American Legion Great Bridge Post 280, Inc.American Legion World Series: Midland, Michigan, Post 165 claims championship
Steven Cronkright couldn’t have scripted a better end to his final season as head coach for Midland, Mich., Post 165. .
His nephew, Lars Cronkright, caught the final out in Midland’s 11-4 victory against Medford, Ore.
“I can’t even put that into words. This is just unbelievable. You don’t even think about winning the whole thing,” said Steven Cronkright, whose brother, Dan Cronkright, is also on the coaching staff. “It will take awhile to sink in. … The only way you can win your last game in American Legion baseball is to win this one right here. It’s pretty rewarding.”
Midland became the first team from Michigan to win a World Series title since 1959 when Detroit won the championship.
“We all just started jumping up and down like crazy people,” said Midland shortstop Jordan Dean, who was named the tournament MVP. “It’s ridiculous to think my last year on here we win the last game of the year. World Series champs.”
Midland (54-7) won all five games it played in the tournament, also beating Medford 4-2 in Friday’s opening round.
“That just shows that we’re a team. There is no one person out here that did something spectacular,” said Dean, who said he will play his college baseball at Central Michigan. “We all worked together and our pitching was fabulous.”
Midland solved a Medford pitching staff that had handcuffed opponents in the postseason.
The Mustangs (48-12) had allowed just eight earned runs in their previous nine postseason games, including the regional tournament.
That was good for a 0.96 entering Tuesday’s championship.
Medford would have had to beat Midland twice to win the title.
“My hats off to Michigan. They came out and swung the bats,” Medford coach Sandee Kensinger said. “They are a good hitting ballclub. They are very disciplined and well-coached.”
Midland scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back. Kyle O’Boyle, Cole Martin and Eric Peterson each had RBI singles to fuel that rally. All three of those RBI hits came with two outs.
O’Boyle held Medford scoreless through five innings and pitched 6Xc solid innings to earn the victory.
The Mustangs scored three runs in the sixth inning to break the shutout. Medford third baseman Griffin Boyd capped that rally with a two-run home run to right field.
“You got to give them credit,” Boyd said. “They’re a great team. They swing it well, they play great defense and they have a lot of good fan support.”
Awards
- All-tournament team: Bradey Shipley, Medford, Ore.; Chad Mayle, Midland, Mich.; Michael Wacha, Texarkana, Texas; Trey Holmes, Rowan County, N.C.; Johnny Field, Southern Nevada; Eric Dawson, Midland; Jordan Dean, Midland, Mich. (MVP); Lewis Sebrell, Medford, Ore.; Kendrick Henderson, Texarkana, Texas; Jake Matuszak, Berlin, Conn.; Jake Ringold, Mount Airy, Md.; T.J. White, Southern Nevada; Matt Maurer, Medford, Ore.
- George W. Rulon American Legion Player of the Year: Tyler Jacobson, Wisconsin.
- James F. Daniel Jr. Sportsmanship Award: Garrett Yatch, Midland, Mich.
- Jack Williams Memorial Leadership Award: Steve Cronkright, Patrick Dawson, Daniel Cronkright, Midland, Mich.
- Louisville Slugger Award: T.J. White, Southern Nevada (19-for-34) .559 average
- Bob Feller Pitching Award: Matt Stites, Festus, Mo., 30 strikeouts
- Dr. Irvin L. “Click” Cowger RBI Award: Kyle O’Boyle, Midland, Mich., 18 RBIs
- Rawlings Big Stick Award: Kyle O’Boyle, Midland, Mich., 37 total bases
Link to --- 2nd District American Legion Youth Baseball Schedule
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