Monday, July 2, 2007 1:19 AM CDT
Firecracker classic capsules
By JG/T-C Staff
sports@jg-tc.com
POOL A
MATTOON POST 88
High schools providing players: Mattoon, Charleston, Casey-Westfield
Scouting report: Illinois’ Blake Fairchild, Kaskaskia’s Ryan Bradley and Lake Land’s Josh Wilson bring college experience to lead the pitching staff along with incoming Eastern Illinois recruit Matt Miller. Illinois Coaches Association all-state catcher Lyle Seaman is among the leading hitters while Wilson and Trevor Buford are batting over .400 this legion season.
ROBINSON POST 69
High schools providing players: Robinson, Oblong, Olney
Scouting report: The champion of the Mount Vernon Wooden Bat Tournament, Post 69 is 6-6. Left-handed pitcher Craig Bunten is back after a season at Lincoln Trail College, second baseman Seth Bayless played at Vincennes and power-hitting catcher/pitcher Adam Richart is going to Lincoln Trail. “Our main strength has been our hitting,” manager Richard Bollinger said. “We have a lot of 18 year olds and we hit the ball. Our problem has been our defense.”
DECATUR POST 105
High schools providing players: Maroa-Forsyth, Argenta-Oreana, Sangamon Valley, Meridian, Decatur Eisenhower, Decatur MacArthur
Scouting report: “We’re very young,” veteran coach Gene Howell said. “I think we’ll be heard from in a couple of years.” Post 105 already owns a doubleheader sweep over Mattoon Post 88. Troy Davis, Kraig Interial and Nick Bishop are among the leading players for the Decatur-based team which has not played in recent Firecracker Classics.
EVANSVILLE (Ind.) FUNKHOUSER POST 8
High schools providing players: Evansville Mater Dei, Reitz, Memorial, Evansville North and Central.
Scouting report: Funkhouser swept a Saturday doubleheader over Robinson and another over Terre Haute on Sunday giving the Evansville team six wins in its last seven games for a 9-10 record. Cody Brandenstein, who has signed with Wabash Valley, and Ryan Gries are two of the top pitchers.
PEORIA PODS
High schools providing players: Peoria Richwoods, Peoria Notre Dame, Peoria Manual, Peoria Christian
Scouting report: Dropped by its American Legion post, this team is now sponsored by Portable on Demand Storage. Pitcher/infielder Michael Neal has signed with South Carolina Upstate, making the transition to NCAA Division I. Jesse Bomgartz of Dominican, Jordan Cealey of Augustana and Justin Hoppe and James Schmidt of Illinois Central are other college products while hitting leader Tony Guethner is hoping to walk on at Illinois. “I’ve got 15 legitimate pitchers,” coach Ross Pech said. “I’ve got plenty of pitching.”
POOL B
MOUNT ZION POST 475
High schools providing players: Mount Zion, Decatur Eisenhower, Decatur St. Teresa
Scouting report: B.J. Rotz, a 2000 Mount Zion graduate, is the new coach for Post 475 which has shortstop Jeremy Sy as one of the leading hitters and a pitching staff that includes Matt Shonkweiler, Trevor Vettell and Aaron Hogan. “I think we have a decent chance at doing well,” Rotz said. “As long as we score some runs we’ll be all right.”
TERRE HAUTE POST 346
High schools providing players: Terre North, Terre Haute South, West Vigo
Scouting report: Cole Vickers, a second baseman/pitcher who is to play junior college ball at Vincennes, was all-tournament at last year’s American Legion World Series for the national runner-up team. Jordan Shaw-Tyler is headed to Indiana State this year and Andrew Woodason is another top player.
MOULTRIE-DOUGLAS COUNTY POSTS 479/429/27
High schools providing players: Arthur, Arcola, Lovington, Heritage, Tuscola
Scouting report: Entering the tourney 4-9 after reaching last year’s Firecracker semifinals and the title game before losing in the District 19 tournament, has Lincoln Land Community College recruit Jamison Miller as among the former Little Okaw Valley all-conference selections. Michael Reed is headed to Monmouth College. “Underachieving,” coach Brett Englehardt said in summing up his season so far. “We either pitch really well and haven’t hit the ball or we hit the ball well and haven’t fielded it or pitched well. I’m definitely not entirely pleased with where we are. I know we’re a lot better than what our record indicates.”
URBANA POST 71
High schools providing players: Urbana, St. Joseph-Ogden
Scouting report: “We have two or three really good pitchers and two or three pitchers just a step down from them,” coach Ross Rosenberger said. “We’ll be strong. Our problem lately is we haven’t been hitting.” Heartland College recruit Nick Krisman, Augustana football player Jake Parke and Knox College’s Spencer McNeil are among the players from this program that two years ago finished second in the state Junior American Legion tournament.
MOUNT VERNON (IND.) POST 5
High schools providing players: Mount Vernon, Ind.; Union County, Ky.; Henderson County, Ky.
Scouting report: One of three Burke brothers on the team, Randy is a catcher/third baseman/pitcher who played at Southeastern Illinois where Cory Bowling is also headed to play. Center fielder Chris Stemple is to play Rose-Hulman. “We’ve some speed and some kids who really know the game,” coach Rick Renschler said.
POOL C
RANTOUL POST 287
High schools providing players: Rantoul, Armstrong-Potomac
Scouting report: Usually a strong program, Post 287 is looking to bounce back from going 1-3 in last year’s tourney.
EFFINGHAM POST 120
High schools providing players: Effingham, Effingham St. Anthony, Neoga
Scouting report: Andy Mcleod and Kenny Koenig are among the top hitters.
STEWARDSON-STRASBURG POSTS 289/611
High schools providing players: Stewardson-Strasburg, Shelbyville, St. Elmo, Mattoon, Sullivan, Beecher City
Scouting report: Last year’s District 19 champion gained more talent with Shelbyville dropping its Legion team. Derek Hayden, who was a pitcher at Southeast Missouri the past season and is transferring to Kaskaskia, is one of the top pitchers and hitters while Kraig Ladd brings a year of experience from Illinois Wesleyan and Nathan Eversole was at Lake Land the past spring. Brock Bailey has signed to play for Lake Land.
MOUNT VERNON POST 141
High schools providing players: Mount Vernon, Woodlawn, Weber Township, Waltonville
Scouting report: With many Mount Vernon High School players in the Southern Illinois Coaches Association League, this squad stood 3-17 going into a Sunday doubleheader.
NEWBURGH (IND.) POST 44
High schools providing players: Castle, Evansville Harrison
Scouting report: Daniel Nichols has played college ball at Wabash Valley with Ryan Kapp, Clayton Johnson and Taylor Scarlett other key players for a team having to replace most of those who carried Post 44 to last year’s Firecracker championship.
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