Conference hbahba::cam_sports

    Does Leominster Post 151 still exist?
    
    Mark.

>>    Does Leominster Post 151 still exist?


	Don't know.  We rarely play games against teams outside of New Hampshire.
	We were supposed to play Lowell tonight, but couldn't get enough kids 
	who were not working.


	billl

	Here's the "Readers Digest" version of the nightmarish weekend:

	Traveled about 2 hours by van to Lebanon, NH, and were lucky to 
	get away with a 6-4 loss.  We were out hit 13-6 and committed 7
	errors.  Believe it or not we were ahead 4-3 going into the bottom
	of the eighth when a kid from Lebanon attempts a bunt that goes 
	right down on the plat and pops straight up.  Our catcher stands 
	up, while still behind the plate, catches the ball and makes one 
	of the feeblest 90' throw I've seem an 18 year old make towards
	first.  Needless to say the runner beat the ball there by a long
	shot and the umpire never noticed the play was made from foul
	territory, much to the shagrin of this coach who by now was screaming
	equally at both the ump and the catcher.

	Once I got done gagging on the sunflower seeds and the inning was over
	we had opened up the floodgates and allowed 3 unearned runs.  The bats
	and the players went back to la-la land in the ninth and so it made
	for a REAL long ride home.

	With a chance to salvage something positive for the weekend, we headed
	out for Walpole, NH, Sunday morning.  More than just the drivng times
	to the game were similar.  While being out hit 7-5 our defense was
	in pretty good shape (0 errors) and our pitcher was doing a good job 
	of keeping them off balance.  It was the bottom of the eighth with the 
	score 4-3, Merrimack. (No, this is not going to happen again!)  We get a
	quick out before their #3 batter draws a walk.  The next batter squares
	to bunt and I swear I stopped breathing.  It dribbles out in front of 
	the plate.  Our catcher ponces on it and (yep, you guessed it) throws
	another one of those lobs that he is now world famous for.  End result:
	by the time the bleeding was stopped we went into the top of the ninth
	down 5-4 where our anemic bats left it.

	The whole coaching staff spent a long night at the Legion asking 
	ourselves why we keep putting ourselves through this torture.

	Our next game is Wednesday at Gill Stadium in Manchester.  It's our
	last chance at salvaging a win before we head off to Nova Scotia for
	a tounament over the July 4th weekend.

	Wish us luck...we'll need it!


	billl

re: Catcher throwing from foul territory.

Where the player is does not determine if the ball is fair or foul.
Sound like the right call by the umps.

The Crazy Met

	Ney, ney TCM.  I believe that a player who fields a ball while standing
	in foul territory causes said ball to be foul.  It's the same as if he 
	crosses into a dead ball before making the catch the ball is dead.

	Actually that is the secondary point because the play is a routine
	out, well for most catchers most of the time.


	billl

That's the one play a lefty catcher would have an advantage on.

Can you say I'm 18?  I'll catch for you.....


Couldn't do any worse!


'aw

	Any coach who plays a left handed catcher at this level should be shot!
	
	It makes it near impossible for the catcher to make a clean throw to 
	second and you can forget about third.  This is because the vast 
	majority of hitters hit from the right side.  

	We came up against a lefty catcher on Saturday.  When we got a runner
	on first, which was not very often, we had our batter crowd the plate 
	and the runner was off to the races.  Worked everytime.


	billl

    re: billlllllllllllllllllll
    
    Assuming your catcher has at least_a mediocre arm it sounds to me like
    he's battling a severe case of the yips.  (A more severe and
    destructive term is "choke".)
    
    Sadly, I went through a similar spell playing shortstop in college.  
    All stems from a fear of failure - skeerd to really cut loose cause 
    ya might throw it away.
    
    Assuming that the shrink the Braves keep on their payroll to keep John
    Smoltz's head on straight ain't available (Dr. Lewellyn, who, BTW, now
    travels to road games regularly) my advise is to:
    
    A. Pump the kid full of confidence;
    B. Tell him you won't be mad or upset if he throws the ball away,
       but you will be upset (and he'll be benched) if he doesn't throw
       it *hard*.
    
    
    - Psychologist Chris

A guy named Dale Long (?) was the last lefty catcher to play in the majors
with Philadelphia in 1950.

It's very simple to keep a right handed batter from crowding the plate,
IF you're willing to give up ONE stolen base.

The first time a right-handed batter crowds the plate, let the guy steal,
and wang the ball (still in your hand) right into the side of the batter's
head, full steam.  He SHOULD go down like a sack of Idaho spuds if you've
done it right.

They'll give you an alley you can drive a truck through all afternoon
after that.

Besides, I prefer first base to catching....


'Saw

Could explain that girly mon throw to first. 

>                    -< Maybe the catcher is left handed ? >-
>
>Could explain that girly mon throw to first. 

Another noter close to death.....


8^)


'Saw

    TCM had the fair/foul question right.  The only thing that matters is
    the position of the ball, not the fielder.  If where the fielder is
    standing when he makes the play were a determinant, then you'd have the
    spectacle of a fielder trying to position himself in foul ground to
    nullify a base hit on a fair ball along the baseline...
    
    Re. ACChris' psychological foibles on the playing fields:
    
    No comment.
    
    glenn
    

Perhaps there is a latent fear of impotency.  

Nah, I'm not going to get into this......8^)


'Saw

    My psychological woes only lasted a game or 2, fortunately.  But like_a
    golfer who cain never quite get the thought of a shank outa his mind, I
    can vividly remember the feeling of not being able to "cut it loose",
    which 'splains why I'm able to offer such helpful and constructive
    advice.
    
    :^)
    
    
    - ACC Chris

     >> ACC Chris risks embarassment...

        There's a first.

    
    
    
    >>									I
    >>can vividly remember the feeling of not being able to "cut it loose",
    
    
    Hey, some Ex-Lax or Metamucil works wonders in this situation.
    
    Schnortt Schitt Schlepps
    
    JaKe
    

    >	Any coach who plays a left handed catcher at this level should be shot!
	
	Lessee here, you got a righthanded catcher who can't make a throw to 
    1st (we won't ask about how he can make the throw to second), and you
    think handedness has something to do with it?  

>>	Lessee here, you got a righthanded catcher who can't make a throw to 
>>      1st (we won't ask about how he can make the throw to second), and you
>>      think handedness has something to do with it?  

	Absolutly!

	Our "right-handed" catcher threw two out trying to steal second in
	Saturday's game and picked off two more on Sunday.  He also picked 
	a runner off at first who was a little slow getting back after a pitch.

	His problem going to first in a clutch situation in both games was 
	correctly diagnosed by Mr. Knorr...."chicken bone syndrome".


	billl

	This past weekend showed a resurgance in the Merrimack Legion team.
	We won both weekend games to better our District record to 5-6.

	Saturday we beat one of the teams that we are battling for fouth
	place with, Lebanon.  The bats still aren't smacking the ball like
	this team is capable of, but with 5 timely hits and some real heads-up
	base running we were able to out score the visitors 6-5.  

	The star of the game was our catcher, Jay Caine, from Hollis.  Jay hit 
	an "inside the park" home run with two men on in the second inning.
	The ball traveled about 425 feet, but since Merrimack High field has
	no fence in center and right it just kept on rolling.  Jay's next at 
	bat he laced another shot well over the right fielders head.  This 
	would easily have been his second round tripper had the ball not rolled 
	into the high grass about 380 feet out where it was ruled a double.

	Sunday's game we had Jay pitching against Walpole (NH) at home.  His 
	bat cooled off, but his off speed pitching held the visitors to 4 hits.
	Brian Walsh, our left fielder from Merrimack, had the hot bat with
	nearly hitting for the cycle (a single, a double and a triple).  Brian's
	last at bat in the eighth sent the Walpole left fielder back to the
	bleachers (326 ft) to haul in his attempt at a "complete cycle"  Final
	score on Sunday was 6-1.

	Next game is Tuesday at home vs Derry.

	Got a woopin' last night from the first place team, Derry.  Final
	score:

		Derry	   7
		Merrimack  2

	Our bats came alive, in spurts.  We got 9 hits, but we had three
	baserunners thrown out trying to steal (on their own with no sign
	from the coach) that took us out of the game.  Ain't kids fun?!

    What?  They named a team after Karen?  
    
    
    Congrats, Karen!!!111
    
    
    Lee

    
     Yup. And they named a town after TCM - Marblehead.

Hey, I've been in Marblehead and it's a fine town.  I wouldn't slur
it that way.....8^)

    Tommie, welcome back.  I really missed your shots while your were out.
    :*)
    
    Lee

    Tommy, GREAT line!!!!!
    
    REK

Tommy -

Now, that was a shot!

Brutal, Juice, Brutal

JD

    
    Lasted night at Lake Park in Woostah there was a tie-breaker game for
    firsted place between Grafton Hill and <mumble>.  Does anybody know who
    won?
    
    My reason for asking is a neighbor's kid was supposed to be the
    starting pitcher for Grafton Hill and I wondered how they did.
    
    Naturally, this AM's Woostah Telegram had nada about the game.
    
    snort me schlep!
    
    I remain,
    in the dark
    Kev
    

	I wuz talkin' with one of the other coaches Tuesday after the game
	and the topic came up about the proposed playoff changes in the majors.

	We were both against including more teams.  This may seem ironic since
	in New Hampshire Legion baseball there are two divisions of 9 teams each.
	At the end of the regular season the top four teams in each division
	make the state playoffs.  We were also in agreement that there is plenty
	of justification for having this many teams make it.

	This led to a quite lenghty discussion between us and a few others
	who were not directly involved in the Legion program.  No one else
	could make any sense of our argument. (I'm sure the brewskis had a 
	little to do with this!)

	A Reader's Digest version of our justification is that in the Legion 
	program you have an all volunteer group (coaches and players alike).
	These kids range in age from 16-18.  It is tough enough getting a 
	group of kids in that age group to give up work and girls long enough
	to make the games early in the season, but it would be impossible to 
	get these kids motivated if by this point in the season, which ends 
	the end of this month, they had no chance of the playoffs.

	Strange as it may seem we still have a shot with a 5-7 district record.
	This is mainly due to the fact that several teams have fewer games
	left.  We have six games to play these last two weeks.

	The reason I put this in here was to get feel as to see how the rest
	of the taveran viewed this NOT to stir up the MLB playoff issue.  That
	is better left in the MLB note.


	billl

    I am all in favor for including as many teams as possible in playoffs
    at this level, if you have playoffs at all.  In a town summer
    basketball league I run, we opted for no playoffs; instead just play as
    many games as we can during the summer nights.  More participation for
    as many kids as possible.
    
    And that is the key - participation, especially in the summer.  With
    vacations, and in some instances jobs, most coaches won't always have
    their best team show up to play all the time.  Including as many teams
    as you can in the playoffs will allow teams that suffered during the
    season because of this a chance for redemption, as well as giving those
    kids more chances to play.
    
    NAZZ

As you noted Bill, American Legion is a very different case than 
MLB. MLB players a well paid to play the game and the issue of not
playing in September when the team is out of it is not really an
issue. Also, MLB has so many more games in a season that the teams 
who gut it out and win the division should make the playoffs; letting
others in, IMNSHO, dilute it. 

For American Legion letting more teams into the playoffs makes sense;
for MLB which is very different it doesn't.

The Crazy Met

	Twas a great day for baseball yesterday.  The Red Sox pull out a
	late win late in the game, the Pirates and the Merrimack Legion
	win in the bottom of the 9th.

	After trailing 5-1 going into the bottom of the 8th we came up with 
	3 with some of our pattended aggressive baserunning.  In the ninth
	our #9 batter led of the inning with an oppisite field hit to right.
	A walk and a sacrifice bunt later we had runners on second and third
	with one out and down 5-4.  Our second baseman, Dave Naspo from
	Amherst, hits a 0-2 curveball into the gap to knock in the tieing
	and the winning run.  We also got some clutch releif work from
	Kyle Morrison, from Merrimack, who came on in the fourth when our
	ace was having problems keeping the ball down. 

	Lee would have enjoyed this one as it had almost all of the things
	occur that he mentioned in the National League note.

	Scrapping back to 6-7 and playing tonight at home vs Hudson.


	billl

    Merrimack Legion continued it's winning ways by upsetting last year's
    state champs, Hudson, for the second time this year.  This win may
    well have knocked Hudson out of the playoffs.  Merrimack now is in 
    forth place as we go up against Sweeney Post (Manchester, NH) Sunday.
    
    
    billl

	Merrimack lost a close one Sunday, 7-3.  I know that doesn't sound
	close, but we had 13 hits to Sweeney's 11.  The mental errors in the
	field, as well as on the bases, took their toll.

	We're still in the hunt for that elusive playoff spot, but it will
	require winning all of our last three games.

	Next game Tuesday, Nashua at Holman Stadium 7:30pm.

	
	billl

	Well, unfortunatly Merrimack Legion ended the season the same way 
	we started, with three straight losses.  Oh well, we did have a
	great time yesterday as we played our alumni in a baseball game
	followed by a softball game and picnic.  An enjoyable ending to
	a very mediocre season.

	State tournament starts this weekend at Gill Stadium in Manchester.


	billl

>	Well, unfortunatly Merrimack Legion ended the season the same way 
>	we started, with three straight losses.  Oh well, we did have a
>	great time yesterday as we played our alumni in a baseball game
>	followed by a softball game and picnic.  An enjoyable ending to
>	a very mediocre season.


As long as you had fun, and some smiles, and have some good memories
about the season, then it was a success....

'Saw

    
    	Spoken like a true RedSox fan...... :^)
    
    Claybone

>    	Spoken like a true RedSox fan...... :^)
    
Like a fan of a team who wears ORANGE uniforms can talk....8^)


Actually, if it's young people playing ball, I feel it's a perfectly
acceptable attitude to have, because sometimes you can learn more about
life by not winning a championship.....

If I were referring to the Red Sox, then touch�, Monsieur Claybone, you
have run me through......


8^)

'Saw

�Actually, if it's young people playing ball, I feel it's a perfectly
�acceptable attitude to have, because sometimes you can learn more about
�life by not winning a championship.....
    
    They were supposed to learn all that stuff in Little League (some would
    say T ball).  American Legion is serious stuff.

|�Actually, if it's young people playing ball, I feel it's a perfectly
|�acceptable attitude to have, because sometimes you can learn more about
|�life by not winning a championship.....
|    
|    They were supposed to learn all that stuff in Little League (some would
|    say T ball).  American Legion is serious stuff.


Yeah, but how many of them are ever gonna make The Show?  

How old are those kids?  16?  That's still kind of young to be thinking
about winning at all costs.   (I don't know the age range.....)


'Saw

	Their ages range from 16 to 18 with the majority being at the top end.


	Dealing with a group of 16 of these boys is not recommended for the
	meek!  Since we only have them for about a month there is little to
	no time to mold them into model baseball players.  It's kinda like
	jumping on a mechanical bull...you are just along for the ride for
	the most part.  You tend to get as good a grip on the reins as you
	can and hang on!

	

	billl

  Show me someone who doesn't mind losing and I'll show you a loser.

>  Show me someone who doesn't mind losing and I'll show you a loser.


Actually, I hate to lose.  But I've never lost in any athletic competition.
I've simply run out of time.....  (now there's a Lombardism for you).

But there are times when you do lose, and the mark of a winner is what
they do with that loss -- if they take it, analyze it, and learn from it,
and then, in a similar situation refrain from making the same mistakes,
then that loss can be a helpful thing...


8^)

To reiterate what Frank said, the REAL vince Lombardi quote (from his book "Run
to Daylight") was"

	"Winning isn't everything, it's how you react to losing."

=Bob=

    Well billl,
    
    Congrats on your season anyhoo and glad to see you didn't pick up
    the dreaded Legionnaires disease.
    
    MikeL
    

	Here's the results of this weekend's games in the New Hampshire
	State Legion Tournament at Gill Stadium in Manchester:

	Sat			Sun
	
	Laconia  12		Dover    	    8
	Keene     2	       *Manchester Post 79  2

	Concord   8		Keene  13
	Jutras    1	       *Jutras  6

	Hudson    5		Hudson  7
	Dover     0		Derry	2

	Derry              12	Concord   6
	Manchester Post 79  3	Laconia	  3

	*eliminated

	
	Monday

	Dover vs Laconia  (noon)
	Keene vs Derry  (5pm)
	Concord vs Hudson  (8pm)

	Monday's results:

	Laconia   8			Concord	  5
       *Dover	  7			Hudson    1

	Keene	  7
       *Derry	  4


	*eliminated

	Today's scheduled games:

	Laconia vs Hudson 5pm
	Keene vs Concord 8pm

	semifinal games from Tuesday:

	Keene	10		Laconia	   10
	Concord	 7	       *Hudson	    0

	*eliminated

	All three remaining teams are 3-1.  Laconia and Keene will play
	at 5pm today with the loser going home and the winner will play
	Concord for the state title.


	billl

	Here's the results from NH Legion Baseball Tournament yesterday:

       *Keene   2
	Laconia 5

	Concord 5
	Laconia 3

	*eliminated

	Corrected score from yesterday's final game...

	Concord 2
	Laconia 3

	So Laconia actually won the state title, not Concord as was previously
	reported.  

	(That's what I get for having my wife read me the sports page over
	the phone.  I'm gonna hafta teach her how to read a line score.)


	billl

>	(That's what I get for having my wife read me the sports page over
>	the phone.  I'm gonna hafta teach her how to read a line score.)



I'd leave well enough alone.  Your wife did a fine job reading for that
commercial.

I'm sure the woman makes up for not being able to read a line score in
inummerable other ways......(like tolerating your weird friends with
power tool nicknames at get-togethers....)


Chainsaw

	We're setting up our schedule for the Merrimack American Legion
	team and was wondering if there was anyone in here who might be
	involved with a team in southern Mass, Conn or Rhode Island that
	might be interested in playing a few games.

	If so please send me e-mail at MKFSA::LONG.


	billl

	Picked our team this past weekend.  Going into Sunday's tryouts
	we were one pitcher and one middle infielder short of having a 
	pretty awsome team.

	Kinda like a scene from "Field of Dreams", who comes walking onto
	the field, but the star (pitcher/middle infielder) of one of the
	other local teams.  He decided he didn't want to play for the other 
	team anymore.  Made some quick phone calls, got the necessary
	waivers, ba-da-boom, ba-da-bing, he's ours.

	First game is a double header tomorrow in Concord.  Since it's a
	scrimmage game, we'll get to take a look at everyone.

	Should be a real good year for the Merrimack Legion.


	billl

	Split the twin-bill yesterday.  Defensively this club is sound.  
	Batting and baserunning speed is the best I've seen here in four 
	years.  

	Our only question mark is pitching.  With this being the first 
	introduction of a full nine inning game for these kids, (high
	school in NH only plays seven) you can never have too many
	hurlers.


	billl

    Good look with those boys, billl.  Got any Hollis kids this year?  I
    heard an ugly but unconfirmed rumor that Hollis took the state baseball
    title this year?  Could that possibly be true?
    
    glenn
    

Bill,

I can hurl, and I can produce a birth certificate that says I'm 17 if
need be.

I'll be your closer.  Give me a case of beer and put me in the bullpen.
When you need me in the 9th I'll come in an hurl like you've never seen
before......


'Saw

	Got four Hollis kids this year.  Three played on the team which
	did in fact win the Class M(?) State championship.  Two just 
	happen to be our #1 and #2 pitchers. The other is a starting
	outfielder.  

	Must be something in the water over there.  We've had real good
	success with kids from Hollis.

	Name to watch...Brian Georges, big strong lefty who has quite a
	pitch selection and an overpowering fastball.  This is his third
	year playing for us and he's only a 17 year old Junior.


	billl
	

	'Saw, you would not believe the trail of paperwork we would need.
	The birth certificate if a piece of cake compared to the reams of
	waivers we would need to have 'kid' from CT on our team.  

	Not to mention the fact that we would have to pick up every high 
	school's enrollment between your house and Merrimack High.  Something
	tells me that would far exceed the maximum of 3600.

	Now if you can come up with 'proof' of residency in Merrimack
	we may have a deal here.  

	NO, I'm not taking in any 'foster' children!  At least none your
	size.


	billl

>	Now if you can come up with 'proof' of residency in Merrimack
>	we may have a deal here.  
>
>	NO, I'm not taking in any 'foster' children!  At least none your
>	size.

Is there a bridge nearby your house?  I'm good at living under bridges....


'Saw

> I'll be your closer.  Give me a case of beer and put me in the bullpen.
> When you need me in the 9th I'll come in an hurl like you've never seen
> before......
    
    A regular Grover Cleveland Alexander.  The drunker, the better the
    hurler... er, the better the hurl...
    
    Thanks for the info on Hollis, billl.  Way to go, Cavaliers (keep your
    knee still, Hal, this one it ain't yours...)
    
    glenn
    

>    A regular Grover Cleveland Alexander.  The drunker, the better the
>    hurler... er, the better the hurl...
    
Yeah, I'll smoke a few unfiltered Camels too!

>>  Yeah, I'll smoke a few unfiltered Camels too!

	That settles that!  No 'backy of any sort allowed in the dugout 
	or on the field,  National American Legion Baseball rule.


	billl

>     <<< Note 128.63 by MKFSA::LONG "and the thunder roooooooolllls...." >>>
>                           -< and a good rule IMHO >-
>
>>>  Yeah, I'll smoke a few unfiltered Camels too!
>
>	That settles that!  No 'backy of any sort allowed in the dugout 
>	or on the field,  National American Legion Baseball rule.
>

You mean I don't even have the option of paying a fine per butt?  8^)


Okay, I won't smoke, I'll just chew me some bubble gum -- a BIG HUGE WAD
of bubble gum.....

	Hope the 'hippy-dippy' weatherman cooperates this weekend.  Our
	home, as well as regular season, opener is Saturday at Merrimack
	High field at 1pm.


	billl

    I'm certainly with you, Bill.  I'm planning on having a cookout for my
    Little League team this Saturday.  Looks like it could be moved to
    Sunday, though.
    
    					Steve

>    I'm certainly with you, Bill.  I'm planning on having a cookout for my
>    Little League team this Saturday.  Looks like it could be moved to
>    Sunday, though.
>    
>    					Steve

What age group Steve?


'Saw

PS  Are you inviting Mike Greenwell?  [many 8^)]

    Saw,
    
    9-12 year olds, and it's the Minor League.  The nine year olds are too
    young for the Majors and the 10-12's are those that didn't get drafted 
    into the majors.  We ended up 12-2 and are in the playoff finals nexted
    week.  The name of the game at this level is pitching and fortunately, 
    I have the two best pitchers in the league (and they're both only 9 
    year olds).
    
    					Steve

	It's amazing to me how pitching in younger kids seems to be very
	cyclic.  The three aces on our Legion team are 18.  We have other
	guys who will be used in fill in roles, but they don't stand out.
	Two of the aces have been on our team since they were 15 and they 
	been two of our best ever since.

	We put two 15 year olds on our roster who are tearing up the local
	Babe Ruth league in pitching.  Unfortunatly we have an agreement 
	with the BR league that we won't let the kids play on the Legion team
	until BR is over.  Granted these two are only 15, but they appear
	to be head and shoulders above our 16 and 17 year olds.

	Now Steve takes it one step farther and shows that on his team of
	9-12 year olds, his two best pitchers are both 9.  Go figure.


	Good luck, yerself, Steve.


	billl

|                   -< Looking to take home the hardware... >-
|
|    Saw,
|    
|    9-12 year olds, and it's the Minor League.  The nine year olds are too
|    young for the Majors and the 10-12's are those that didn't get drafted 
|    into the majors.  We ended up 12-2 and are in the playoff finals nexted
|    week.  The name of the game at this level is pitching and fortunately, 
|    I have the two best pitchers in the league (and they're both only 9 
|    year olds).
    

Well, good luck with the playoffs.  Obviously, you're not a Butch 8^)....

Enjoy the cookout too...

>	We put two 15 year olds on our roster who are tearing up the local
>	Babe Ruth league in pitching.  Unfortunatly we have an agreement 
>	with the BR league that we won't let the kids play on the Legion team
>	until BR is over.  Granted these two are only 15, but they appear
>	to be head and shoulders above our 16 and 17 year olds.
>

Sure, and you turn down the best 35 year old hurler since Roy Hobbs made
it fashionable for us older guys to make a comeback.....8^)


'Saw

>>Sure, and you turn down the best 35 year old hurler since Roy Hobbs made
>>it fashionable for us older guys to make a comeback.....8^)

	Ok, I'll come clean with ya.  It's the earring.  And no I don't
	have a little dog named Shotsie.


	billl

    
    Billl, I don't know if things have changed much in 15 or so years, but to
    have *any* 15-year-olds playing American Legion ball, much less two in
    two different seasons, seems astonishing.  Or at least that's from
    what I remember about the Nashua teams, like Coffey Post (I didn't play
    Legion, I played what was at that time an overall inferior Senior Base
    Ruth...)
    
    glenn
    

    I don't know if I should be saying this, but there's a player from
    Maynard that is playing for a Legion team located in the MetroWest area, 
    who is only 14 years old.  This kid is also a stud in basketball and has 
    been playing for the high school varsity, in both sports, since 8th grade. 
    
    					Steve

>> 15-year-old in Legion?  That's a ballplayer...
          
	It really is kinda rare.  From my years involved with Little League,
	it's about as rare as seeing a nine year old on a LL major league
	team start.  Not unheard of, just rare.

	One of the things that make it less rare is the dilution of the 
	Legion program by adding more teams.  This has a result of 
	shrinking the existing teams' recruiting area.  You then tend to
	have less of a talent base to work with and these 'prodshay'(sp?)
	kids have a better chance of making the team.  Two years ago 
	Milford Legion started a team and took with them half of our
	recruiting area.

	My point was, though, that these groups of exceptional kids seem 
	to be about three years apart.  At least that's what I've noticed. 


	billl

re 14 year old:

	Steve, there's no problem with that, as far as the rules go.
	In Legion ball there is no low end age limit, only that they
	can't be 19 before August 1.  The only stipulation for kids
	who are not in high school yet, is that they must play for the 
	team whose base high school is closest to the player's parents'
	house.  No waivers are allowed.


	billl

If it's the earring, then I guess I won't tell you bout the new tattoo....

	As anticipated, the sky opened up Saturday morning, so Merrimack
	Legion was rained out.

	Sunday we played and beat Pelham 3-2.  Brian Georges pitched
	a 6 hitter, striking out 9 and walking 4.  

	We had two shots that would have been homers in any other park 
	we play in. Unfortunatly at Merrimack High the center field 
	abbuts a softball field so the ball just goes and you get as 
	much as you can.  Both shots were well over 400 ft.  As soon as 
	the ball was hit the center fielder for Pelham turned around
	and just started running.  A strong arm and a beautiful relay
	held both hits to triples.  One poke was by Brian Georges.
	The other was by Jay Caine.

	A nice way to start the season by winning your first district 
	game.


	billl

Did Georges pitch a complete game?  If not, how come you didn't call me.

I'm telling you, I'm a great closer.....

>> Did Georges pitch a complete game? 

	Yep.  He pitched all nine innings.  No need for the closer.


	billl

>	Yep.  He pitched all nine innings.  No need for the closer.

Okay BUTCH.


8^)

    
>  One poke was by Brian Georges.  The other was by Jay Caine.
                                   
    Hollis, Hollis, Hollis...  ;-)
    
    
    glenn
     

   <<< Note 128.82 by NAC::G_WAUGAMAN "Vamos Argentina Todavia San Justo" >>>
                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Thief.  You big thief!    

I know you beat up that poor Argentine kid in the wheel chair with the
catheter to get that sign.......


;^)

> I know you beat up that poor Argentine kid in the wheel chair with the
> catheter to get that sign.......
    
    He put up no resistance.  Plus, the kid was bigger than Maradona; he
    could have defended himself...
    
    MikeC, the literal translation from Spanish is "Clemens' stats = Huge
    Strikezone"...  ;-)
    
    glenn
    

>    He put up no resistance.  Plus, the kid was bigger than Maradona; he
>    could have defended himself...
    
He probably had a nose full of toot just like Diego and Claudio.....

T'weren't fair......

	The Hollis/Brookline connection came through again last night
	for the Merrimack Legion.  We beat Hudson (NH) 4-0.

	Brian Georges pitched a three hit shutout going the distance.
	Mike Kazanjian went 2 for 4 knocking in the winning run.
	
	This game was sweet revenge as Hudson squeeked out a 9-8
	victory over Merrimack last Thursday.



	billl

|	The Hollis/Brookline connection came through again last night
|	for the Merrimack Legion.  We beat Hudson (NH) 4-0.
|
|	Brian Georges pitched a three hit shutout going the distance.
|	Mike Kazanjian went 2 for 4 knocking in the winning run.
|	
|	This game was sweet revenge as Hudson squeeked out a 9-8
|	victory over Merrimack last Thursday.


Yeah, but I'll bet YOU were the star HURLER last night......

>>  Yeah, but I'll bet YOU were the star HURLER last night......

	Actually, by game time the medicine had started kicking in and 
	I was even able to get through the whole game without making any 
	sudden trips to the woods.


	By the way, don't ask how the team did in that tournament over the
	4th.  It seems they had their priorities jumbled, at least as far
	as the coaching staff was concerned, 1) party 2) baseball.

	The end result was two-and-a-barbeque.


	billl

    
    
    	Yabbut this is just another reason why billl's  an
    American Standard!!!!!
    
    
    ;^)
    
    

    Bill the boys are just getting ready for a long and illustrious
    softball tournament career!!!!!
    
    On our team there is no drinking during a tourney unless
    	1) The temp gets over 60
    	2) We lose
    	3) We win
    	4) someone drags the cooler over to your spot in the shade
    
    
    Jimbo
        

	Jimbo,

	Need a 1st baseman?


	billl

    5) Someone chokes down an uncooked hamburger and has to leave the game.
    6) I heard the 1st baseman they have is ok, but undependable on popups.
       Some rookie... mumbles things about Halle Berry under his breath and
       wanting to stay out of the OF...
    

    We're all set at First, slowly but surely we have at least 8 first
    baseman at last count.  Walt Ashe was our latest aquisition
    
    Jimbo

	Ah first base, where all washed up ball players end up.  If it ain't
	the knees creeking it's the throwing arm that only has 40% of its
	range left.

	Besides, it's usually closer to the cooler.


	billl

>	Ah first base, where all washed up ball players end up.  If it ain't
>	the knees creeking it's the throwing arm that only has 40% of its
>	range left.
>
>	Besides, it's usually closer to the cooler.


Hey, some of us were born there.   Being a lefty, and thus natuarally
being deprived of my very first love (catching) and the wonderful
contact that could ensue blocking home plate, I played first base.

Had a lot of range for a big man........


'Saw

	Speaking of collisions at home plate...'Saw, you'll be disappointed 
	to hear that although American Legion Baseball prides itself in 
	using "all" the same rules that the National League uses, they
	have made a decision to the contrary at the National level.

	Beginning with the Regional level playoffs this year, a runner
	will be called out at home if he purposfully tries to bowl over
	the catcher.  To make matters worse, if there are less than 
	two outs at the time of the collision, the next batter is out, too.

	New Hampshire has adopted this "no-collision" rule immediately.
	The idea is that the NH kids will be used to the rule come
	playoff time.

	I have mixed feelings about this.  While I don't want to see 
	any ball player get hurt, there's something about the "play-
	at-the-plate" that will loose all the drama if the catcher is
	still allowed to block the plate, but the runner is no longer
	allowed to try and jar the ball loose.


	billl

    
    
    	Yabbut who wants ta bet that the Chairman of da Rules Committee
    has a son who's a catcher?????  Sheesh!  Here ya gots a guy, with a
    iron face mask, a thickly padded chest protector, naturally a filbert
    protective device and shin guards to keep his body safe.  On the other
    hand, ya gots a guy with almost no way to prevent his body from damage
    and they institute (more) rules for the guy at home plate???????
    
    
    Maybe they should also start playin with a soft "T-ball" bazeball......
    
    
    I remain,
    havin a half-dozen or so I could contribute.....
    Kev
    

>>    Maybe they should also start playin with a soft "T-ball" bazeball......


	That seems to be the consensus of all the other coaches I've
	spoken to.


	billl

    This is a very poor decision.  Fielders are not allowed to block a base
    period.  That is explicitly stated in the rules.  A series of decisions
    in major league baseball led to an exception being made regarding plays
    at the plate eg Catcher can block the plate (if he is in possession of
    the ball) and the runner can do whatever he wants to him.  Today in the
    majors, catchers routinely block the plate not in possession and get
    routinely creamed; the strong survive.
    
    But if the plate is blocked then sliding is very dangerous for the
    runner unless the umpire calls interference if the cather hinders the
    attempt to slide.  As Kev says, they can't just make the rule on the
    side of the catcher, they have to protect the runner too.
    
    Any fielder standing between a runner and the ball who is not in
    possession of the ball is obstructing - this is stated explicitly. 
    (Similarly a fielder in possession of the ball PUTS a runner OUT at the
    instant of contact so the concept of a ball being knocked out of the
    glove by contact allowing a runner to be safe is nonsense (and this has
    been changed in all of amateur baseball/softball too))(another topic).
    
    So if the rule is in place then coaches should ensure that the ump is
    knowledgable about obstruction and should be able to explain how they
    plan to call it.  Previously, along with everything else that
    "evolved", obstruction could only be called upon contact.
    
    billthe

Any and every catcher I've ever known has welcomed and prided himself
on the ability to block the plate, absorb the punishment and to hang onto
the ball while doing it.

I think the new rule in Cow Hampshire sucks.  Must not be going them very
strong down on the farm any more.   Little Nancy Boys from Cow Hampshire...8^)


As to the protective equipment of the catcher, it doesn't really help
in a collision, excepting maybe the shin guards help with getting spiked.

Your mask and helmet are off and the chest protector will help a bit with
foul tips but won't distribute the force of a collision.  All you've got
is your muscle to help you.....



If it were me and I were running, and the catchers' got the ball and I'm
going to be out, what have I got to lose?  I'm going to hit that catcher
as hard as I can -- I'm out anyway, might as well make him pay a bit....
Might make him think twice the next time.....


'Saw

                                                                        
> I think the new rule in Cow Hampshire sucks.  Must not be going them very
> strong down on the farm any more.   Little Nancy Boys from Cow Hampshire...8^)
    
    Rest assured that Carlton Fisk had no part in this decision.  Ain't
    never been a Connecticut boy, at anything, as tough and ornery as ol'
    Pudge...
    
    I have to disagree slightly with billthe's interpretation of the rules
    in a couple cases (if I've understood what he's said).  The first is 
    that a fielder must hold the ball securely on a tag play, so it is the 
    case that a ball can be jarred loose by a slide or a collision (per the
    rules, not just in practice, as we know that's the way it's called).
    It's not instantaneous.  The second is that there is no rule that
    prevents a fielder from blocking *any* base, so long as he has the
    ball.  If a fielder wants to plant two feet in front of second and eat
    spikes, he's allowed to do that, and it's not obstruction.  So even
    more so, these "no collision" rules, while perhaps well-intentioned,
    are illogical when applied against the rest of the rulebook.  If a
    catcher fields a throw and comes out a few feet in front of home with
    the ball, basically the runner has to let himself be put out (he can't
    even slide at that point).  I like the rulebook fine the way it is, but
    properly enforced so that the runners who raise the arms at the
    catcher's head and neck get the thumb (they freely let them do this in
    the majors, as well as block the plate without the ball, even though
    it's against the rules).
    
    glenn
    

	Just as a point of clarification, Mr Sally, er I mean, 'Saw,
	it was a rule put in place by the NATIONAL Legion Baseball
	rules committee. (See 128.96 first paragraph)

	Is there no one out there in support of this rule?

	Tommy, what do you think?

	BTW, I happen to agree with Glenn's points on blocking the bases.


	billl

    
       What do I think? I don't even slide in softball. It ain't
      worth getting hurt over. If it's close, I'm out because I'm
      not sliding. I saw a kid on my team get his leg broken on a
      play at third. It sounded like someone breaking a large celery
      stalk (Mike Heiser, ask your dad about it). And wasn't it Ray 
      Fosse who pretty much had his career ended by Pete Rose in an 
      essentially meaningless all-star game? Legion ball is supposed
      to be fun. I like the rule.

    That's too bad.... nothing wrong with a good slide, head first or feet
    first as long as it's clean...  if the guy has the ball, he should
    be able to block it...
    
    Bill, like 'Saw, I'm a lefty, so they only let you pitch (no), play
    first or the OF.  I'm learning all over again what an adventure that
    can be.  Especially with glasses at night in the rain now...
    

Actually, Pudge used to come down to Connecticut to shoot advertisements
for All Nighter Stoves.

The folks that ran All Nighter lived up the street from me, in a log home
that resembled the Ponderosa.  Spent a long night on their spread one time
fighting a bunch of brush fires created when their "landscapers" left
piles of brush still smoldering.   The guy who owned the place was nice,
letting us come in and get drinks and stuff.  He had two VERY HOT daughters
too.

So, Pudge used to drive right up my street and he'd always wave back if
you saw him coming and waved.   He fit right into that section of Glastonbury,
with his flannel shirt and "outdoors" looks.  I grew up out in the sticks...



So, okay, the Legion has a Nancy rule.....8^)


'Saw

    I too agree with Glenn's interpretation of the rules, re: blocking the
    bases.  Definitely acceptable when in posession of the ball.
    
    Not Legion related but Little League related.  I just have to get this
    in!  My Little League team took home the hardware this year, going 12-2
    in the regular season, and winning two straight in the playoffs.  My
    two 9 year old pitchers pulled it out for us.  We won the first game
    16-2, with #1 nine year old giving up 3 hits while striking out 13 and
    walking 2 in six innings pitched (ya, he's my son and I'm proud, so shoot 
    me).  #2 nine year old pitched 5 innings in winning game 2, 14-10.  He
    only gave up 5 hits, but walked an even dozen kids.  The team did a
    fantastic job all season.
    
    Now it's time for the real season.  I'm coaching the 10 year old
    Assabet Valley all-stars and we'll be playing a 16 game schedule
    against the likes of Woburn, Stoneham, Reading and Wakefield.  Anyone 
    have a kid playing from one of those towns?  
    
    I selected 3 nine years olds for the team.  They also happen to be 3 of
    the top 6 kids on the team as well.
    
    					Steve

    we are all learning what an adventure Walt is in the outfield.  It's
    tough to throw strikes on the mound when all you can hear for chatter
    is this whiny voice in right field saying "please don't hit it to me" 
    over and over again.  8*)
    
    Jimbo 

	One of the fields we played our weekend tournament at was in Bellows
	Falls, Vermont.  The locals made a point of telling us all about the
	small white house in staight away center.  It seems that Fisk used
	to play ball at that field quite a bit and regularly bounced it
	off the house, a good 420' poke, in high school and Legion ball.

	I can't imagine why the people who lived there had not boarded up
	their windows on that side of the house.


	BTW, congrats Steve, and good luck in the REAL season.


	billl

    Congrats, Steve!  You hadn't mentioned that one of those 9-year-olds
    was your son, though from our conversations I had a suspicion... ;-)
    
>	One of the fields we played our weekend tournament at was in Bellows
>	Falls, Vermont.  The locals made a point of telling us all about the
>	small white house in staight away center.  It seems that Fisk used
>	to play ball at that field quite a bit and regularly bounced it
>	off the house, a good 420' poke, in high school and Legion ball.
    
    While he lived in New Hampshire, Fisk was actually born in Bellows
    Falls.  The reason for that is that in Fisk's boyhood hometown, across 
    the river in Charlestown NH, there was no running water, and no yuppie 
    All Nighter Stoves (just a hole in the floor to the basement for the 
    heat to come up through), much less a hospital or even a man of
    medicine...
    
    glenn
    
    

>    the river in Charlestown NH, there was no running water, and no yuppie 
>    All Nighter Stoves (just a hole in the floor to the basement for the 

Hey, just because the guy who owned All Nighter was a yuppie doesn't mean
their stoves were.  The Sawmill augmented its meager furnace with an
All Nighter for 7+ years.

Good thing for Pudge though he didn't get TOO close to the All Nighter folks.
They went down on a big coke bust a couple of years after he stopped doing
their ads.....


'Saw    
    

>    The guy who owned the place was nice, letting us come in and get drinks 
>    and stuff.
         ^^^^^
> Good thing for Pudge though he didn't get TOO close to the All Nighter folks.
> They went down on a big coke bust a couple of years after he stopped doing
> their ads.....
    
    Good thing for *Pudge*?
    
    
    glenn
    

|>    The guy who owned the place was nice, letting us come in and get drinks 
|>    and stuff.
|         ^^^^^
|> Good thing for Pudge though he didn't get TOO close to the All Nighter folks.
|> They went down on a big coke bust a couple of years after he stopped doing
|> their ads.....
|    
|    Good thing for *Pudge*?
    
    
The stuff we were doing was ogling his daughters.....8^)

    re the tag, ball kicks out.  Big league ball still interprets
    possession as being able to hold the ball on a tag; these baseball and
    softball congresses came up with the logic I referred to earlier.  I
    prefer the former.
    
    On the blocking.  My bibles growing up were by Connie Mack and George
    Sisler (greatest player ever? many from 20s say so and Connie wouldn't
    disagree but not currently mentioned at very top).  The unwritten rule
    as opposed to "interpretation" was "blocking" only at home and
    collisions likewise - sort of a sanity thing.
    
    Modern baseball with its disparaging of tradition (the duquette/gammons
    yuppy approaches) tends to freely re-interpret forgetting that the
    status quo (such as blocking plate) were compromises reached over
    decades going way back to 1870s.
    
    But my point had to do with the catcher standing on the basepath in
    front of the plate awaiting the throw.  He is guilty of obstruction at
    the point of contact with the runner if he is not in possession of the
    ball - is that going to be called now by legion umpires and Bill Long
    I'd suggest you ask those umpires that question.

>>    But my point had to do with the catcher standing on the basepath in
>>    front of the plate awaiting the throw.  He is guilty of obstruction at
>>    the point of contact with the runner if he is not in possession of the
>>    ball - is that going to be called now by legion umpires and Bill Long
>>    I'd suggest you ask those umpires that question.

	I believe that has always been the rule.  You are not allowed to 
	obstruct any player from advancing, or in this case scoring, without
	possesion of the ball.

	I will clarify it tonight with the home plate umpire.  (Derry
	@ Merrimack, 5:15pm)


	billl

    where does the legion play in merrimack?  Souhegan?

>	I believe that has always been the rule.  You are not allowed to 
>	obstruct any player from advancing, or in this case scoring, without
>	possesion of the ball.

The way we always played it was -- if he's blocking the basepath and doesn't
have the ball, he's fair game.

That would go for any infielder too.  If he was there, we'd run into him
unless he was clearly making a play.....


'Saw

>>    where does the legion play in merrimack?  Souhegan?

	Merrimack High School



	billl

|>>    where does the legion play in merrimack?  Souhegan?
|
|	Merrimack High School


Any bars nearby?

>>The way we always played it was -- if he's blocking the basepath and doesn't
>>have the ball, he's fair game.

	That may be the way you 'played' but that's clearly against the rules.
	Always has been, as far as I remember.


	billl

>> Any bars nearby?

	Merrimack Legion a short 1/2 mile drive.


	billl

    >we are all learning what an adventure Walt is in the outfield.  It's
    >tough to throw strikes on the mound when all you can hear for chatter
    >is this whiny voice in right field saying "please don't hit it to me" 
    >over and over again.  8*)
    
    >Jimbo 
    
    Yeah, yeah true... I do what I have to.  Sometimes you win, sometimes
    you lose. Sometimes... it rains... think about it... sometimes, you
    play when you haven't been in the OF for years because your HR ace
    turns green...
    

Well if an IF is in the basepath and waiting to catch a fly ball the runner 
may not knock the IF over; if the runner does that it is called interference.

The Crazy Met

>>Well if an IF is in the basepath and waiting to catch a fly ball the runner 
>>may not knock the IF over; if the runner does that it is called interference.

	Correct as always, King Friday.  I think 'Saw meant if he was just
	standing there, pickin' his butt, or if he was awaiting a throw, 
	not fielding a ball.


	billl

|>>The way we always played it was -- if he's blocking the basepath and doesn't
|>>have the ball, he's fair game.
|
|	That may be the way you 'played' but that's clearly against the rules.
|	Always has been, as far as I remember.


As long as he doesn't have the ball and is not making a play, he's 
obstructing the runner.  Best way to call an ump's attention to said
obstruction is to "inadvertantly" level the fielder.

Best way to inadvertantly level the fielder is to line him up in your
sight, and turn to look at the 3B coach just before contact....

Works almost every time.....

>    Yeah, yeah true... I do what I have to.  Sometimes you win, sometimes
>    you lose. Sometimes... it rains... think about it... sometimes, you
>    play when you haven't been in the OF for years because your HR ace
>    turns green...
>    


Walt, if you're playing the outfield, just kind of get yourself a 
gimmick.   

Like do your hair like Baggio, or wear a big peace symbol with your 
uniform.

That way, you'll stand out, but not because you might suck as an 
outfielder......

    Interference vs Obstruction is one of the hardest decisions for an
    umpire such as the famous Armbrister play in '75 which was technically
    correct from my view.
    
    I remember a play from 1955 in which Frank Sullivan and Sammy White had
    Yogi Berra in a rundown in what was the last crucial game the redsox
    played until 1967.  Sullivan forgot to get out of the way after tossing
    back to third (Grady Hatton?) and Berra turned quickly and made contact
    with Frank, on the 3rd base line and getting the obstruction call and
    scoring the run.
    
    10 years of misery followed.

    What with all the rain we've been getting in the area this past week
    the Legion season may not end until the middle of next week instead of
    this saturday.  Most, if not all, teams have at least one rained-out
    game to make up.
    
    Merrimack is in second place with a 10-4 record.  Only two games to go.
    Tonight's is against the team hot on our tail in third place.  Since
    only the top two teams in each division make the playoffs, which are
    scheduled to start Saturday, August 6, the games which will be made
    up next week are extremly critical to our playoff chances.
    
    Incidently, Merrimack Legion has never made it to the playoffs in our
    15 year history of playing Legion baseball.
    
    
    billl
    

    Good luck, Bill.  The 10 and under All-Star team I'm coaching is now
    2-2, with two rain-outs.  We play undefeated (5-0) Arlington tonight.
    With a 6 inning pitching limitation on pitchers, I was still able to
    line up my two best pitchers for tonight.
    
    It's tough playing the teams we're up against.  I was told No. Reading
    had 140 kids try out for two teams, while I had trouble lining up 13
    kids for our team, but so far we're doing pretty well.
    
    					Steve

	Merrimack Legion finished the regular season 11-5.  We're tied
	for second with Jutras Post (Manchester).  Even though we beat
	them both times we played during the season, we have a playoff
	game today at 5pm.

	Winner is in the state playoffs, looser is done.  (And you folks
	wonder why my hair is gray.)


	billl

>	(And you folks 	wonder why my hair is gray.)



Randy?

    
    >>  Randy?
    
    	Naw, dan'l and Jessica
    
    ;^)
    

	all of the above!

>    	Naw, dan'l and Jessica
    
I had her first....8^)    

	Believe it or not, Merrimack is finally in the State Legion
	playoffs.  We had to win a playoff game against a team we had
	narrowly beaten twice already this season.  

	The ninth inning was baseball at it's best.  We were the visiting
	team.  The game was tied at 4 going into the bottom of the ninth.
	The leadoff batter is walked.  Next batter drops a sacrifice bunt 
	advancing the runner.  As the next batter (their #3) steps to the 
	plate the Merrimack manager calls for an intentional walk.  Our
	pitcher, who was pitching from the stretch, tried to restart....
	BALK!
	
	We now have a runner at third with one out.  The #3 and #4 batters
	are both walked, loading the bases.  The outfield is drawn way in
	to try and turn any single into an out, knowing that a long fly 
	ball would score the runner and end the game.  The #5 batter
	takes the count to 3-2 before lifting a fly ball to center field.
	The center fielder runns back about five steps catches the ball,
	for the second out, and fires a perfect stike to home plate to
	put out the runner tagging up from third, for the third out.

	Merrimack scored two runs in the tenth.  The other team was shut
	down the home half of the tenth.  Final score Merriack 6, Jutras 4.

	After nearly giving the coaching staff near heart failure, we've
	apropriately dubbed this team, "The Cardiac Kids".


	billl

I'll have my brother send up a few shipments of nitro for the angina pains
you folks are gonna have.


Sounds exciting.  Damned exciting.....

	Anyone who thinks ALL baseball is boring shoulda been at that game.
	All the fans (around 150 of them), not to mention the players and
	caoches, were taken for a ride on one helluva emotional roller 
	coaster.


	billl

    Bill,
    	please post a playoff schedule with times and locales and buy that
    cf a pizza and a coke for me.

	All games are played at Concord Memorial Field in Concord, NH.
	Anyone wanting directions send me e-mail.

	date		game		participants		time

	Sat August 6	  1	Laconia vs Sweeney(Manchester)	  10am

			  2	Keene/Lebanon* vs Rochester	   1pm
				*not determined at press time	
			  3	Salem vs Derry			   5pm

			  4	Merrimack vs Concord		   8pm

	Sun August 7	  5	Loser game 1 vs Loser game 3	  10am

			  6	Loser game 2 vs Loser game 4	   1pm

			  7	Winner game 1 vs Winner game 3	   5pm

			  8	Winner game 2 vs Winner game 4	   8pm

	Mon August 8	  9	Winner game 6 vs Loser game 7	   noon

			 10	Winner game 5 vs Loser game 8	   5pm

			 11	Winner game 7 vs Winner game 8	   8pm

	Tue August 9	 12	Winner game 9 vs Loser game 11	   5pm

			 13	Winner game 10 vs Winner game 11   8pm

	Wed August 10	 14	Winner game 12 vs Winner game 13   5pm

			 15	     (if necessary)		   8pm

    Weel after the dust settled this weekend there are six team still in
    the hunt for the NH state legion title.  And yes, Merrimack is one of
    those teams.  
    
    We were completely humiliated by Concord Saturday night, but came back
    with a win against Rochester yesterday to end their season.
    
    Today we have a noon game against Laconia.  I guess I'll do anything
    for a day off.
    
    I'll post the results this evening since there will only be four teams
    left after todays games.
    
    Wish us luck
    
    
    billl

	Merrimack  7    Laconia  4   (knocked out last year's state champs)
	
	Salem   10	Keene   4    (Keene eliminated)

	Concord   4	Derry   2    (Derry's first loss of the tournament)


	It's now down to the final four!

	Merrimack plays Derry at 5pm today and Salem plays Concord at 8pm.


	The thick plottens.[sic]


	billl

	Twas not meant to be....

	Derry  6	Merrimack  5

	Concord  6	Salem  4

	Derry and Concord advance to the finals to be played at 5pm this
	evening.  Derry will need to beat Concord twice to win the state
	title.

	For a bunch of kids who weren't figured to even play .500 ball
	by many 'in the know' in NH Legion baseball, Merrimack made a
	spectacular showing of themselves by not only making it into 
	the playoffs, but by finishing in the top four in the state.



	billl

    Condolensces and Congrats, Bill!  Sounds like your kids did a great
    job.  You gotta lose to learn how to win!
    
    					Steve

	NH State American Legion finals:

	Derry beat Concord in the first game forcing the 'if necessary'
	game immediatly afterwards.  Derry handily (12-4) beat Concord 
	for the second time in the nightcap.

	Derry will go on to the Regional playoffs in Warwick, RI to play
	the Maine champion in the first round.

	Congrats and good luck to Derry.


	billl

    Way to go Karen!!!
    

Congrats Bill....

Just remember this:


		Nor victory, nor yet defeat
		is chalked against the player's name,
		But down the roll, the final scroll
		Shows only how he played the game.

    Glenn, our ace lefty from the last two years (who is from Hollis) is
    an 18 year old.  He's played on the team since he was a 15 year old.
    His name is Brian Georges.  He is a freshman at UNH this year and
    will be returning to play Legion ball for us.
    
    After that we are deep into rebuilding.
    
    BTW, I've moved into the front office and off the bench.  I assume
    your comment about graying temples (sheesh it's been many moons
    since just the temples were graying!) was meant for me.
    
    
    billl

	Date	Time	Opponent	Location
	----	----	--------	--------
	6/13	5:00	Concord(dblhdr) @Concord
	6/15	5:30	Suncook		@Suncook
	6/17	2:00	Lebanon		@Lebanon
	6/20	5:15	Derry		@Pinkerton
	6/21	5:15	Sweeney		Merrimack High
	6/24	12:00	Walpole		Merrimack High
	6/27	5:30	Milford		@Keyes Field(Milford)
	7/3	7:30	Jutras		@Gill Stadium
	7/6	7:30	Nashua		@Holman Stadium  **
	7/8	2:00	Walpole		@Walpole
	7/9	12:00	Salem		Merrimack High
	7/11	5:15	Milford		Merrimack High
	7/13	5:15	Hudson		Merrimack High
	7/16	1:00	Sweeney		@Gill Stadium
	7/18	2:30	Keene		@Keene
	7/22	1:00	Lebanon		Merrimack High
	7/24	5:15	Keene		Merrimack High
	7/27	5:15	Pelham		Merrimack High

    Glenn,
    
    A very young Post 98 team got trounced by a much older and more
    experienced Concord team.  To use a very over-used phrase...
    we're in a rebuilding year.
    
    
    billl

    You going to post the schedule again this year.  This time I promise to
    get to a game, maybe Glenn'll get a kp to go over wid me.
    
    

    see .147 for the 1995 schedule. 
    
    If you make it to a home game, I'll buy the obligatory beer after
    the game at the Legion.
    
    
    billl

So let me get this straight.

You guys lost.  You should have come to the get together if you were gonna
lose.

At least you didn't use the "it was a_excellent loss" excuse.....


'Saw

    Merrimack Legion opened up the 1995 regular season at Lebanon, NH
    on June 17 with a 10-4 win.  They followed that with a 10-1 thumping
    of last year's State Champs, Derry, last night.
    
    Tonight is the home opener against Sweeney Post of Manchester.
    
    For all of our fans who are planning to attend this Saturdays home
    game, the time has been changed to 2pm.
    
    
    billl

    So where's Merricmack High, again?  Daniel Webster, past Spags?  - a
    left (going north) somewhere - at the church?

    directions to MHS:
    
    north on Daniel Webster Hwy
    
    turn left at the third traffic light past Shaws (Mobil on the left)
    on Baboosic Lake Rd
    
    go past church (Our Lady of Mercy) and school (middle school)
    
    turn left on O'Gara Dr (if you get to the bridge over the turnpike
    you've gone too far)
    
    take O'Gara Dr all the way to the end (1/2 mile)...that's MHS.
    
    the field is behind the school

	Got a little reality check last night...

	Sweeney Post (Manchester) 11
	Merrimack Post	7

	The youngins mounted a comeback in the eighth, after getting behind 
	7-1.  Too little too late.

	Thanks for the fan support from Billte!  Too bad he left before I 
	was able to get him that brewski I promised him.


	billl

    What happend to that lefthander?  Did they hit him or did he leave
    after a couple and they shelled the next guy.
    
    Both teams had a little problem in the field and could have used some
    help from Greenwell.  Throws to first were an adventure, pop flies the
    same.  Every hitter had about 5 pitches before contact was made.
    
    But the kids were very much into it, there was a steal of home. 
    Perhaps the metal bats put a premium on hitting.

>    Both teams had a little problem in the field and could have used some
>    help from Greenwell.  


Funny you should mention that, as that's about the level that Greenwell is
constantly playing at....8^)

	We actually were only able to play eight due to darkness.
	The lefty, Brian Georges, cruised until the individual 
	filling his spot in left field made an error.  The wheels
	fell off, again, allowing the visitors to score a couple
	more 'unearned' runs.

	I'll get the official stats at Saturday's game, but I think
	only 6 of the visitor's 11 runs were earned.  


	billl

    We played hundreds of innings per week as kids on the sandlots, no
    adults, without fastpitch, umpire,catcher etc so prospective
    outfielders got all the work they could handle.
    
    Perhaps putting your outfielders in place during batting practice and
    actually making plays could give them the practice they need.  I notice
    in batting practice it's so crowded in the outfield that two steps
    right or left is all anyone needs to cover - don't know about yours,
    got there to late.

regular season opener:

	Merrimack Legion 9
	Lebanon (NH)     4

Home opener is scheduled for tonight vs Hudson (NH) at 5:15.


billl

It's tough to recover from an eight run inning...
                                 r  h e
	Hudson (NH) Legion	12 14 3
	Merrimack Legion	 6  5 3


billl

    Post a schedule billl?
    
    
    glenn
    

1996 Merrimack Post 98 American Legion

6/16, 1pm	Lebanon			@Lebanon
6/18, 5:15pm	Hudson			Merrimack High
6/21, 7:30pm	Jutras(Manchester)	@Gill Stadium
6/23, 1pm	Pelham			@Pelham
6/28, 7:30pm	Sweeney(Manchester)	@Gill Stadium
6/29, 2pm	Walpole			@Walpole
7/1,  5:15pm	Derry			Merrimack High
7/3,  5:15pm	Londonderry		@Londonderry
7/6,  noon	Walpole (dblhdr)	Merrimack High
7/8,  5:15pm	Lebanon			Merrimack High
7/9,  5:15pm	Milford			@Milford
7/12, 7:30pm	Keene			@Keene
7/14, 1pm	Keene			Merrimack High
7/17, 5:15pm	Nashua			Merrimack High
7/20, 11am	Sweeney			Merrimack High
7/23, 5:15pm	Milford			Merrimack High
7/25, 5:30pm	Salem			@Salem

    Here's an update...after loosing the last four, Post 98 swept
    a double header yesterday.  Our District record has improved
    to 4-5.  At the half way point of the season we are only three
    games behind the leader.  With the players' vacations pretty
    much over we definitly still have a shot at the 'offs.
    
    If'n anyone is up this way Monday night you should stop by 
    Merrimack High School around 5:15.  Our latest phenom, a 17
    year old named Billy Williams will be taking the mound.  I'm
    probably giving him a major KOD, but I have scouts from all
    over calling me on a regular basis about this kid.
    
    
    billl

    Billl,
    	Is this the same lefty I watched with you last year?  I'll try to
    make it tonight;  last year I recall his arm wasn't 100% but he was
    close to overpowering.  He must be something throwing full throttle.
    
    	He was top pitcher in NH this year for state champs.

	Nope differnt bird.  That was Brian Georges who is 
	currently, or did play, for UNH this year.  I hadn't
	heard whether his arm ever got back to 100%

	This is a 17 year old rightie.  He was picked as the
	State Baseball Player of the Year this year.  He pitched
	in the Class L finale against Keene this year where he
	lost a one hitter in extra innings.  It was one of those
	"It's too bad someone has to loose" games. (Harvey 
	Haddix syndrome)


	billl

    
    Saw an article about Billy Williams in one of the local papers 
    recently.  I guess he's already signed on to go to a JC in Florida.
    He wasn't drafted?  Or maybe just low enough where it makes sense
    to go to school...
    
    glenn
    

	He's signed to go to Lake Forest Junior College in FLA.
	They are apparently a breeding ground for pitchers for 
	the Bigs.  Billy's dad tells me the scholarship package
	is the "real deal".


	billl

    Well the season came to crashing halt two weeks ago for 
    the Merrimack Legion team, but eight other teams competed
    in the NH Tourney which ended last night.
    
    Without a team who was clearly a level above the rest the
    5 day tourney was very interesting.  Jutras Post 43 of
    Manchester will be representing NH in the regionals at 
    Muzzy Field in Bristol CT.
    
    The NH Legion Baseball committee will be putting on an
    All Star Classic Saturday, August 17.  The District A
    16/17 year old all stars will be playing the District B
    16/17 year olds at 10am at Gill Stadium in Manchester.
    That game will be followed by a game between Jutras
    (State Champs) and the 18 year old all stars scheduled
    for 2pm.
    
    Hope to see some of you there,
    
    billl