Post 11 takes hot bats to state tournament

Originally published July 17, 2009By Greg Swatek News-Post Staff

Francis Scott Key Post 11 will roll into next week's State American Legion tournament in College Park with some red-hot bats.

Post 11 wrapped up another Western Maryland District championship Thursday evening with a 5-4 victory over Gold Star Post 191 in the first game of a doubleheader at McCurdy Field.
But, hardly content with the championship in hand, Post 11 then proceeded to put on one of its most proficient hitting displays of the season in the nightcap, a 15-3 victory that was stopped in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.

"Coach (Tommy) Long doesn't let us relax too much," said the team's No. 9 hitter, shortstop Brent DeHaven, who hit home runs in back-to-back innings in the second game.
"As soon as he sees us getting too relaxed, that's usually when he gets on us the most."
In fact, in between games, Long discussed with his players the importance of playing well in the second game, even though there was nothing at stake, and heading into the state tournament on a good note.

Post 11 has been the state runner-up for the past three seasons.

"One of our goals this season was to go undefeated in district play," said first baseman Ian Hahn, who drove in four runs with a pair of doubles in the second game.
Post 11 accomplished that, posting a 22-0 record in district games this season.
"Now we want to take it a step further in the state tournament," Hahn said. "We are tired of losing in the finals."

After failing to generate a hit in the first two innings of the second game, Post 11 started hammering the ball all over the field.

The team scored seven runs in the third inning, five of those coming with two outs, and then added eight more in the fourth without an out being recorded.

In addition to the work being done by DeHaven and Hahn, John DeSando tripled and singled in runs in the third, Matt Lawrence added a pair of RBI singles over the third and fourth innings and Brady Wilson tripled in the fourth.

"It's been a fun season because when we start hitting like that, it usually becomes contagious," Hahn said.

Post 11 opened the first game with a three-run first inning before relying on the arm of Frank Zier, who is headed to Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. Zier allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. He also had six strikeouts.

Post 191 made it interesting in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs with two outs and putting the potential tying run on third base before Post 11 recorded the final out to wrap up the district title.