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St. Paul hot entering state tournament
LEGION BASEBALL
By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com
ST. PAUL — Qualifying for the state tournament is a goal that the St. Paul seniors have become accustomed to accomplishing under coach Steve Schenck.
When St. Paul begins play in the Class C American Legion state tournament Friday at West Point, it’ll mark the team’s fourth appearance in Schenck’s six seasons.
But qualifying this year might have been a bit unexpected, at least after the team’s 5-6 start.
“We talk about (qualifying for state) as a goal every year,” Schenck said. “We lost 10 guys from last year, so it was a rebuilding year. We still had a few key pieces and good juniors players coming up. I think we surprised some people and got it done.”
Since the rough start, St. Paul has reeled off 15 straight wins.
“The difference was team unity,” Schenck said. “A lot of these guys had not played together before. We had a mix with guys playing new positions. It took a while before we figured everything out.”
Pitcher Jordan Heusinkvelt said an attitude change helped the team.
“After our last loss coach ripped us and we were all fighting,” he said. “After that we have been all getting along. We had better team chemistry.”
Catcher Ben Lewandowski said the team’s gloves also played a big part in the turnaround.
“Our defense has improved big time,” he said. “Everybody stepped up and we haven’t been making many errors. Defense and pitching have been big.”
Last year St. Paul finished in the top four in Class B when it hosted the state tournament.
This year it moves down a class, but it’ll face a traditional Class C state tournament participant in Crofton in a noon contest to start off the double-elimination tournament.
Schenck said he doesn’t expect Class C to be any easier, but he thinks it’ll be a fairer fight for a team from a town the size of St. Paul.
“When you get to state, it doesn’t matter what class you’re in,” he said. “You’re going to see good teams. I’m glad we’ll see times of our size instead of teams of Omaha’s stature where they have more kids to chose from. I’m looking foward to it.”
And St. Paul’s players aren’t ready to just settle for qualifying for state.
“Myself I want to win state,” Heusinkvelt said. “I think we’re a state (champion) caliber team.”
Legion State Tournaments
SENIORS
Class B
At Wayne
Friday, July 31
Game 1—Nebraska City vs. Lexington, 11 a.m.
Game 2—Valparaiso vs. Sidney, 2 p.m.
Game 3—Omaha Roncalli vs. O’Neill, 5 p.m.
Game 4—Wayne vs. Gretna, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Game 5—Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 11 a.m.
Game 6—Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 2 p.m.
Game 7—Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 5 p.m.
Game 8—Winner G ame 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Game 9—Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 1 p.m.
Game 10—Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 4 p.m.
Game 11—Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3
Game 12—Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 4 p.m.
Game 13—Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Game 14—Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 5 p.m.
Game 15—If necessary, 8 p.m.
Class C
At West Point
Friday, July 31
Game 1—Crofton vs. St. Paul, noon
Game 2—Adams vs. Elwood/Eustis, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3—Yutan vs. Daykin 5 p.m.
Game 4—West Point vs. Wakefield , 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Game 5—Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, noon
Game 6—Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7—Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 5 p.m.
Game 8—Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Game 9—Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10—Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 5 p.m.
Game 11—Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3
Game 12—Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 5 p.m.
Game 13—Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Game 14—Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 5 p.m.
Game 15—If necessary, 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Pairings for Games 12 and 13 won’t match previous opponents unless absolutely necessary. If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye for Game 15.
When St. Paul begins play in the Class C American Legion state tournament Friday at West Point, it’ll mark the team’s fourth appearance in Schenck’s six seasons.
But qualifying this year might have been a bit unexpected, at least after the team’s 5-6 start.
“We talk about (qualifying for state) as a goal every year,” Schenck said. “We lost 10 guys from last year, so it was a rebuilding year. We still had a few key pieces and good juniors players coming up. I think we surprised some people and got it done.”
“The difference was team unity,” Schenck said. “A lot of these guys had not played together before. We had a mix with guys playing new positions. It took a while before we figured everything out.”
Pitcher Jordan Heusinkvelt said an attitude change helped the team.
“After our last loss coach ripped us and we were all fighting,” he said. “After that we have been all getting along. We had better team chemistry.”
Catcher Ben Lewandowski said the team’s gloves also played a big part in the turnaround.
“Our defense has improved big time,” he said. “Everybody stepped up and we haven’t been making many errors. Defense and pitching have been big.”
Last year St. Paul finished in the top four in Class B when it hosted the state tournament.
This year it moves down a class, but it’ll face a traditional Class C state tournament participant in Crofton in a noon contest to start off the double-elimination tournament.
Schenck said he doesn’t expect Class C to be any easier, but he thinks it’ll be a fairer fight for a team from a town the size of St. Paul.
“When you get to state, it doesn’t matter what class you’re in,” he said. “You’re going to see good teams. I’m glad we’ll see times of our size instead of teams of Omaha’s stature where they have more kids to chose from. I’m looking foward to it.”
And St. Paul’s players aren’t ready to just settle for qualifying for state.
“Myself I want to win state,” Heusinkvelt said. “I think we’re a state (champion) caliber team.”
Legion State Tournaments
SENIORS
Class B
At Wayne
Friday, July 31
Game 1—Nebraska City vs. Lexington, 11 a.m.
Game 2—Valparaiso vs. Sidney, 2 p.m.
Game 3—Omaha Roncalli vs. O’Neill, 5 p.m.
Game 4—Wayne vs. Gretna, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Game 5—Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 11 a.m.
Game 6—Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 2 p.m.
Game 7—Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 5 p.m.
Game 8—Winner G ame 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Game 9—Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 1 p.m.
Game 10—Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 4 p.m.
Game 11—Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3
Game 12—Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 4 p.m.
Game 13—Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Game 14—Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 5 p.m.
Game 15—If necessary, 8 p.m.
Class C
At West Point
Friday, July 31
Game 1—Crofton vs. St. Paul, noon
Game 2—Adams vs. Elwood/Eustis, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3—Yutan vs. Daykin 5 p.m.
Game 4—West Point vs. Wakefield , 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Game 5—Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, noon
Game 6—Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7—Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 5 p.m.
Game 8—Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Game 9—Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10—Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 5 p.m.
Game 11—Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3
Game 12—Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 5 p.m.
Game 13—Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Game 14—Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 5 p.m.
Game 15—If necessary, 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Pairings for Games 12 and 13 won’t match previous opponents unless absolutely necessary. If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye for Game 15.
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| Home Federal faces loaded tourney field at state | Crofton edges St. Paul, 2-1 |
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