Sports

Local teams aiming for Legion state championship

• Leesburg’s American Legion Post 182 and defending state champion Albany Post 30 start action today in the American Legion state tournament.

Derek Barichello

COCHRAN — Albany Post 30 head coach Don Norman didn’t have much time to talk to The Herald late Wednesday night.

He had to call up all his players and let them know when and who they would be playing in the American Legion state tournament as the clock was nearing 9:30 p.m.

“I just got out of the coaches’ meeting,” Norman said. “We’ve got to get everything prepared and ready to go.”

What Norman will tell his upstart Post 30 ballclub — which finished 6-6 in the South district — is they will begin defense of their state championship today against Loganville at 5 p.m. at Middle Georgia College Field.

But Norman was not the only skipper stirring late Wednesday.

Leesburg Post 182 coach Steve Glover heard the last-minute news their game scheduled against Conyers was now a game against Rockdale, and it was moved to 1 p.m.

Not only was Post 182 (13-4, 9-4) coach Glover irritated by the rescheduling, but a decision made at the coaches’ meeting ruled one of Glover’s best pitchers ineligible.

Turner County’s Justin Stubbs, who threw a complete game victory against Post 30 on July 10, was ruled to be 2.1 miles closer to Vienna Post 202 and, according to American Legion rules, for him to play on Post 182’s roster, Post 202 would have to sign off on his eligibility — which did not happen.

“They said they would sign off on him at the meeting,” Glover said. “But it was too late. (The rules committee) already made their ruling. And they wonder why this league is fluttering? And why everyone is going to travel ball? We are trying to work to get a college scholarship for a good ballplayer and American Legion is taking away that opportunity.”

 Still, with the last-second dramatics pinching their roster, Post 182 does not want to lose sight of what appears to be a very realistic goal — bringing home a state championship to Leesburg.

“It will certainly take a toll on our pitching depth,” said Glover, who noted Post 182’s pitching depth was a strength before the decision was made.

“We just have to look at it now as an opportunity for someone else to step up.”

That someone else could very well be Justin McCalvin. The Lee County High School standout, who helped the Trojans advance to the GHSA AAAA quarterfinals with his 87-88 m.p.h. fastball, will take the mound in Game 1.

Ace Howell White --- who was named to The Herald’s All-Area baseball team — is the Game 2 probable in the double elimination bracket said Glover, while Matthew Suggs figures to see innings.

Add that kind of pitching to a Post 182 offense that has scored 58 runs in their last five games and Post 182 has a formidable team taking the field.

“We feel like we are peaking at the right time," Glover said. "I think if we play like we have been, we have what it takes to win a state championship."

If that's the case, Post 30 — who won last year's tournament — has a solid argument for repeating.

Post 30 concluded their season with two victories in a row against Post 182.

Norman, who seemingly found the answer he has been looking for all season with those wins did not care that today’s opponent Loganville captured the GHSA AAAA state championship.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Norman said. “You’ve got to play them anyways. Might as well get ‘em with that first one. Who’s to say we can’t beat them?”

While Post 30 and Post 182 will try to capture a state title, Post 512 has withdrawn from the tournament. Post 512, who had to forfeit most of their games this season, did not have enough players active on their roster to field a team.

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