American Legion sweeps, wins Minors City Series title

WOOSTER – No “if necessary” game necessary.

Not in the best-of-three Wooster Youth Baseball Minors 10U City Series that wrapped up Thursday night at Denton Fuller Field, where second-seeded American Legion rolled by fifth-seeded Wayne Insurance Group 17-5 in five innings to sweep the season-ending series in two straight games.

After clubbing 10 hits in Tuesday’s come-from-behind victory, the Legionnaires brought out the heavy metal again in Game 2, totaling 13 hits and leading from start to finish in the finale for players age 10 and younger. In general, the Legion squad boasted seven returning players and their overall savvy won out against the young Wayne Insurance unit that had just three youngsters back from last season’s City Series-championship unit.

“From the beginning of the season, we expected to contend, and we really thought we could win it,” said winning head coach Clay Wheeler. “They had younger kids, and it showed. Our kids were older and had some experience. We did what we expected to do.”

Scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, which is the maximum number of runs allowed per inning through the first five frames of a 10U circuit contest, the Legion group didn’t have to be concerned with making a comeback like it did Tuesday when it fell behind 7-1 early, only to rally to an 11-8 decision.

“It was kind of nice to have a little bit more of a relaxing game tonight. It was actually one of the few like this we had all season,” Wheeler said.

After the first-inning outburst, Legion added three runs in the second inning and five more in the third to take a commanding 13-0 advantage. Wayne Insurance plated all five of its runs in the bottom of the third. Legion tacked on four runs in the top of the fifth and then closed out the series with a 1-2-3 defensive effort in the bottom of the fifth. Reliever Wes Wheeler struck out the first batter of the fifth, then the most spectacular play of the series followed when left-center fielder Mason Strock made an over-the-shoulder catch going back on a deep, hard liner off the bat of Kadyn Anderson. An infield pop-up was the final out of the fifth and the run-rule made it unnecessary to play a sixth stanza.

Members of both teams wore happy smiles during the postgame trophy presentations. For Wayne Insurance, which won just three regular-season games but came alive in the postseason, simply making it to the championship was noteworthy. It was the team’s fourth consecutive appearance in the City Series.

“It was a great season. I didn’t expect to be here with such a young team,” said Wayne head coach Jorn Baxstrom. “But the kids really turned it on when they needed to and won the games they needed to, and here we are.”

Baxstrom’s bunch has a promising future. He said only Parker Hanna moves up to the next age level next season.

The American Legion offense was sparked by the left-handed-swinging Landon Harvey, who collected three hits and drove in three runs. It was Harvey who delivered a momentum-changing homer in Game 1 on Tuesday.

Also with three hits in the victory Thursday was Wheeler, who drove in two runs. Strock garnered a pair of RBIs as well, singling to right-center in the second inning.

Legion players with two hits apiece were Dominic Murray and Owen Schneider.

Held to just one hit Tuesday, Wayne managed two safeties Thursday – both infield singles by Anderson.

American Legion sent three hurlers to the hill, starting with Cohan Beaver and finishing with Strock and Wheeler. The three combined for nine strikeouts. Wayne Insurance used three pitchers as well, starting with Conar Stitzlein and relieving with Hudson Baxstrom and Griffin Siegenthaler.

Coach Wheeler said a big part of the joy of coaching is just watching his still-blossoming players experience success.

“Everybody improved,” Wheeler said. “It’s fun just getting to see them smile and enjoy having the victory. Everybody needs that in life, whether it’s in sports or anything. To stick with something and not give up when we were down Tuesday, to improve and go to practices and get better, and then to get the victory, I just like to see them smile. That’s what’s most fun about this season, seeing them accomplish things and take home a championship.”

Wheeler was quick to compliment Baxstrom for the job he did with his Wayne Insurance squad.

“Today, our hitting wasn’t that great, but we still hung in there. I think hitting is where, overall, we improved the most this season,” said Baxstrom, whose Schumacher Homes team in the Majors 12U division plays for a City Series championship Friday at 5:40 p.m. against Dave’s Plumbing. “Our hitting really came together late in the season.”

CREDIT: TOM RIFE