Tuesday, August 7, 2007 11:02 PM CDT
Rock Island Legion used to state trip
By RICK DAWSON Staff Writer
rdawson@jg-tc.com
Rock Island Post 200 is in the American Legion state tournament for the 12th time, its most memorable trip having come on this same Grimes Field 10 years ago.
In 1997, it entered with a spotless 38-0 record, buried Mattoon 11-1 in the opening round and won twice more to reach the championship. Danville dealt the first setback before Rock Island rebounded for a 13-4 win in the decisive showdown. The season didn’t end until the World Series, a third-place finish.
Mike Bell coached that team. Tom Teager is the new man in charge of a team that defeated Galesburg and Milan in the division tournament. Nine of the 16 players are either at or graduated from Alleman High School, led by shortstop Noah Wethington, who batted .475 in division play.
Rock Island (30-9) ousted Milan twice, the second time 8-6 Sunday, to advance to the state tourney.
Offense isn’t hard to come by. Power-hitting first baseman Elliott Kelso, attending the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., an invite for top senior prospects nationwide, isn’t likely to be present. But Zach Paustian of Rockridge High School went 5-for-6 with four RBIs in a 17-8 win against Galesburg, one of two games in which Rock Island scored 17 runs in division play. Tyler Allison is a defensive wizard at second base and a .300 hitter, along with brother Ryan, a third baseman. Center fielder Caleb Rangel, a Western Big Six all-conference selection, is headed to Central College in Iowa.
Pitcher Josh Gibbs, a sophomore at Indiana Hills Community College in Iowa, is 8-0. He had a save and gave up just one run in 10 innings to earn the division MVP. Justin Hauer, a senior at Alleman, had two saves and a win in relief during division play.
Contact Rick Dawson at rdawson@jg-tc.com or 238-6855.
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