American Legion Baseball District 15 Tournament
(@ Oneida)
7/14/10 & 7/15/10
Wednesday (Galesburg vs. Oneida)
Who Wants To Sponsor an IHSSN Cruiser???
It was one of those days, where a late wakeup call, and an unorganized itinerary makes me want to move, oh so much! Many of the sporting events I cover on a daily basis take place an hour away from home, so my day must be planned in advance. Here's an idea: Stealing an idea from John Madden, and welcome the IHSSN Cruiser. A motorhome with the IHSSN logo plastered big across the body. I could sell my house, and live in a motorhome. If anyone wants to sponsor this idea, feel free to contact me, LOL.
When I arrived at work, I noticed that Galesburg Post 285 played Oneida Post 727 in the District 15 tournament at Oneida. The game was scheduled for 11:30. I thought this would be a great time to do some live dropins on 1590 WAIK (Galesburg), and do my sportscasts live from the diamond. My wardrobe for the day was docker's with a black polo. Pants and BLACK top on a day when the heat index would soar to 110 degrees. Smart, Beau, smart!
I actually considered stopping at the mall in Galesburg and buying a pair of shorts and some white socks. Carefully considering this, I figured that wouldn't look good with a pair of black dress shoes. I enjoy the heat and humidity anyway, so I just manned up and took the heat.
Driving over to Oneida at 11:00, I turned the air conditioner in my car on (which I NEVER do), only because I had a few phone calls to make in regard to this football season. By the way for my Galesburg and Monmouth listeners, we have some new and exciting things in store for the 2010 football broadcast season. Once details get finalized, I will be able to unveil our additions.
It was in the top of the first inning when I pulled into the diamond at Oneida. Tyler Farrell was pitching for Galesburg Post 285, who would be the home team in the game. In the bottom of the frame, former Williamsfield standout Alex Ott was throwing. Ott was an all-state basketball player, also. He will play baseball at Black Hawk College in Moline.
Oneida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning, a home run off the bat of Trevor McCarthy, who stood out for the ROWVA Tigers, on his home diamond. In the 4th inning, he added an RBI single giving Oneida a 3-0 cushion. Later in the 4th inning, Oneida tacked on another run, to lead 4-0, going into the 5th inning.
There were several coaches scouting among the grounds. I saw scouts from the University of Iowa and Iowa State, among a few other schools. One coach, who was standing near me (in the partial shade), turned to me and asked if this would be a big upset. I responded that it would be, but Galesburg has the potential to score at will. It's not all hitting, they can plate runs in numbers in small ball also. I commented that a big inning is on the way, it's not if...just when.
Speaking of that partial shade, the heat index may have been 110, but it was a very comfortable 110. Sure, it was warm, but I didn't mind the heat at all, and this game ended up going 3+ hours. There are enough small (very small) shade trees behind the bleachers, behind home plate. There was also a breeze coming out of the south (blowing out to centerfield), that made it comfortable. Admittedly, when the breeze died down, it became less than comfortable!
The first runs for Galesburg came during the 5th inning. Ott struggled against the first few batters, loading the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch. Zach McCrery stepped up and cracked a 3-run double, putting Post 285 within a run, 4-3.
Ott settled down, and worked into the 6th inning, with his team holding a 6-3 lead. Casey Schuermann added a two-run home run in the 7th inning for Oneida, giving them a 5-run advantage. Galesburg answered right back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame. In this inning, Nick Leary hit a two-run single, and Dalton Davis had an RBI single. It was, 8-7, heading into the 8th inning, Oneida on top.
Galesburg Silver Streaks baseball player (playing for Oneida), Jake Henderson led off the 8th inning with a solo home run. Henderson isn't the only Silver Streak that plays for Oneida, as B.J. Buzick and Mark Zhorne also suit up for Post 727. Galesburg Post 285 consists of almost all current or former Silver Streaks. Nick Leary (Monmouth-Roseville), is the lone non-Streak on their roster. Oneida features players from ROWVA, Galva, Stark County, Williamsfield, and Galesburg.
During the late innings, I overheard a Legion coach (from another team at the tournament) talking about the Galesburg paper, and looked in my direction. Since I had my notepad out, I think he assumed I was with the paper. He was complaining about the lack of coverage for some of the area-Legion teams, and that Galesburg gets all of the press. He went on to say, "And they wonder why nobody outside of Galesburg buys their paper." I almost said that the sportswriter from that paper is over by the dugout, but thought that may have been rude, so I just smiled and kept taking notes.
The rally caps were in full force in the 8th inning, with Post 285 claiming the lead, and eventual victory. Caleb Weaver hit an RBI single, to make it a 9-8 deficit. With the bases loaded, Jake Milligan cleared them with a 3-run single, setting the final score at 11-9.
Thursday (7/15/10)
Galesburg vs. Quincy
Once again, not on my schedule, as nothing was today. My original plans were to pick up a refridgerator. My fridge has been out of order for over a week, and it's pretty hard to go grocery shopping for food and other items that don't need to be refridgerated. The problem, once again, is getting back home in time, and coordinating a truck and a friend to help with the move. The place of the fridge's purchase was not going to be open at the time I could get there, so it will be a few days before I can get back. Time to get another bag of ice and pack that cooler!
Finding out I was going to be free of any fridge moving, I headed back to Oneida for the semifinals of the District 15 tournament, between Galesburg and Quincy. I had talked at length with Post 285 coach Steve Cheesman earlier in the day, since I didn't think I was going to make the game. Not much was known about Quincy, but coach Cheesman and I did talk about the area that team pulls from. He mentioned around the time he played, the Reuschel brothers (Rick and Paul), who would both play Major League Baseball, played for Quincy. They were raised in Camp Point.
Today's game started at 4:00, and I wasn't able to get to the field until 4:30. It was already in the 4th inning. As a matter of fact, the first five innings were played in one hour. Then, the sixth inning took 26 minutes.
Quincy took a, 1-0 lead in the 5th inning. They opened up the scoring in the 6th inning, roping off a leadoff double, followed by a single, sacrifice bunt, RBI single, and 2-run double. It was a 5-0 lead for Quincy after six innings.
Galesburg chipped away at that five-run deficit, scoring two runs in the 7th inning. Nick Milligan hit a 2-run single. Two more runs were plated in the 8th inning, making it a one-run game, 5-4. Alex Lozano hit a 2-run single, scoring Jake Milligan and Dalton Davis.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Post 285 evened up the score, 5-5, on a RBI single by Caleb Weaver. Nick Milligan led off, getting hit by a pitch. He was sacrificed over on a bunt by Zach McCrery.
Galesburg won the game in the 10th inning, after Chris Fields led off the inning with a walk. Lozano hit a sacrifice bunt moving Fields to second. He was driven in on a RBI single by Nick Milligan, giving Post 285 the 6-5 win. Galesburg advances to Saturday's championship game at 1:00. Should they lose the first game, it would go to a decisive second game. Farmington plays Henry County at 1:00 on Friday, and that winner plays Quincy at 4:00. The team that comes out of the consolation bracket plays for the District 15 title on Saturday.
Favorite Quote overheard: "This cotton-pickin humid weather," from a gentleman at the concession stand.
I talked with ROWVA JV volleyball coach Traci Griffith about the upcoming season. It sounds like an improved Tigers team that will hit the floor this fall, losing just one to graduation off of last year's team.
Next Up for IHSSN
Friday: ASA 18-Under State B Tournament at Galesburg
Saturday: Clinton 7-on-7 and Casey-Westfield 7-on-7
Sunday: TBA (ASA Tournament), maybe a day off for previews
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