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Post 182 to play for state title

• Legion Post 182 will play for a state championship against Loganville while Post 30 is eliminated Sunday.

Derek Barichello

COCHRAN — Albany’s Post 30 will not defend their title, but Leesburg’s Post 182 can bring home a championship as soon as today.

A day after defeating top-seeded Loganville 11-9, Post 182 remained undefeated in the American Legion state tournament with a 19-9 win in eight innings Sunday against Post 30.

Now Post 182 will play Loganville today at 2 p.m., needing only a win to earn a state title, while Loganville will have to beat Post 182 twice.

“We’re playing a very good Loganville team,” said Post 182 coach Steve Glover of his opponent also made up of players from Loganville High School — the GHSA AAAA champions.“Most of their kids already have a year of college. They swing the bat really well and their pitching is solid and nothing overpowering.”

On Sunday, Americus’ Adam Fussell led the offensive charge with four hits and a home run. With another double digit number put up on the scoreboard, Post 182 has now put up 59 runs for the tournament.

“We’re pleased with where we’re at, obviously,” Glover said. “If our offense continues like it has, we feel like we’re the better team. It’s what we’ve depended on so far. It’s come from everywhere.”

As for 182’s pitching, Justin McCalvin picked up the ‘W’ in relief of Will Raines.

Glover said he will throw Howell White in today’s first game but McCalvin, Matthew Suggs, Raines and Fussell are all options if White cannot finish or a Game 2 is needed.

“Howell is ready to go,” Glover said. “There’s not anybody excluded for availability --- we have to do whatever we have to do, but we’re counting on Howell to take care of business. If Howell is himself, I think we’ll win this thing in the first game.”

For Post 30, while disappointed they will not play to defend a state championship, coach Don Norman said he was proud of the season his team put together.

“This was a great group of kids and we gave it a good run,” Norman said. “That's all you can ask. 182 is a great ballclub and we wish them luck.”

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