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Post 31 headed to first Class B state tourney
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FarkLEAD — On July 19, the Lead-Deadwood Post 31 Legion baseball team qualified for the 2008 Class B Legion Tournament by capturing the 7B Regional championship in Hot Springs.
That his team won the regional championship and qualified for state did not surprise head coach Jim Startz, despite the fact that no Lead-Deadwood team had ever accomplished those two feats.
“We knew coming into the season that we had the potential to be a good team. Our high school team did not do well record-wise, but we were only a few players short,” Startz said. “With five kids returning, my expectations were high. We were definitely looking to win the regional. That had been our goal since the end of last year.”
Lead-Deadwood (26-17 overall) attained its goal of winning the regional crown by dispatching perennial state tournament contender and past champion Winner/Colome, 18-7, in the championship game. Post 31 built the win around a complete game, 11 strikeout pitching performance by Jordan Leveque, and a balanced offensive attack led by Jake Startz, who had three hits and drove in three runs.
Centerfielder Ben Bartling, who will be playing college ball at Miles City Community College this fall, was voted the tournament’s MVP, while Russell Hadden (Northern State) was voted to the all-tournament team. “
“Ben is an awesome kid who really knows the game, so much so that I rely on him at times to assist on my decisions,” coach Startz said in describing the two leaders of the team. “Russell plays third base and is an excellent pitcher who is just a solid, solid player. He lives and breathes baseball and is always thinking out there.”
Post 31 has relied primarily on nine players throughout the season, and they will carry the team’s hopes.
The everyday lineup consists of Ben Morris (.398) leading off, followed by Hadden (.384), Jake Startz, Bartling (.467), Zach Startz (.347), Danny Johnson, Jake Zoodsma, Derek Fossen and Leveque.
“We’ve hit the ball well this year,” coach Startz said. “We are not a power hitting team by any means. We believe in small ball, making contact, and moving runners around by doing the little things.”
Bartling, Hadden and Leveque have logged most of the innings on the mound this year, though Jake Startz and Danny Johnson have thrown well when called upon. Coach Startz indicates that he is comfortable handing the ball to any of them regardless of the situation.
Lead-Deadwood opens Class B Legion Tournament play against tournament host Milbank in the final game of the first day at approximately 6:30 p.m. MDT.
Coach Startz does not see the first regional championship as the end of his team’s run.
“We have played many of the teams in the state tournament and it is our feeling that we can play with anybody,” he said. “We also know that to do so we have to play well, pitch the best we can pitch and keep believing in ourselves.”
Coach Startz, whose sons, Zach and Jake are on the team, credits assistant coach Bob Hadden with helping the team to develop a winning attitude.
“Bob is not one to accept mediocrity and the kids know that. We’ve been working with the guys to make them believe that we could win at regional, and now we’ve got them convinced that we can do some damage at the state tournament as well,” Hadden said. “Bob and I believe that, and we’ve got the kids believing it too. It is a great feeling as a coach to see the kid’s eyes light up when they realize how good they can be.”
Many of the teams that Lead-Deadwood will face in Milbank are experienced state tournament teams with defending champion Parkston, winner of two of last three state Class B titles, the probable favorite. Elk Point-Jefferson returns off a runner-up finish in 2007, and Big Stone City also returns for another run at the championship.
Groton and Platte/Geddes are familiar names to Legion baseball fans having made frequent tournament appearances over the years while Garretson comes out of typically tough Region 2B.
The X-factor in this year’s tournament is perhaps Milbank. As the host team, Milbank earned an automatic bye into the tournament. For that reason the Milbank team may be entertaining some doubts as to their legitimacy among the Elite 8. Post 31 hopes to validate those doubts on Wednesday evening.
“I think we are going to make some noise at the state tournament,” Bartling said. “I’m really looking forward to representing Lead-Deadwood in its first state tournament appearance. It gives me goosebumps every time I think about it.”
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