By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
WASHINGTON, Mo. – The Bossier Phillies are talented. They have a veteran-laden lineup. They won here last year.
But can they shake off the rust of a 27-day gap between games as they open defense of the American Legion Baseball Mid-South Regional today, hoping to earn their second straight trip to the Legion World Series?
“My only concern and worry is coming off a four-week layoff,” said Phillies’ coach Dane Peavy. “Overall, I think we’re in good shape.”
After sweeping through the state tournament in New Orleans July 5-9, outscoring opponents 49-7 and finishing with two shutouts, the Phillies looked primed and ready. But all they’ve done since is stage about a half-dozen workouts in the past week, after being unable to find opponents over a three-week span.
They take the field in the second game of the opening day, slated for a noon start after a 9:30 a.m. first pitch for Game 1 between Mountain Home (Ark.) Post 52E and Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19.
Bossier (Post 202) meets the surprise Mississippi state champion, Pontotoc Post 16. The ensuing Day 1 schedule has the Ada (Okla) Braves against Moberly (Mo.) Post 6 at 3 and Pittsburg (Kan.) Post 64 meeting the host team, Washington Post 218, at 7 at Runsick Field in the Rotary Sports Complex in Washington, about 50 miles west of St. Louis.
“(Pontotoc) is not the team we expected to see, but the team we’re playing is good enough to beat you by any means,” said Bossier coach Dane Peavy. “Pontotoc scored six in the sixth inning of the championship game and beat Tupelo, who looked like the best team in Mississippi.
“I can’t speak to how great they are. They’re 13-6. But they won the state tournament and they’ll be in the other dugout. It’ll be a good game, and hopefully we’ll come out firing on all cylinders,” he said.
Peavy said the teams from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Arkansas appear to be the stronger entries.
“We feel confident our guys are going to compete,” he said.
The double-elimination tournament wraps up with championship play on Sunday. Regional contests can be tracked at the https://americanlegion.sportngin.com/page/show/8866298-region-4-mid-south link.
The Phillies are 19-2 including a June 29 win (7-1) over defending World Series champion Troy (Ala.), which won its ninth straight Alabama state tournament recently.
Bossier and Troy are among four 2024 entries bidding for a return to Shelby, N.C., for the 98th Series Aug. 14-19 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, the permanent home of the ALWS.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com