PARKERSBURG - Two Legion baseball teams that have produced impressive results will go head to head today as Parkersburg Post 15 will play host to Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 at Hank Greenburg Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Parkersburg, led by head coach Jim Goodwin, heads into the game with a 25-3 record, while Todd Engle's Beverly/Lowell squad is 29-4 on the year.
Although a non-league game, the matchup figures to be very competitive, as both clubs look to gear up for postseason play.
Article Photos
Parkersburg American Legion Post 15's Jacob Wilcox slides into home against St. Marys American Legion Post 79's Josh DeBolt. Post 15 plays host to Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 at Hank Greenburg Field in a single game at 1 p.m. today. (Photo by Jeff Baughan)
Beverly/Lowell has been led by powerful offense and dominant pitching. At the plate, Warren graduate Tyler Proctor has been the team's leader, with help from fellow Warrior Landon Kern and Belpre grads Clay and Jake Ullman. Marietta grad Eli Lenington has done well leading off.
Overall, Engle's ball club is hitting .362 and getting on base at a .465 clip.
On the mound, Beverly/Lowell has received quality innings from Fort Frye's Zach Eddy, Monroe Central's Kordell Antill, and Tiger teammates Evan Sawyer and Ben Barnas. The pitching staff has an earned run average of 3.69 while striking out 126 batters in 183 innings.
Post 389/750 is coming off a 6-0 weekend in a tournament at Athens, defeating Athens Post 21, 7-6, in the championship game.
"We've got a lot of kids gaining confidence right now," Engle said. "We're really starting to swing the bats."
"We've sort of built our program around pitching and defense," Engle said. "We've been extremely blessed with the kids that have thrown the bulk of the innings."
Probable starters for Beverly/Lowell will be Kern behind the plate, Lenington at first, Jordan Satterfield at second, Jake Ullman at short, Proctor at third, Ethan Estes in left, Tim Grosel in center, and Clay Ullman in right. Nick Spurr or Wes Hatfield will likely be the designated hitter.
On the Parkersburg side, Adam McCray of Parkersburg South, Kyle Haverty of Parkersburg, and Eli Gray of Williamstown have thrown the bulk of the innings.
Probable starters are South's Jordan Braniff at catcher, Parkersburg's Brett Burns at first, South's Dustin Helmic at second, South's Clay Walters at short, Gray at third, with Roane County's Josh Wine and Patriot teammates Braxton Johnson and Jacob Wilcox in the outfield. Case Edgar of Williamstown is the likely designated hitter, but Goodwin said the lineup will likely change throughout the game.
"We're going to play everybody," Goodwin said. "Because it's a non-league game, we will to get everybody in there."
Goodwin, whose team recently won a tournament in Cambridge, said speed and hitting have been the keys to their season.
"They probably have better pitching than we do," Goodwin said. "Our hitting has been good. We usually score about 10 to 12 runs a game. But they say good pitching beats good hitting."
