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Quote of the Day"Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs." — Joe Biden, Athens, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2008
Welcome to the home page of the Kenosha Legion Post 21 baseball team. The team is sponsored by The American Legion, Paul Herrick Post 21 of Kenosha and affiliated with the Kenosha Merchants Baseball Club. The Merchants compete in the Lakes Area Legion League and the Wisconsin American Legion Baseball Class AAA tournament.
Andy Smith Memorial Field, Pairings Set
The field and pairings for the annual Andy Smith Memorial Classic hosting by American Legion Post 21 and the Kenosha Merchants Baseball Club have been set.
The field consists of 12 teams separated into two six-team pools, with the pool winners playing for the overall championship and the pool runners-up playing for third place. The American Division pool consists of Janesville; Wausau; Mundelein, Ill.; Grayslake, Ill.; the Illinois Bobcats; and Lafayette, Ind. The National Division pool consists of Sun Prairie; Lake Forest, Ill.; Waukegan, Ill.; Chicago Portage Park; defending tournament champion Highland, Ind.; and the host Kenosha Merchants.
All games will be played at Nash Park:
Friday, June 22
Diamond 1
11:30 | Kenosha vs. Sun Prairie |
2:00 | Janesville vs. Grayslake |
4:30 | Kenosha vs. Waukegan |
7:00 | Highland vs. Portage Park |
Diamond 2
11:30 | Lake Forest vs. Waukegan | | 2:00 | Lake Forest vs. Highland | | 4:30 | Wausau vs. Lafayette | | 7:00 | Wausau vs. Janesville |
Diamond 3
| 11:30 | Mundelein vs. Grayslake | | 2:00 | Mundelein vs. Illinois Bobcats | | 4:30 | Sun Prairie vs. Portage Park | | 7:00 | Illinois Bobcats vs. Lafayette | |
Saturday, June 23
Diamond 1
| 11:30 | Mundelein vs. Lafayette |
2:00 | Kenosha vs. Highland |
4:30 | Janesville vs. Lafayette |
7:00 | Kenosha vs. Lake Forest | |
Diamond 2
| 11:30 | Janesville vs. Illinois Bobcats | | 2:00 | Sun Prairie vs. Waukegan | | 4:30 | Grayslake vs. Illinois Bobcats | | 7:00 | Sun Prairie vs. Highland |
Diamond 3
| 11:30 | Wausau vs. Grayslake | | 2:00 | Wausau vs. Mundelein | | 4:30 | Lake Forest vs. Portage Park | | 7:00 | Waukegan vs. Portage Park |
Sunday, June 24
Diamond 1
| 9:00 | Highland vs. Waukegan |
11:30 | Kenosha vs. Portage Park |
2:00 | CHAMPIONSHIP |
Diamond 2
| 9:00 | Grayslake vs. Lafayette | | 11:30 | Janesville vs. Mundelein | | 2:00 | CONSOLATION |
Diamond 3
| 9:00 | Wausau vs. Illinois Bobcats | | 11:30 | Sun Prairie vs. Lake Forest |
The highlight of the pool play is a rematch of last year’s championship game between Highland and Kenosha, won by Highland 9-7 in dramatic fashion with a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
The tournament will return to its wood bat roots this year, as Hoosier Bat Co. returns as the official bat sponsor of the tournament. Hoosier Bat will supply each team with two used bats and will have bats on sale at Nash Park throughout the tournament.
Admission at Nash Park is as follows.:
- Adults $5 per day
- Students $3 per day
- Weekend Pass Adult Friday $12.00
- Weekend Pass Adult Saturday $8.00
- Weekend Pass Student $7.00
- Weekend Pass Student Saturday $5.00
- 5 & Under Free
Merchants' Wheaton Pairings Announced
The pairings for the Kenosha Legion Post 21 baseball team's first showcase tournament of the summer, the Post 76 Summer Classic in Wheaton, Ill., have been released.
The Merchants' pool consists of Elgin, Ill.; Aviston, Ill.; Chicago Portage Park and Elk Grove, Ill. The games against Elgin and Aviston will be played at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, while the Portage Park games will be played at Wheaton North High School and the Elk Grove game will be played under the lights at Lee Phund Stadium at Legion Park.
The Merchants will play an opponent to be determine after completion of pool play on Sunday at a field and time also to be determined.
| Friday June 15 | Location | | Kenosha vs. Elgin | 11:30 a.m. | Glenbard North High School | | Kenosha vs. Aviston | 12 p.m. | Glenbard North High School | | Saturday June 16 | | Kenosha vs. Portage Park | 9:30 a.m. | Wheaton North High School | | Kenosha vs. Elk Grove | 2:30 p.m. | Lee Phund Stadium at Legion Park | | Sunday June 17 | | TBA | TBA | TBA |
A first place finish in pool play and a win in an 8:30 a.m. semifinal on Sunday would put the Merchants in the championship game at 11 a.m. at Lee Phund Stadium.
Merchants' Moline Pairings Revealed
The Kenosha Legion Post 21 baseball team learned its opponents for the pool play portion of the annual Leo Brunner Invitational in the Quad Cities.
The Merchants' pool consists of Northbrook, Ill.,; Elgin, Ill.; East Moline, Ill.; and the Western Illinois Hawks. The games against Elgin and East Moline will be played at East Moline High School, while the Northbrook and Western Illinois games will be played at Holmgren Field and the sophomore field at the Moline High School complex.
The Merchants will play an opponent to be determine after completion of pool play on Sunday at a field and time also to be determined.
| Friday July 6 | Location | | Kenosha vs. Elgin | 12 p.m. | EMHS | | Kenosha vs. Northbrook | 2:30 p.m. | Holmgren Field | | Saturday July 7 | | Kenosha vs. East Moline | 9:30 a.m. | EMHS | | Kenosha vs. Western Illinois | 2:30 p.m. | MHS Sophomore Field | | Sunday July 8 | | TBA | TBA | TBA |
A first place finish in pool play and a Sunday morning win would put the Merchants in the championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday at Holmgren Field.
Merchants' Waukegan Pairings Announced
The schedule for the 2012 Fred Gordon Memorial 4th of July Invitational has been released, and the Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants drew some familiar opponents.
Kenosha will play each of the other four teams in the pool once over a two-day period. The other teams are: Grayslake, Ill.; Morton Grove, Ill.; and tournament host Waukegan, Ill.
Games are as scheduled. All games will be at Al Grosche Field at Bowen Park:
| Friday June 29 | | Kenosha vs. Grayslake | 8:45 a.m. | | Kenosha vs. Morton Grove | 1:15 p.m. | | Saturday June 30 | | Kenosha vs. Waukegan | 8 p.m. | |
Should the Merchants win or finish second in their pool, their next game would be on Sunday, July 1 at either 9 or 11:30 a.m. A victory would put Kenosha in the championship game at 2 p.m.
The other pool consists of Wheaton, Ill.; Northbrook, Ill.; Barrington, Ill.; and Zion, Ill.
Merchants' Minnesota Pairings Announced
Pool assignment for the 2012 Jim Hanus Gopher Classic has been released, and the Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants will be in the New Brighton pool.
Kenosha will play each of the other five teams in the pool once over a three-day period. The other teams are: Albert Lea, Minn.; Bloomington, Minn., Blue; Fridley, Minn.; Omaha, Nebr.; and pool host Tri-City Maroon.
Games are as scheduled. All games will be at Irondale Field:
| Friday July 13 | | Kenosha vs. Fridley | 8 a.m. | | Saturday July 14 | | Kenosha vs. Tri-City Maroon | 10:30 a.m. | | Kenosha vs. Albert Lea | 1 p.m. | | Sunday July 15 | | Kenosha vs. Bloomington Blue | 8 a.m. | | Kenosha vs. Omaha | 10:30 a.m. |
Should the Merchants win their pool, their next game would be on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Eden Prairie against the winner of the Bethel College. Kenosha could still qualify as a runner-up.
Reebok Vector Bat Ruled Illegal
The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently announced the decertification of another popular baseball bat — the 33-inch Reebok Vector-TLS. As a result, the 33-inch Reebok Vector-TLS is a non-compliant bat and must be eliminated, until further notice, from all American Legion Baseball practices and competitions.
This is the second bat the NCAA has banned from competition since the start of the year. In late February, the 33-inch Marucci 2011 Cat 5 Squared was decertified by both the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Marucci Cat 5 Bat Declared Illegal
Until further notice, the 33-inch Marucci 2011 Cat 5 Squared adult baseball bat has been decertified by both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSH). As a result, the 33-inch Marucci Cat 5 Squared is a non-compliant bat with leagues that adhere to NCAA or NFSH rules, which includes American Legion Baseball.
The elimination of this bat during competition is effective immediately as the NCAA has found, during testing, that it does not meet the BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) Bat Standard.
Because the decertification only affects the 33-inch model of the Marucci Cat 5 Squared, customers can contact Marucci to return their decertified bat. For information on how to return the bat, visit http://maruccisports.com/returns/.
High School Baseball Scores
May 21
Kenosha St. Joseph 2, Lake Forest, Ill., 1
Kenosha Bradford JV 11, Kenosha Indian Trail 1
May 22
Kenosha Bradford 6, Kenosha Tremper 5
May 23
Kenosha Indian Trail 3, Milw. Marquette JV 1
May 24
Kenosha Bradford 12, Lake Geneva 2
Kenosha Tremper 5, Oconomowoc 2
Kenosha Indian Trail 9, Racine Park JV 0
May 25
Hartford 5, Kenosha Tremper 1
Merchants Prep SportsWear
Buy your Kenosha Merchants SportsWear! Just click on the graphic. For every item you purchase, the Merchants receive up to 17% back.
Simmons Field/KSBO
The Official Simmons Field website as well as that of the Kenosha Simmons Baseball Organization.
GKYBSA Web Site
The website for the Greater Kenosha Youth Baseball-Softball Association is up and running. The GKYBSA is a group of civic-minded people supporting baseball and fastpitch in Kenosha.
You can check it out here: Greater Kenosha Youth Baseball Softball Association
Today In Baseball History
On May 28 in Baseball History...
1941 - The New York Yankees defeat the Washington Senators 6-5 in the first night game at Griffith Stadium.
1946 - The Washington Senators edge the New York Yankees 2-1 before 49,917 fans in the first night game at Yankee Stadium.
1951 - After going 0-for-12, Willie Mays connects for his first major-league hit, a home run off Warren Spahn. The Giants lose to the Braves 4-1.
1952 - Willie Mays enters the Army. Although Mays is hitting just .236, the Giants are two and a half games up, in first place. They will lose eight of their next 10 games.
1957 - The National League approves the proposed moves of the Dodgers and the Giants to the West Coast, provided both clubs make their request before October 1 and move at the same time.
1961 - After losing the first game 14-9 at home to Chicago, the Yankees take the nightcap 5-3 with the help of a Roger Maris home run. Maris's ninth home run of the season is one of 27 hit in today's seven AL games — a record. Twelve more homers in four NL games make a total of 39, a one-day major-league record for 11 games in both leagues.
1968 - American League owners agree to the following divisional alignment for 1969: Eastern: Boston, New York, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, Detroit. Western: Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, Seattle, Oakland, California.
1971 - Clete Boyer, involved in a dispute with Braves owner Paul Richards and manager Lum Harris over alleged silly rules and mismanagement, gets his release and retires. Boyer had hit safely in the last nine games of his career, including five home runs and 14 RBI.
1986 - In his second start for the Chicago White Sox since being recalled from Class AAA Buffalo, Joe Cowley sets a major-league record by striking out the first seven Rangers he faces, but still surrenders six runs in 4 1/3 innings and loses 6-3. Cowley's record will be broken by Jim Deshaies before season's end.
1994 - Minnesota's Dave Winfield passes former Twin Rod Carew to move into 15th place on the all-time list with career hit 3,054.
1995 - The White Sox and Tigers combine for a major-league record 12 home runs at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers hit seven home runs, but still lose the game, 14-12.
Upcoming Games/Practices
| Saturday, Jun 9 | | Racine Legion Post 310 @ Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants | 2:00pm | Wavro Field | | Waterford Legion Post 20 @ Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants | 5:00pm | Wavro Field | | Sunday, Jun 10 | | Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants @ Zion, Ill., Legion Post 865 | 12:00pm | Zion-Benton High School | | Tuesday, Jun 12 | | Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants @ Union Grove Legion Post 171 | 7:00pm | Union Grove High School | | Wednesday, Jun 13 | | Janesville Legion Post 205 @ Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants | 7:30pm | Simmons Stadium | |
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For a complete schedule listing, click here!
Upcoming Events
| Monday, Jun 4 | | June Baseball Bingo | 4:30pm | American Legion Post 21 | Friday, Jun 15 | Post 76 Summer Classic
| | Field TBA | Saturday, Jun 16 | Post 76 Summer Classic
| | Field TBA | Sunday, Jun 17 | Post 76 Summer Classic
| | Field TBA | Friday, Jun 22 | Andy Smith Memorial Wood Bat Classic
| | Nash Park | Saturday, Jun 23 | Andy Smith Memorial Wood Bat Classic
| | Nash Park | Sunday, Jun 24 | Andy Smith Memorial Wood Bat Classic
| | Nash Park | Friday, Jun 29 | Fred Gordon Memorial Invitational
| | Al Grosche Field at Bowen Park | Saturday, Jun 30 | Fred Gordon Memorial Invitational
| | Al Grosche Field at Bowen Park | Sunday, Jul 1 | Fred Gordon Memorial Invitational
| | Al Grosche Field at Bowen Park | |
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For a complete calendar listing, click here!
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