Beckley Bash Post 32 heats up in Morgantown

Photo Courtesy of Holly Lester Brown

Beckley Post 32 American Legion Baseball made its return last year with tempered expectations.

That all changed quickly when Post 32 came roaring out of the gate winning its first 13 games, including the Timbuck Shields Tournament in Bridgeport.

Unfortunately the promising start came crashing to a halt in the Area 3 American Legion Tournament later that season.

This year the wins have come a little slower, but the lessons from last season have changed the approach for what is now the Beckley Bash.

"This year we are taking some growing pains, but these guys are learning a lot more. We have played the defending champions in North Carolina. We played the defending Regional semifinalist," head coach Jordan Meadows said. "That is kind of what I am doing, getting these guys ready for the Area Tournament because that is all that matters."

The trip to Tar Heel State involved playing two of the top-5 ranked American Legion teams in North Carolina. Although it did not yield any victories, the games were a valuable learning tool.

"Obviously the trip helped with team bonding, being away from home together and learning about each other," Meadows said. "Down there we saw teams with (North Carolina) commits and (James Madison) commits, stuff like that. We gave it our all and we learned a lot."

Beckley returned home to notch a a key win over the Florida Gulf Coast Prospects 18U squad, but the progress was tempered by a lopsided loss to longtime rival South Charleston Post 94.

"We are still mixing it up to find that best nine. We have had guys on vacation at times and guys playing travel ball," Meadows said. "We are just giving everyone a chance early because when it comes down to it, the hottest hitters play and the best players at that time play."

With the Area Tournament just over two weeks away, the Bash Boys put together their best performance of the season this weekend in Morgantown at the Mountaineer Country Invitational.

Following a game one tie due to the tournament time limit, Beckley ran off four straight wins to capture the tournament title, outscoring its opponents 40-8.

Beckley beat Bridgeport Post 68, 7-2, before closing out pool play with a 15-0 shellacking of New Philadelphia Post 139.

In the semifinals Beckley knocked off the Chillicothe 757 Colts, 13-3 and then beat ALB Berkeley Post 14, 5-3 for the title.

The Bash tallied 37 hits across the four games with 15 going for extra bases, including a grand slam from Brayden Kiblinger.

Now Beckley looks to keep that momentum going Wednesday when it hosts Area 3 foe Charleston Post 65 before playing Morgantown Post 2 on Fireworks Night Saturday at Linda K. Epling Stadium.