Pennsylvania

American Legion Baseball

Interested in partaking in enjoyable discussion about PA ALB?  Join us in our newly updated forum section to talk to fellow fans and those of us running the site.

Remember, you need to be a member of the site in order to post on the message boards, so be sure to join today! 

We look forward to hearing from you!

This is the second half of the interview conducted with Nor-Gwyn Hawks manager Kevin Manero. 

PA ALB

What type of interaction, if any, do you have with the high school coaches that your legion team draws from?

Coach Manero

As an assistant coach with North Penn High School, it is very easy for me to stay in communication with most of our guys all year long. Last year we did, however, have players on the roster from seven different schools, so that is a big challenge sometimes. But over the last nine years, I feel we have had a good rapport with the high school programs, which is very important. It is all for the players, and there is no benefit for a player if his two coaches don't communicate and work well together, so we try to make sure that is always the case.

PA ALB

Nor-Gwyn has produced some very fine individual talent in the past. Do you think legion baseball helps prepare those players for the rigors of college ball? Do you keep in contact with your players after they head off to college?

Coach Manero

I talked about this topic at length in the article posted on this site. The answer is absolutely, yes. If an American Legion program is run and operated the proper way, a player is getting the regimen, the consistency, and the quality that he needs in youth baseball to prepare him for the same rigors at the next level. I stay in touch with our collegiate players a lot and try to get to see them play whenever possible. It is great to hear about their successes, and it is always beneficial to find out what they are doing in their college (and in some cases pro) programs so that we can make sure we continue to provide those same approaches at the Legion level.

PA ALB

Several years ago, after claiming second place in the state at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, you gave a short speech about how the grass isn't always greener away from legion baseball.  Do you still believe that legion ball provides better level of play and better prepares athletes for the future than AAU and other showcase based organizations?

Coach Manero

First, I should say - I give Boyertown all the credit in the world for what they have created and  maintained at Bear Stadium. I respect Rick Moatz, Craig Eddinger, and their entire staff for what they do as coaches and community members, and their players always play with class and professionalism. I hope people say the same things about our program as well, and I certainly hope that people can see and understand why American Legion baseball is such a great institution. If they haven't, getting to a postseason game at Bear Stadium is a pretty good first step, and I meant every world of what I said there in 2009, and still believe it.

In the article I wrote, which is posted on this site, I go through a very thorough explanation of why I think Legion baseball still provides  a better overall baseball experience than the other options. But I'm a practical realist too, and I feel that American Legion baseball does need to make some changes to modernize and fight back against the outside organizations to which some kids turn. What we have in American Legion baseball is very good, but resting on those laurels is not good. I'd like to see American Legion baseball publicize and advertise itself a lot more, and I'd like to see the Legion World Series pushed back a week as it used to be in order to enable the 95% of teams that did not benefit from moving the series up a week to be able to play a less condensed regular season.  That said, I am a huge supporter of what Legion baseball stands for on many, many levels, and I think kids have a lot to gain from being a part of it.

PA ALB

Does going from 7 inning league games to 9 innings in the playoffs adversely affect your league's teams?  The vast majority of leagues play 7 innings, but do you have to worry about fatigue setting in and strategy differences in the longer games?

Coach Manero

I think if our guys play the game the right way, condition themselves properly, and pitchers attack the plate to keep their pitch counts economical, playing seven inning games is fine. All other levels of baseball that play nine innings everyday have at least 25 man rosters, and at the college level often more than that; they also have at least 10-12 pitchers, and can staff several nine inning games per week with no problem. I'm not so sure it is fair to hold most teams at this level to that same standard, though. So, I see no reason for leagues to feel pressure to play nine inning games all year. However, there is certainly a a big difference in a nine inning a game vs a 7 inning game. We have been in many 9 inning games over the last nine years where the results of the game have absolutely been determined in the 8th and 9th innings. So, players need to know that, and playing a few nine inning games before the postseason is a good idea so they can not only know it but also see it.

PA ALB

And finally, what are your views on the re-alignment of the national regional tournaments? All three teams from PA (including host Boyertown) will be playing in the Mid-Atlantic Tournament beginning this year.  Does your strategy as a coach change if you have to see the same team several times in different tournaments?                

Coach Manero

It is an interesting change, and I'm sure based mostly on economics. I think it's good for the growth and publicity of Legion baseball when it sends some teams to other parts of the country to play, and our experience in Appleton, WI in 2009 was hands down one of the best baseball experiences I have had as a player or coach, and our players were treated like kings by the people out there, as they deserved - since they are a great bunch to work with. So, not having that possibility is a bit disappointing, but the Mid-Atlantic Tourney is excellent, and the baseball in PA is so good that I think having three PA teams there this year will make it that much better. IF we are fortunate enough to see the same team in several different tournaments, that would mean we have a pretty good team that just needs to go out and focus on playing the game, regardless of the opponent.

We hope you've enjoyed reading!  We greatly appreciate Coach Manero taking time to answer our questions and we've hope you have enjoyed reading the interview!

We're proud to present another exclusive interview to our site.  Kevin Manero, the manager of the Nor-Gwyn Hawks of the Bux-Mont League in Region 2, has been gracious enough to answer some of our questions and give visitors some insight into legion baseball coaching.  Kevin has managed some of the finest teams in the state for the last nine years, including coaching his team to the 2005 PA state title.

The interview is quite lengthy so we'll post it in sections over the next few days.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we have!  As always, if you'd like to leave a comment on the article for Kevin to read, please feel free.  You can also send any comments or questions to our email [email protected] and we'll forward it to Coach Manero.  Thanks!

PA ALB

Your team had another successful season last year in the Bux-Mont, claiming the regular season title.  The team had a more difficult time in the league tournament dropping two one-run games to #8 Perkiomen (the eventual runner-up) and #5 Pottstown.  Did those close games help motivate your team for the Region 2 Tournament?  What as a coach did you say to your team after the abrupt turn of events?

Coach Manero

First, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this interview. The players, families, and communities that keep Legion baseball going are first rate, and as a coach, I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many great people in this game.

I think a big part of our success during the regular season was our veteran experience and our depth on the mound. Legion is a rigorous schedule, and on top of what we play in the league we like to get as many non-league innings in as possible, so being able to do that requires a lot of arms; our pitching staff really rose to the occasion last year, and winning 20 games in the league during the regular season to clinch a spot in Regionals is very important, because the Bux-Mont Tournament can be grueling and can often serve as a big hurdle on the way to Regional play. I don't know what the percentages are through history, but I would guess that the #8 seed has knocked off the #1 seed in this tournament a lot more than people think. Like Perkiomen had last year with Tim Mayza, the #8 seed often has at least one very strong arm, and in baseball, no matter what the records of opposing teams may be, any team can lose on any given day when they face a good pitcher. Pat Carbone was equally as strong, but Perk found a way to score one more run that night, in what was a very competitive brand of very good baseball.

After winning so many one run games during the regular season, it was tough to drop two one-run games in the Bux-Monts, but it did afford us the opportunity to get a very good week of practice in, and we were able to go into the Regions 2 Tourney rested and refocused. We had to remember that the year before we faced a similar situation and turned it into a very positive result. We had a meeting the morning after the Pottstown game to set up what the next week would look like, and we made sure we were all on the same page. Those two losses were tough, but we really did play well, and sometimes in the game of baseball, that's what happens. So as soon as the last pitch of the Pottstown game was thrown, it was time to move forward. Game one in Regionals was a 12 inning battle with the would-be Region 2 runner-up, and then we played very well in a pair of wins the next two days. So, overall, I thought we did most of what we needed to do to at that level, but of course Pennridge was playing very well at the time, and they did a little more.

PA ALB

The Hawks won two games at the Region 2 Tournament before being knocked out by Bux-Mont postseason champion Pennridge.  Could you talk briefly about your thoughts on Pennridge last year?  In your opinion does their emergence help solidify the Bux-Mont as one of the premier leagues in the Mid-Atlantic?

Coach Manero

Pennridge was very strong last year. They really did not have any tough outs in their lineup, and their pitching depth was impressive. Their SS/C, Dylan Tice, is one of the best players in the state, and he is going to have a very bright future in baseball. He's a tremendous player and a first rate person as well. I think the team was reflective of that demeanor and that approach to the game, and I believe Pennsylvania was very well represented in Mattoon, IL last summer. Pennridge's success added to the reputation of our league. There are few opponents on our league schedule that are not a challenge every time we match up. I believe the league is well run, it is consistent, we have quality facilities, and we have several teams who could legitimately make a run at a Regional berth every year.

PA ALB

What are your thoughts on the upcoming season?  Should we expect to see another deep postseason run?

Coach Manero

After this winter, the 2011 season couldn't start soon enough. We are looking forward to getting out there and getting the work in that we need to be prepared for another season. In terms of personnel, we have a solid veteran core, and a good crop of excited new players joining the nest. Certainly we graduated a lot of experience after last season, and we have positions, innings, and at-bats to fill, but I like the desire and the buy-in we have on the roster right now. We will focus on the little things, work very hard to play the game the right way, try to get better every night, and let the results emerge from that approach.

PA ALB

Nor-Gwyn will be hosting the 2011 PA Region 2 Tournament in July after a successful hosting job a few years ago.  For teams that may be considering bidding on a tournament in the future, what kind of work goes into hosting that type of tournament.

Coach Manero

In 2009, we formed a Region 2 Tourney planning commission and met monthly starting in the Fall before the tournament. This year, we have done the same and have been meeting since January. More than anything, it takes good people and a lot of hands on deck. Our parents, organization, and community came through in 2009 and devoted a ton of their heart and their time to help us put together a great Regional Tournament. More than anything, it takes people. There are a lot of duties to complete from making sure the trash cans are emptied several times a day, to making sure ticket sales are managed. Our president, Mr. George Wicks, did an outstanding job of overseeing this committee and making sure they we were more than ready to get it all together.

PA ALB

Hostelley Field, home of the Hawks, is one of the finest legion facilities in the state.  What type of benefits does your program get from having a field of that caliber? Are opponents more willing to play you at home because of the quality of the field?

Coach Manero

Once again, I give a ton of credit to the Nor-Gwyn organization for maintaining such a first rate facility. Our field director, Dave Sevcik, and many others on our board have a lot of pride in our facility and have a genuine desire to carry out the visions that Ben Hostelley had. The benefits of having such a facility are that it is a great venue for college coaches and scouts to come and do their work, it is a comfortable place to call home and we are able to recreate an almost minor-league type atmosphere up there every night, it is very fan friendly, and it helps us in being able to host events such as the Region 2 Tournament, and perhaps bigger ones down the line. I do believe opponents like coming to play at Hostelley; certainly hosting regionals adds to that since teams like to get a shot to play on the field where they hope to be playing again in July.

Thank you for reading part one, the second half of the interview will be posted in the next few days.

We've added another page to the site under the site information tab, which can be found under the 'info' heading on the left side of the menu bar.  Please give the page a read, and if you or somebody you know can be of assistance to us, please get in contact with us via our email [email protected].

Your help is greatly appreciated, and certainly does not go unnoticed.  Thanks again!

Interested in some PA ALB history? We've posted a 'state champions' listing under the info tab on the right side of the menu bar.  The list dates back to 1926 when York won the inaugural title.  

Take a look at the list and you'll notice some interesting trends and championship streaks.  For instance, a team from southeastern PA (Regions 2 and 3) have won the last six state titles.  What team will find their name on the list by the end of the summer?

We've updated the postseason page with the 2011 dates and locations for each of the seven state regionals, the state tournament, national regional tournament, and ALB World Series.

If you happen to know the names of the fields we haven't yet entered, please leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected] so we can provide it for other readers, thanks!

If you haven't noticed yet, we've added an all new links page to the site.  The new page can be found on the right side of the maroon menu bar near the top of your screen.  

We went through our existing links and updated old or outdated sites and also added new ones.  As many of our loyal followers have already done, please pass along any site links you may have that we have omitted.

As always, your help is greatly appreciated!

There will be a few team changes in Region 4 play this summer.  Northeastern will be rejoining the York County League this season.  Biglerville will be leaving that league to join the Franklin County League, also in Region 4.

We'll be compiling what will be the most exhaustive list of Pennsylvania Legion Baseball team and league website links available in the coming weeks.  In addition, we'll be posting all of the team and league schedules that are published.

We ask for your help in these endeavors.  If you have any website links to any team or league in the state, or another site dealing with the sport, we would be most gracious if you could pass it along to us.  The same would go for schedules you may have access to, even if they are only partial.

You can send any information you have to us at [email protected] or send user 'Legion Baseball' a private message on the site.

We appreciate your help and look forward to another exciting year of PA Legion Baseball!

We've gotten word that Pottsgrove, of the Chester County League in the southeastern part of the state, will not be fielding a team this summer.  Here's to hoping that the organization will be able to have a team representing their town next year.

Region 5 fans will notice a slight change in the teams that make up the Wyoming Valley League this summer.  Plymouth-Grontkowski, which has enjoyed a good deal of success in northeast Pennsylvania the past several years, will officially change legion post sponsorships.  The team will now represent Swoyersville Post 644 which is located about ten minutes northeast of their former sponsor.

This move will help to bolster an already impressive program for Swoyersville, whose junior legion team captured the 2010 junior legion state title.

Thanks to site member 'Nate' for passing along this information.  Have news or updates on the teams in your area?  Let us know and we'll post the information for fans across the state to read about!

Some pretty big news out of the southeastern part of the state as the Oley Lynx and Topton Rams have agreed to join forces for the 2011 season.  The two teams got the blessing of the league board and will take the field this year in the league's south division under the new moniker of Oley/Topton.  

This joint venture is notable for several reasons.  Topton was unable to field a team last season despite making some great strides in high school and legion ball the past few years.  This will give those athletes from Brandywine Heights a chance to compete for a league title in what will be their first year playing outside of the familiar confines of the Berks County League.  In addition, Oley had a solid 9-5 record last year.  The new team will open the season as one of the favorites in the league's south division, which is comprised of those teams that made the jump from Berks County last year.  

This move could set a bit of a precedent for mergers in the future.  If you aren't too familiar with the area, Topton and Oley are separated by about fifteen miles.  One has to wonder if we may see similiar moves made by teams around the state and country who have waning interest in their legion programs but have some kids eager to play.  What is your take on this move?  Is it possible that in the future some team or teams may try to take advantage of this move and combine two solid programs and take the best team from that they can?  We certainly don't believe that is the case here, and of course, other teams from across the state would need to have the approval of their individual league which may not be as understanding as the Schuylkill-Berks.  If you want to voice your opinion, be sure to leave a comment or take your thoughts over to the newly renovated forum section!

In other news, Bethel has renamed and rebranded their team as the Tulpehocken Thunder.  Pretty interesting new logo as well, especially for a legion team.  Be sure to check it out if you get a chance.

More news and site updates coming soon as we progress out of the cold and head towards baseball season!

State Senator Michael O'Pake of Berks County passed away earlier today.  Senator O'Pake was instrumental in providing funding to many amateur sports teams in the southeastern part of the state, including several area legion teams.

In addition, he leaves behind a legacy of valuable service to all citizens of Pennsylvania.

For more, see the philly.com article below.

Article

The offseason has been anything but that for us here at palegionball.com and we're excited to announce the newest addition to our site: a fully functioning and streamlined mobile site!  This site is accessible simply by visiting www.palegionball.com from any smartphone with an internet connection.  

The new mobile site boasts all the same content as the full site, but with an easy to view and quicker to load format.  Now you can check scores on the go, read our latest news stories during your commute, or simply use the site to distract you from those relatives you don't really want to talk to.

As with the full site, the mobile site should be completely compatible with any operating system and web browser and phone manufacturer.  If you see any glitches or issues on your phone, be sure to let us know and we'll get to fixing them right away.

Thanks, and enjoy!

That's right, the time has come for us to move to a more permanent site.  While our old web address of www.palegionbaseball.webs.com is still valid, be sure to visit us and bookmark us at our new address: www.palegionball.com!

We're happy to give you some off-season reading material as Jamie Scheck, the manager of the state champion Spring City Red Sox has been gracious enough to answer some questions about his team.  The interview is posted in three parts under the articles tab.  Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Thanks, and enjoy!

The NorChester Bulldogs have established themselves as a state power over the last several years.  They've all but dominated southeastern PA's Region 3 over that time, garnering several regional championships.  The only thing that has stood in their way from their first state championship has seemingly been another state power, and local rival, Boyertown.  The Bears have eliminated NorChester late in the state tournament several times over the past couple of years.  This year, with Boyertown looking a bit more vulnerable than in years past, many believed the state title was Norchester's for the taking.

Things started off well for the Bulldogs, who clinched the Chester County League regular season title, edging out another local rival, the Spring City Red Sox.  Spring City, another team thought to be a state title contender, showed they were a force to be reckoned with as they beat out NorChester for the league's postseason title.  By virtue of the league having two regional berths, both teams advanced to the PA Region 3 Tournament in Warminster.

NorChester opened against the hosts, beating them 8-0 in the tournament's fourth game.  The Bulldogs ran into trouble in their second game, when Greater Norristown League champion JP Mascaro soundly defeated them by six, 7-1, in the second day's nightcap.  NorChester had had their backs to the wall many times before, so while the team was probably a bit on edge, they had to have known that they were still one big loss away from an early ending to their season.

Fellow Chester County foe Spring City had dropped their opener, so much like all good rivalry stories do, this one ended with another great twist.  Spring City and NorChester, two of the top teams in the state, were slated to play one another in a do or die situation.  One team's season would be extended by at least a day, with the other ending their's in surprising fashion.

Spring City flexed its muscles again, topping NorChester 9-6 in game ten.  Just like that, a team many had penciled in for a National Regional trip was done with just one win in state regionals.  Spring City continued its run, winning the Region 3 Tournament and then won the 2010 PA State Championship.

While this season ended in disappointment, and was certainly one of the biggest stories in the state this year, NorChester will come back in 2011 reloaded and gunning for a bigger run in the state playoffs.

Millcreek has made a name for themselves throughout the western part of the state over the last several years by representing region eight at the annual PA Legion State Tournament.  Despite their success locally, they've had a tough time breaking through on the state's biggest stage with an overall record of 1-8.  Millcreek once again qualified for the state tournament this season by defeating St. Mary's in the region eight championship game.

When the bracket was handed to the team prior to July's tournament, they could not have been all that excited with the draw they had received.  Looming in the first round was a matchup with Spring City, a team many believed to be destined for the state title.  Despite trailing by four runs in the sixth inning, Millcreek rallied for five straight runs and the victory.  The win certainly amounted to Erie County champs' biggest win in team history.

Millcreek ran in to a very good, and hot, Pennridge squad in game two.  They were unable to hold Pennridge in check, allowing sixteen runs in a seven inning mercy rule defeate.  Much like they had done the rest of the season, the team from northwest PA showed their resiliency by knocking off a very tough Upper Dauphin team in their third game of the tournament.  The five run shutout cemented this year's tournament showing as the team's best ever, with the possibility to expand on that the following day.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  Despite making it to Friday afternoon, Millcreek was unable to get by the four time defending state champion Boyertown.  They were defeated 11-3 and eliminated from this year's tournament.  Millcreek ended up going 2-2 in the tournament and was the only team to defeat eventual champion Spring City.  Their performance was certainly worthy of a top ten in '10 award!

Now that the 2010 PA ALB is over, we'll be reflecting on the top stories of the year from across the state.  Be sure to check back soon as we chronicle the top ten stories of the year, from both on and off the field.

The final part in a three segment interview with 2010 Mid-Atlantic National Regional Champion manager Larry Bowles.

Interview Part 3

ALB:

How was the overall experience of playing the ALB World Series?  How was the stadium, the fans, the overall level of play?

Coach Bowles:

Outside of our play and results, the World Series was incredible.  The stadium was absolutely gorgeous and the level of competition we faced was extremely high.  We faced a kid in game 1 throwing around 90 with 2 different sharp breaking balls and in game 2 we faced the only other team in the U.S. to go undefeated in ther regional... with their ace on the mound.  Obviously, the competition was a little tougher, but I think any team from the Mid-Atlantic Regional would have been able to compete and win versus those teams... we just had two very rough days on the mound and in the field.  However, the experience of being there is one we will all remember.

ALB:

You had the unenviable task of taking on eventual national champion Midwest City, Oklahoma in your opening round game.  Obviously it didn't go as planned with the mercy rule defeat.  Can you put that team's talent in to perspective?  They were actually without their star player, Jake Realmuto, who got drafted in the third round of the MLB draft by the Marlins and signed with them before the Series for $600,000!

Coach Bowles:

Yeah, that Oklahoma team was obviously talented.  We finally had our "can't do anything right" game that we had been avoiding, and it happened to be against the eventual champion with their ace on the mound.  Their pitcher, Kevin Hill, was extrememly impressive for them and to be just a rising high school senior?  Wow.  Not being able to match with Cody Cox, who didn't travel with us to Spokane as he had surgery on his injured foot the day we left on the plane, was unfortunate.  It would have been nice to see Hill and Cox go head-to-head.

With that said, take into account that we made some completely uncharacteristic errors in the first inning and the fact that Oklahoma had no extra base hits and you had a perfect storm of errors and seeing-eye singles.  Everything they hit seemed to find a hole and if it didn't we made an error.  Please don't think I am taking anything away from that Oklahoma squad.  They were extremely impressive at the plate.  That team executed every hit-an-run and seemed to hit hard ground balls or line drive everytime they made contact.  They would have won that game that day no matter how we played on defense, but it would have been nice to have made them play 9 innings and respresent our region and state a little better.

PA ALB:

What did you say to your team after the disheartening loss?  After such successful runs the previous few weeks, how hard was that loss to take for your team who must have been feeling a bit invincible at that point?

Coach Bowles:

It wasn't the loss, it was the way we lost.  The kids knew that not only were they on a World Series stage, but that people were now watching them play online live and to play that way with everyone watching was tough for them.  I kept pointing out to them that earlier in the day North Carolina led their game the entire way only to lose it in the bottom of the eighth and that we only get one loss just like they did and were in same position.  The big thing to do was completely forget the entire game and find a way to focus on Oregon.  The guys were inspried to put on a better show versus Oregon and, for the most part, they did.

PA ALB:

The second game of the tournament was another tough loss, when you dropped a one run decision to Roseburg, Oregon who has certainly established themselves as a national power.  One big inning did the team in.  What did you say to the team afterwards?  From an outsiders view, it must be an incredibly tough task to console your players when you yourself are rightfully upset.

Coach Bowles:

The Oregon game was the tough one.  We had the 6-1 lead and let it slip away was very rough for all of us.  Directly after the game, there wasn't much that could be said to console them.  Sure you could tell them that they made it to the World Series and that's great, but these guys knew they wanted more than to just participate.  After we all got back to the hotel and showered, we met in my room as a team and talked it all out.  That did a lot for us, then we decided to go watch a movie and get our minds off of baseball for a night, had a great time, and the guys kind of bounced back from there.  The really tough part for some of the guys was the instant realization that this was the last game some of them would play together after playing for 10-12 years of rec, AAU, and school baseball... that was hard for some of the guys and where the tears came from during the medal ceremony.

PA ALB:

What can we expect from Chesapeake, Virginia next year and in the near future?  Should we pencil you in for a trip to the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Tournament in Boyertown?

Coach Bowles:

Well now that the guys got a taste of it, they were all talking about doing it again next year.  We'd be losing Cox, Dickason, Carter, and Michaud (he just moved to Missouri)... which is big, but we had quite a few very talented guys right there in our area that played with other baseball programs this summer that are now talking about playing Legion with us next summer.  We'd have Ali, Adair, Bedi, Applin all coming back on the mound, and Clemmons back at the top of the order.  We'll need to replace our starting SS and 3B, but I think we may just try and make another run in 2011.

PA ALB:

And finally, any great stories you'd like to share from this season?

Coach Bowles:

The best story of all is how this team was just thrown together in May/June, from 3 different high schools and 2 private schools.  In June, some guys had never met before, the guys paid for their own uniforms & hats, we had no signs/coverages as a team, and we had guys playing out of position all year, but were able to make a run against teams that been established for 30+ years that each guys will remember for the rest of their lives.

The other great story starts with the fact that we lost the first game in our state tournament.  With the way that tournament was set up, we had to win 6 games in 4 days and the way in which the guys were able to battle through injuries and little sleep to win it was awesome.

Thanks for reading, we've hope you enjoyed it!