American Legion Post 51
By Nathan McShinsky

The South Royalton area’s legion team’s season is now under way. They have played six games over the last two weeks. Post 51 combines the towns of Bethel, South Royalton, and Sharon.

Playing on the team are John Moore, Trevor Webster, Dale Manning, Sean Davis, Devin Cilley, Nevin Fulcher, Tyrell Manning, Jordan White, Ted Mills, Jeff Washburn, Nick Swim, Asa Manning, Miles Ellis, Nate McShinsky, Dustin Parker, Tarkin Clark, Cody Welch, and Casey Levin. Coaching are Jim Ballou and Marty Adams.

First Game

The season started off with Post 51 going up to Centennial Field to take on the Cannons under the lights on June 17. This was a first for many of the players and maybe a little overwhelming as the game ended with the 10 run rule after seven innings with Post 51 down 11-1. Miles Ellis had a double, Tyrell Manning hit a single and Tarkin Clark got a hit with a shot up the middle.

Dustin Parker started for 51 on the mound and pitched four innings and Nate McShinsky pitched two and two-thirds before giving up the run that put the Cannons up by 10 to end the game.

Loss at CVU

Post 51 took on SAL (Son’s of American Legion) at Champlain Valley Union High School and took another tough loss, 14-5.

Miles Ellis and Asa Manning were both two-for-four with two singles.

Post 51 started Johnny Moore who threw four innings before Asa Manning came in to throw two and a third innings. McShinsky gave up two runs on two hits in two-thirds while Tyrell Manning pitched the last inning.

Loss vs. SAL

Two days after losing at SAL’s home field, Post 51 hosted them, but took another loss. This game was much closer due to a great pitching performance by Ted Mills.

Post 51 couldn’t get any offense going as they struck out nine times and only reached base four times. Mills pitched a complete game, fanning four, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk.

Loss at Waterbury

Post 51 traveled to the Waterbury Rec. Fields to take on Post 59 on June 22 and they ended up losing 8-3 for their fourth straight loss.

Post 51 used a variety of pitchers as McShinsky threw the first inning, Asa Manning threw the next two, Jordan White came in but only saw three batters, and Johnny Moore came in and threw the last three innings.

Post 51 was able to get on base by way of patience as they walked eight times and were hit twice. Post 51 also rounded up four hits, Mills led, going 2-3.

Post 59 was led by Phil Surgeon who was four-for-four with a home run over the left field fence and three singles, scoring all four times.

Loss vs. Hartford

Post 51 hosted their second game of the season on June 23. Post 51 couldn’t get any offense going for the first six innings, but both teams exploded in the seventh. Hartford’s Post 26 won a tight one, 3-2. McShinsky started on the mound and threw four shutout innings, allowing just a hit and two walks. Nevin Fulcher came in and threw the final three innings, allowing the three runs in the seventh inning on five hits and three walks.

Post 51’s offense was led by Ellis, who had two doubles. Moore and Mills each added a hit and they were the two to score in the seventh as 51 tried to mount a comeback that fell a run short.

Loss vs. Hartford

Post 51 hosted Post 26 again on June 27. Post 51 had a five-run lead going into the seventh inning with a score of 8-3, but they surrendered the lead and ended up losing 9-8 to start their season 0-6.

Asa Manning started for 51 and threw four shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while he fanned two. Moore threw the next two innings and Fulcher came in to close out the seventh inning. A few bad hops and hits in the holes gave Hartford the momentum it needed to score six runs and make the comeback.

Mills was three-for-four with three singles and an RBI. White was two-for-three, with a double, a single, and a hit-by-pitch, Casey Levin was two-for-three, with a triple and a single, adding three RBI’s.

Post 51 (0-6) looked to get its first win against Bellows Falls on Wednesday. They play at Montpelier on Thursday, Saturday at Hartford, and Colchester on Monday.