NC American Legion Baseball State Tournament - Team Snapshots
August 7th, 2007 Posted in American Legion baseball
The 2007 North Carolina American Legion Baseball State Tournament is set to start on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The teams that make up the field that is vying for a shot at the state championship are Area I champs - Wayne County Post 11, Area I runner-up - Durham Post 7, Area I (Host) - Garner Post 232, Area II champs - Morehead City Post 46, Area III champs - Randolph County Post 45, Area III runner-up Rowan County Post 342, Area IV champs - Cherryville Post 100, Area IV runner-up - Caldwell County Post 29.
Wayne County comes into the tournament after winning the Area I championship over Durham. Wayne County is led by Grant Sasser and Garrett Davis, along with other members from the NC 2007 3A Baseball State Champions - C.B. Aycock High School baseball team. Wayne County is not the only team that is led by members of a State Champions. Caldwell County rides the backs of members from the 4A Baseball State Champs South Caldwell High School, including star pitcher Jimmy Messer, whom has recently verbally committed to the University of North Carolina.
Area III is represented by two very good teams - one is led by their potent offense and the other from their pitching staff. Randolph County won the Area III championship behind Ben Bunting, Neil Pritchard, Justin Yow, and Ethan Marsh. Bunting (UNC commit) is the table setter, reaching base by hits, walks and anyway he can, and then getting in scoring position by stealing bases. Pritchard (Elon signee) hit a walk off home run to get Randolph into the Area III championship, and then hit two more homers in game seven of the championship series vs Rowan. Yow provided a couple of home runs to help at the plate, and is also the ace of the pitching staff. Marsh is a slugger, consistently getting key hits to drive in teammates like Bunting and Pritchard.
Rowan County boasts a good pitching staff thats has helped them get to the State Tournament. Pitchers Cy Young, Keegan Linza and Weston Church were all selected to the first annual Area III All Star game for the South All-Star Team, and Church is one of the most feared sluggers in Area III. The Rowan lineup is led off by spark plug Justin Roland, who was also selected to the South All-Star Team, and does for the Rowan lineup what Ben Bunting does for the Randolph lineup.
Two of the hottest teams coming into the tournament are Area II champs, Morehead City, and Area IV champs, Cherryville. Morehead City comes in with the best record of the teams in the tournament, while Cherryville might come in with the most history or tradition of any of the teams here. Cherryville is led by Chris Henderson, who can do it all from dominating on the mound to blasting home runs at the plate. Cherryville legion has been here before as described in this this article.
The final two teams might not have as much hype surrounding them, but if Durham or Garner get hot at the right time, then they can beat any team.
First Round Games - Wednesday August 8, 2007
9:30 a.m. – Morehead City (29-3) vs. Rowan County (39-6)
12:30 p.m. – Wayne County (23-4) vs. Caldwell County (28-11)
4:30 p.m. – Cherryville (36-7) vs. Durham (22-6)
7:30 p.m. - Randolph County (38-13) vs. Garner (11-17)
Check back here for live coverage and updates from these games. This site will contain the photo and video highlights.
[Where: Garner, NC]
5 Responses to “NC American Legion Baseball State Tournament - Team Snapshots”
By kelli martin on Aug 8, 2007
post 100 daniel martin 18 years old today
By Janine Henderson on Aug 10, 2007
WAY TO GO POST 100!!!! It appears you all are having fun! Keep up the good work and we will see you soon!
By Jack on Aug 10, 2007
Caldwell County will dominate and advance to the regional!
By Jack on Aug 10, 2007
Can someone teach the old guys who made the bracket how to draw one up? The winner of tonight’s Cherryville/Caldwell game should have Saturday off and be in the chamionship game Sunday. Why even play tonight’s game if the winner and loser have to play a winner from the loser’s bracket…learn how tournaments work.
By daniel martin #21 on Aug 13, 2007
Post 100 State Champs