Statement time for Williamsburg Post 39

Tyler Klinedinst leads Williamsburg Post 39 with 20 runs scored this season.

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                           

PURCEVILLE – Two years ago, Williamsburg Post 39 played in the opening game of the American Legion Virginia State tournament. The Wildflowers lost to Winchester Post 21.

Matt Smith (right) is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA for Post 39.

Coach Tom Richardson’s team is hoping for a better start Tuesday, as Post 39 plays upstart Stafford Nationals 290 at Fireman’s Field in Purceville in the opening game of this year’s state tournament.

“I’m excited about representing District 3, but I’m not excited about playing at 9 a.m.,” Richardson said. “Who knows how that will go over? Hopefully the bats are awake and ready.”

Offense hasn’t been a problem for Williamsburg (19-0) this summer. Post 39 batted .367 and averaged more than 10 runs a game en route to the district regular season and tournament title.

Shortstop Mikey Anerton leads the team with a .482 average and 23 RBI. Centerfielder Solomon McCray scored 19 runs and drove in 11 more to give the Wildflowers a productive middle of the order.

“We need to convert the small thing, like bunting, getting the right signs and executing when runners are on,” Anerton said. “We just need to play our game don't overthink the moment.”

Post 39 enters the tournament with a 19-0 record.

Tyler Klinedinst has been a real table-setter for the offense, batting .370 with a team-high 20 runs scored. The Peace College standout said the team’s biggest challenge is still to come.“We need to stay focused on what's most important to us and that reaching a state championship,” he said. “We’re a family and we’re ready to see how far we can go.”

Williamsburg has been just as dominant on the hill, posting a 1.40 earned-run average with 157 strikeouts in 109 innings.

Matt Smith, the staff ace, has been dominant. The William and Mary product is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA. He has scattered just three runs on 21 hits and struck out 52 in 32 innings.

Smith started the district tournament opener for Williamsburg last year and hopes to redeem himself on Tuesday. “I'm excited to get another shot,” he said. “It's going to be the last chance for a lot of us to play together and we know that. It adds a little motivation that we didn't win a single game last year. We want to prove we can compete.”

Williamsburg has plenty of quality arms to choose from. Michael Brumfield is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 22 innings. Kent Klyman has been a pleasant surprise, posting a 3-0 mark with a 0.94 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 19 innings. Blake Otey, Sean Hughes and Blake Wills have pitched in big games in their careers.

“Last year taught us all to play every inning every out like it's our last,” Brumfield said. “We’re all excited about another shot at a title.”

The journey won’t be an easy one as Williamsburg faces arguably the hottest team in the tournament. Stafford Post 290 (13-7-1) won seven of their last seven games of the regular season to earn the No.6 seed in the District 16 tournament. The momentum carried over into the tournament as Post 290 knocked off the Top 4 seeds to earn their first state berth since 2010.

Cole Migliorini was the catalyst for the late-season surge for Stafford. The Randolph-Macon College product was named the tournament Most Valuable Player for his work as a pitcher and in the infield.

Justin Thomas is the team’s ace and has been a workhorse. Ryan Jones has been effective as a closer. Catcher Drew Mikula belted a couple of home runs during the tournament and third baseman David Edwards has been a force with the bat and in the field. Michael Mares and Josh Beacorn can also control a game from the hill.

Richardson said the task at hand is simple. “The key to a long (playoff) run is winning Game 1,” he said. “We need to score some runs and gain some confidence. Stafford is a hot team right now. They won their tournament at the sixth seed, and as we know, records don’t matter at this point. I think we are experienced enough to make a run.”

Contact me at HarveySports757@yahoo.com or via Twitter @HarveySports757.