This Is What You Play For

The modern day high school baseball player has several reasons why they would want to play during the summer at any level.  First of all you love the game.  You have reached the age that your time playing baseball is ending.  There will be no next level college or minor leagues.  This is the last summer you will ever play baseball.

The next player that wants to play Legion has a great desire that there will be a next level.  He is either headed to college to play at the school of his choice or he has already spent a year there and is home for the summer.  He is not a player who can go to college summer leagues like the Cape Cod or even the Coastal Plain and play against other college players.

Then there is the younger player not old enough for senior Legion but his desire to play against older players to make himself a better player.  Regardless of the reason you played Legion there is a desire that if we could win the title it would make this summer worth so much more.  Even as I sit in the pressbox want to do it for a winning team.

So the 2014 addition of Coleman Pitt Post 58 has reached the point where all the practices and games in 90 degree sweltering humidity could pay off in one afternoon.  Saturday at 3pm Coleman Pitt Host Raleigh Post 1 in a double header that could very well lead to a first round bye in the upcoming West Division Area 1 playoffs.  A bye is almost a week off around the Fourth Of July while others fight for the baseball life to continue to the next round.

This group this season has Come together nicely to be a very competitive team.  Hank Jones has deployed two catchers saving their strength as the season has progressed.  Ryan Williams from Roanoke  Rapids and David Williams from Northern and Duke. Williams when not catching has been the third baseman. Over at a First Griffin Parker from Fike has handled most of the work with Chase Roupp his backup Roupp has Been the DH  but has also displayed good innings on the mound.

Second base had fallen to either Forrest a Bell who as a sophomore has proven to be a valuable players for P58 spending time at third and backup at shortstop. Gryphon fans have a solid prospect in the fold for two more years.  Carson Arthur once he got a shot in the lineup has hit the ball well for the player who looks to be the smallest player on the team  who hails from Roanoke Rapids. Khalil Macklin has played a solid shortstop considering he has spent most of his last three years at Nash Central in centerfield.

The center fielder who has covered centerfield In a blanket is Linwood Jones. If it is hit in the air  he
just might catch it.  The RMA product has had several infield hits just on shear speed.  Logon Simonowich from RR had been in right most of the season and left has been by committee.  Lately however Rocky Mount's Blake Helms hitting  has about won the  job except when pitching and like many P 58 pitchers he has been solid.

The pitching staff should be well rested for Saturday 's showdown. Paschal Ammons from East  Wake has been solid,  Cody Smith and Will Edwards Rocky Mount products  have had moments that justify their heading to Chowan next year. RMA's MJ  Jones has pitched much better than I counted on.

So Saturday afternoon CP Post 58 will try to put themselves into position  to advance in the Legion playoffs by playing for time off next weekend.  The weather forecast says it is not going to be sweltering if the rain stays away just might be a great afternoon to watch Legion a Ball.