponed
June 15 (Wed) Plymouth (27) postponed
June 16 (T) 6-6 Highland (180) 8 innings - suspended

June 18 (Sat) at South Bend (50) 11 a.m.
June 19 (Sun) Osceola (308) 12 noon

June 21 (Tues.) Highland (180) 2 games - 8 p.m.
June 22 (Wed.) Bristol (143) 7 p.m.
June 23 (Thurs) Valparaiso (94) 8 p.m.
June 25 (Sat.) Logansport (60) 12 noon - 2 games

June 28 (Tues.) Indiana Breakers (B & A)- 5:30/8 p.m.

Plymouth (27) Patriot Tournament
Pool Play - 3 Games
July 1 (F) vs Excelsior (Minnesota) Post 259 - 3 p.m.
July 2 (Sat) vs. East Lansing (Michigan) Post 205 - 8 a.m.
July 2 (Sat) vs. Bristol (Elkhart, Ind.) Post 143 - 1 p.m.
July 3 (Sun) pool 1st round semifinal (TBA)
July 3 (Sun) pool championship or elimination game
July 4 (Mon) finals (8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.)

July 6 (Wed) Indiana Breakers (B & A) 5:30/8 p.m.
July 10 (Sun) Kokomo (6) 12 noon - 2 games
July 12 (Tues) vs. Hammond Chiefs (at Riverside Park) 8 p.m.

CROWN POINT (20) Sectional
2 teams - best of 3 series (Highland and CP) at Teagle Field in CP
July 14 (Thurs) Highland (180) vs. CP (20)
July 15 (Fri) Highland (180) vs. CP (20)
July 16 (Sat) Highland (180) vs. CP (20) if necessary
July 17 (Sun) championship round

PLYMOUTH (27) Regional
July 22 (Fri.) 1st round games
July 23 (Sat) 2nd round games
July 24 (Sun) championship round

2011 State finals at ROCKPORT (254)
Joe Allen Hargic Field
July 29 (Fri) 1st round games
July 30 (Sat) 2nd round games
July 31 (Sun) championship round

Great Lakes Regional
Gerace Stadium - Division II Midland College
Midland (165) Michigan
Aug. 4 (Thurs) 1st round games
Aug. 5 (Fri) 1st round games
Aug. 6 (Sat) 2nd round games
Aug. 7 (Sun) elimination games
Aug. 8 (Mon) championship round