News Summary
The Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball team is gearing up for its season opener against Greenwood. The 18-game schedule includes home games at Newberry College’s Smith Road Complex, led by head coach Ryan Stoudemire. Fans can enjoy significant events, such as matchups against the Joanna Hornets and a 10th anniversary celebration. With affordable admission and strong community support, this season looks promising for local baseball enthusiasts.
Chapin, South Carolina – The Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball team is set to kick off its much-anticipated season on June 4, with their first game against Greenwood. This season features an 18-game schedule that includes nine home games at the Newberry College Smith Road Complex, providing ample opportunity for local fans to support their team.
Ryan Stoudemire, a notable former player, will lead the team as head coach, along with assistants Joey Smith, Marion Baker, Jordan O’Cain, and Brandon White. With a strong coaching staff behind them, the Chapin-Newberry players are excited to take the field and demonstrate their skills.
This season promises to be particularly engaging with key events lined up, including two matchups against the new Joanna Hornets, a collegiate wood bat team, and a special 10th anniversary celebration of the 2015 American Legion World Series championship team on June 27. Home games are scheduled to start at 7 PM, with additional dates for home games on June 9, 12, 18, 24, 26, 27, 30, as well as in July on the 2nd and 9th. Admission for home games is set at $8, making it an accessible outing for families and baseball enthusiasts alike.
The Chapin-Newberry team is proudly co-sponsored by Post 193 of Chapin and Post 24 of Newberry. Post 24, under the leadership of athletic director Robert Livingston, also sponsors nine junior teams, which is the most in South Carolina. These junior teams include the Newberry 15 Under, Mid-Carolina 17U, several 15U squads, and girls’ softball teams, further showcasing the organization’s commitment to fostering youth sports within the community.
American Legion baseball serves as the highest level of amateur baseball that is community-based and largely free to players, which eliminates the extensive travel costs often associated with other leagues. This year, the league has expanded to 81 teams across South Carolina, marking the highest number of participating teams since a downturn in 2010 when fewer than 50 teams were active. The growth reflects a renewed interest and investment in community baseball.
The state tournament, a highlight of the season, will be held at Spirit Communications Park, the home of the Columbia Fireflies, providing a professional venue for young athletes. This year, the tournament format has shifted to require teams to qualify, minimizing automatic host guarantees. This adjustment adds a competitive edge to the tournament, which will showcase baseball talent from across South Carolina.
In recent tournament histories, Camden Post 17 made headlines by securing its first championship title, defeating Florence Post 1 with a score of 9-2. Preceding the finals, Florence executed an impressive comeback victory over Lexington Post 7 before ultimately accessing the elimination round after overcoming Gaffney Post 109. In a previous round, Chapin-Newberry was eliminated from the tournament by Fort Mill with a score of 6-2.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will see two of its teams advance to the Southeastern Regionals in Asheboro, North Carolina, with the competition scheduled for August 8-11. The state championship game is poised to be a memorable event, featuring former major league players who will throw out the ceremonial first pitches, adding a touch of grandeur to the proceedings.
As the Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball team prepares for its season, both players and fans look forward to the excitement and spirit that community baseball brings to the local area, along with the opportunity to witness talented athletes in action.
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Additional Resources
- Newberry Observer: American Legion Summer Baseball Gears Up for Season Opener
- Wikipedia: American Legion Baseball
- The State: High School Sports Coverage
- Google Search: American Legion Baseball
- Newberry Observer: Satterwhite Commits to Spartanburg Methodist College
- Google Scholar: American Legion Baseball
- Cola Daily: Camden Wins S.C. American Legion Baseball Title
- Encyclopedia Britannica: American Legion
- Lexington Chronicle: Airport Graduates Redeem Opportunity
- Google News: American Legion Baseball Season
