West Hartford Post 96 Legion Baseball completes a successful summer season - We -Ha

Highlights from the West Hartford Summer 2021 American Legion Baseball Season.

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After a brief hiatus from baseball in 2020 due to COVID-19, American Legion Baseball and West Hartford Post 96 were back and stronger than ever this year. The Post 96 program grew to four teams in 2021, with players representing West Hartford and competing in the highly competitive Connecticut American Legion Baseball League.

Some highlights from each team’s very successful seasons include:

• Tea 19U Senior Legion the team played 30 games and ended with a total record of 19-11. Their 12-7 zone record was second in the division and top 10 in the state, so they could qualify for the Legion state regional championships held in July. The young team was eliminated early after a tough match against Greenwich.
• Tea Post 96 17UJunior Legion the team played 33 games this summer and finished 23-10 in total, had Zone 1’s top record of 16-4 and entered the state tournament as a number 1 seed. The team advanced all the way to the final of the state tournament where they lost 7-6 to zone 2 champion Wallingford in a back and forth affair.
• 15U Prep Legion played 29 games this summer and finished with a total record of 19-10. Their 14-7 league record gave them a top seed in the state tournament where their great race ended with a loss in a championship match against South Windsor.
• In the first summer season, 13U transition legion the team played 22 games, went 17-5 overall and qualified for the state tournament as the No. 2 seed. The team came up a couple of short runs in the state semifinals, facing a tough South Windsor team.
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Outside of zone and state championships, teams also played in several non-legion tournaments around New England, including Rhode Island’s Firecracker Tournament, Cape Cod’s “Dugout Dawgs Classic”, “Home Run Classic” and “Independence Day Classic”. All teams also participated in Post 96’s “Day at Dunkin!” play games at the beautiful home of Hartford Yard Goats. Also for the older Post 96 teams, the CT Legion Rawlings College Showcase resumed this summer where the Connecticut American Legions’ highest potential players demonstrated their skills in front of over 30 college scouts. The pro-style training and game was held at New Britain Bees Stadium. West Hartford Post 96 was well represented with several players participating.

“What an action-packed and successful year for our program, coaches and players,” said John Cotter, general manager of Post 96. “With our 15U and 17U teams reaching the state finals, our youngest team reaching the semis and our successful non-Legion tournament results in all divisions, the future is very bright and exciting for Post 96. “

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Sean McCann, Post 96 19U Senior Legion Commander, also spoke about the program. “Over the years, we realize that baseball players have a choice about where they play each summer. Post 96 has raised the program to be the first choice in West Hartford, and the last season shows that. Our goal is to give the city’s best baseball players and their families a thorough and We do it by promoting player development and a team-first culture, promoted by a very strong set of coaches … many who played Legion baseball themselves as children and continued to play and / or train at high levels.

Planning for the 2022 season is already underway. The regular season for American Legion Baseball begins in early June and runs into early August. Fall and offseason winter training is also conducted throughout the year, using Hall and Conard High School baseball facilities as well as WHABA and West Hartford Youth Baseball indoor centers. For more information on Post 96 Baseball, please contact GM, John Cotter, [email protected], 860-978-2869.

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2021 West Hartford Post 96