Mount Airy reaches Legion World Series

Originally published August 11, 2009 By Staff Reports News-Post Staff

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Mount Airy 's Gold Star Post 191 American Legion Baseball team wasn't thinking about the postseason a few weeks ago, much less winning a regional championship and going to the American Legion World Series. The team figured it would end its season in second place in the Western Maryland District behindFrederick 's Francis Scott Key Post 11. But a decision to send the district's second-place team to the state tournament gave Mount Airy a postseason life. On Monday, two weeks after winning the state crown, Mount Airy completed an improbable run through the Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament with a 9-1 win over Mount Laurel in the championship game at West Virginia University's Hawley Field. "I had no idea this would happen," Mount Airymanager George Richardson said. "I knew we had a decent team in the beginning, but you just never know what's going to happen." There's little time to rest. The American Legion World Series begins Friday at Fargo, N.D., facing Festus, Mo. in an opening-round game. "We get on a plane in Pittsburgh and fly out Wednesday," Richardson said. The national American Legion Baseball committee takes charge of the transportation and housing of the players for the World Series, Richardson said. No county legion team had won a regional championship until Monday. FSK Post 11 was runner-up in the 1965 regionals. "One thing's for sure, this is a great experience for the players," Richardson said. Mount Airy (38-15) pounded out 15 hits against Mount Laurel on its way to avenging an 11-9 loss in Saturday's winner's bracket championship. Larson Kimble was named most valuable player of the tournament, going 12-for-25 through six games. He had three hits with three RBIs against Mount Laurel. "I just can't describe (the feeling) right now," Kimble said. "It hasn't sunk in just yet." Kimble made a key defensive play, snagging an over-the-shoulder deep drive to center field in the fifth inning, taking away a potential game-breaking extra-base hit. Kimble said his teammates directed him as he chased down the deep drive. "I knew where I was in relation to the center-field wall," he said. "I knew I had room to make the catch." Brian Paulhus and Alex Anwar had three hits. Jason Driver had two hits with three RBIs and Taylor Henry had two hits. Jason Naugler was the winning pitcher. The Gold Star post rebounded with an 18-2 rout of South Richmond, N.J. Sunday to reach Monday's championship games. Mount Airy ousted perennial legion regional power Boyertown, Pa., 13-9, in a final elimination-round game Monday. Doug Anuszewski and Brian Paulhus were the power hitters in the win over Boyertown. Both had three hits with a home run and three RBIs. Anuszewski's homer was in the fifth. He also had a double. Paulhus homered in the first. Driver had three hits with a double. Jon Mahaffey had three hits. Mike Virbickis had three hits with a double.