2025 American Legion World Series Day 2

Shelby, NC (WNN) - After an exciting opening day for the 2025 American Legion World Series that resembled a home run derby, we move on to day two. The eight home runs from Friday were more than the entire 2024 ALWS, which produced seven. Today was USAA Salute to Military Appreciation Day. All veterans and active military personnel were admitted for free. The Museum of Flight T-28 warbirds again executed a flyover. Also, the All-Veteran Group wowed the audience with an aerial performance before the night's final game. Each branch of the military was also recognized for its service.

  Day two is the day when teams begin to separate themselves within their divisions.  Only the top two teams within each division, the stars and stripes, will advance beyond Sunday's round. It's a beautiful sunny Saturday and a gorgeous day for baseball. All four games are interesting matchups for various reasons. Some of the teams are already facing a must-win situation, while others are in a much better position. Let's head down to the field and see how things play out today.

Game 5: Greece, NY Post 468 v/s Bossier City, LA Post 202

  This game is one of our matchups featuring two teams that both lost Friday and need a win today to have a realistic shot at advancing. Bossier City is playing this game a mere eleven hours after the conclusion of their last game; time will tell if that has any effect on their performance today. They proved in the third inning that a quick turnaround between games meant nothing. The Bossier City Phillies completely flipped the script. During the inning, 16 batters came to the plate, and Hudson Brignac and Jackson Jones scored twice. By the end of their turn at bat, the Phillies had plated 11 runs off 5 hits, 6 walks, and 3 errors. How did they score 11 runs in one inning? Jackson Jones started it off with a walk, Cole Snell flied out, Hudson Brignac ripped a single, Easton Sanders hit a blooper single that scored two runs, Brock Laird and Abel Thetford walked to load the bases. Griffin Sibley reached on an error, and the runs exploded from there as Case Jorden walked, Kade Bryant singled, Jackson Jones came to bat for the second time, and hit a 2-run single. Two throwing errors and he scored, Cole Snell walked, and Hudson Brignac singled. Brock Laird added a base hit, and Abel Thetford walked. Bossier City 11-0 at this point. Greece, NY seemed to have had their spirit broken as they went three up and three down in the top of the fourth. Bossier added three more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cole Snell's one-out three-run home run extended the lead to 14-0. How would Greece respond? Wes Sturrup hit a solo homerun, followed by a Colden Forney single. New York still had some life left; however, the next three batters could only produce a groundout, a strikeout, and a flyout. Final score 14-1.

  Bossier City scored 14 runs on 9 hits, made no errors, benefited from 8 walks, and left 4 runners on base. The win improved them to 1-1 in division play, and they wrap up pool play on Sunday against Chesapeake, VA, at 10 am. Greece, NY scored 1 run, on 4 hits, made 3 errors, and left 3 runners on base. The loss drops them to 0-2. They are not out yet; they still have a chance, but lost ground in the tiebreaker categories. They must have a big win on Sunday against Asheville, NC, at 7 pm. They would also need to allow very few runs.

Game 6: Portland, OR Post 158 v/s Rockport, IN Post 254

  Portland comes in at 0-1 and Rockport 1-0. Obviously, Portland has more to lose; they need to win this game to improve their chances of advancing out of division pool play. Rockport can greatly improve their standing with a victory, so this should be a fun one to watch. Portland was able to get the start of the game that they had been hoping to achieve. Leading off the inning, a pitch hits Kaino Santiago, Joe Fagan doubled, and Dakota Chun walked to load the bases with no outs. Santiago and Fagan score on Gabe Coltman's double. Carter Stewart sacrificed to fly to push Dakota Chun across the plate. Griffin Scott walked, then Ryden Nakamura singled in Gabe Coltman to make the score 4-0. They left the bases loaded, or this game could have been blown wide open from the very beginning. Rockport looked as if they would have an answer.

Ty Brown led off with a single, and Micah Toler walked. Unfortunately, their hopes were deflated with a double play and a groundout. Portland began the second the same as the first, with Joe Fagan banging a rocket off the wall for double. Dakota Chun's flyout was not deep enough to advance the runner. Gabe Coltman rips a triple that easily scores Fagan. Griffin Scott knocked in Coltman to stretch the lead to 6-0. After getting the first three Portland batters out in the top of the third, Rockford began chipping away at the score in the bottom half of the inning. Braden Pruitt singled to lead off the inning, and Ty Brown, in turn, singled as well—Micha Toler's groundout scores Pruitt for Indiana's first run. Ty Brown added another run when Peyton Gray singles. The score was more manageable now at 6-2. Portland got one of the runs back in the next inning as Griffin Scott scored on a Ryden Nakamura double. Joe Fagan and Dakota Chun scored in the fifth to pull ahead 9-2.  Rockport continued to try to claw their way back into the game on a two-run homerun by Micah Toler that rocketed over the wall to plate Ty Brown and himself, now the score was 9-4. In the sixth, Torsten Hersom scored on a wild pitch. Rockport answered right back in the bottom of the sixth as Declan Lewko added one more run. The score at this point was 10-5. Rockport kept hanging around, however Portland put the game away in the top of the seventh Joe Fagan hit his fourth of the day, Dakota Chun reached on an error, Carter Stewart hit a no-doubt three-run homerun. That would provide the final score of 13-5, Portland over Rockport.

  Portland, Oregon scored 13 runs on 13 hits, made 2 errors, and left 12 runners on base. The win improved them to 1-1, and they face Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sunday at 4 pm. Rockport, Indiana scored 5 runs on 8 hits, made 3 errors and left 3 runners on base. The loss drops them to 1-1. They have an appointment on Sunday at 1pm to play League City, Texas. Neither team is eliminated at this point; however, both Portland and Rockport need to win on Sunday to improve their chances of playing after Sunday. Although another loss will not automatically eliminate them, it makes it much more difficult to advance without somehow surviving the complicated tie breakers. It's easy just to win.

Game 7: Asheville, NC Post 70 v/s Chesapeake, VA Post 280

  This is our only game of the day against 1-0 teams. After this one is over, one team will have a huge advantage in the division, and the other will be dropped into a tie with other teams. Chesapeake has already been dealt a disappointment as a couple of players had to leave the tournament to report to college. Unfortunately, this happens often as some college coaches refuse to grant permission to delay their reporting time.

  Trey Campos, starting pitcher for Chesapeake, retired the first three Asheville batters to begin the game. In the bottom of the first Reid Downs led off with a single. Keegan Haelser hit into a fielder's choice, a pitch hit Wes Stubbe, and Ryan Gocio also hit a fielder's choice. Ben Kablach grounds to shortstop, but he loses the ball, and Kablach is safe, and Haelser scores an unearned run to give the Seals of Chesapeake the early 1-0 lead. The Cardinals of Asheville looked in great shape to have a huge inning as Caden Davidson and Micah Simpson reached on back-to-back walks, after a passed ball, a pitch hit Hayes Hillierh to load the bases with no outs. Caden Davidson ties the game when a pitch hits Carson Wallace. Bases still loaded and no outs.

Reagan Smith hits back to the pitcher for a 1-2-3 double play (pitcher to catcher to first base). Jackson Pavone hits the only base hit of the inning on an infield single that drives in Hayes Hillier, then Carson Wallace scores as the catcher drops the ball. Asheville took a 3-1 lead with only one hit, two walks, two batters hit by pitch, and an error. Chesapeake had an answer for Asheville. Reid Vandergrift hits a fielder's choice; Reid Downs launched an opposite field rocket about five feet inside the left field line in the corner, which allowed Vandergrift to score from first base.

Asheville's lead was cut to 3-2. Cheasapeake tied the game at 3-3 when Ben Kablach hit a solo homerun. Chesapeake took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Reid Downs reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw. Keegan Haelser singled next, Wes Stubbe sacrificed to right field, resulting in Downs scoring. Ryan Gocio grounded out to first; the pitcher was covering first, and when he threw home, the crowd thought it was a double play. The home plate umpire said no and that Haelser beat the tag and scored. Chesapeake took a 5-3 lead. Asheville cuts the lead to 5-4 on a base hit by Reagan Smith that scored Caden Davidson. Virginia went down in order in the bottom of the sixth. We went to the seventh inning with the designated visiting team, Asheville, trailing 5-4.  The comeback kids could not get anything going and fell short to Chesapeake, Virginia, by a final score of 5-4.

  Chesapeake, Virginia scored 5 runs on 5 hits, making 1 error, and left 3 runners on base. They stay unbeaten at 2-0 and will face Bossier City, Louisiana, on Sunday at 10 am. Asheville, North Carolina scored 4 runs on 5 hits, made 3 errors, and stranded 5 runners. NC is now 1-1 in division play. Next up will be Greece, New York, Sunday evening at 7 pm. Things are beginning to tighten up in each division, with most teams in a must-win situation.

T-28 Warbirds

  Each evening before the final game, the T-28 Warbirds have been executing flyovers of Keeter Stadium. Originally designed in the 1940s as a training aircraft for the Navy and Air Force to teach new pilots basic flight skills. Later, the plane's durability and maneuverability earned it a place in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Later, several foreign militaries acquired some of these aircraft for their service. Presently, they are highly sought after for civilian use in airshows and presentations. The T-28's are prized for their historical significance, performance, and nostalgia appeal. These are beautiful aircraft, and WNN's Mason Beam took advantage of them being on display Saturday at the Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport. He took a close-up tour of the same aircraft, making the early evening flyovers before each night's final game.

Game 8: Lincoln, NE Post 500 v/s League City, TX Post 554

   It's out of here that best summarizes this game. Scoring began in the bottom of the first as Caden Schindler ripped a solo home run to give Texas the first lead of the game at 1-0. That was nothing compared to Nebraska's next turn at the plate. It would be an understatement to say their bats were blazing. By the time they finished, 11 runs had been posted, and they had sprinted to an 11-1 lead. Highlights of the scoring extravaganza began innocently enough with Carter Harmes reaching on an error. After that, there would be home runs by Kalal Larsen and Bradyn Rhodes. Brodie McIntire nailed a sizzling grand slam. Other base hits were a single from Bradyn Erickson, a double from Carter Harmes, and a triple from Bryson Rhodes. Texas added one more run in a second home run from Caden Schindler, the score was now 11-2.

Texas again added a run in the bottom of the third as Parker Collier knocked in Asa Sampson to make it 11-3. Lightning was spotted, prompting a 47-minute weather delay. Texas did not score after the weather delay, and the third finally ended. The top of the fourth saw Bradyn Erickson add another run. Nebraska was now trying for a mercy rule shortened game, 12-3. Texas was making every effort to keep the difference less than 10 runs. Unfortunately, they left the bases loaded and came away empty for the second time.  Texas erased any thoughts of a 10-run rule-shortened game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Noah Paulson and Conner Keys crossed the plate, they had cut the lead down to 12-5. Carter Harmes sailed the first pitch he saw for a solo homerun, and Kalal would also score to push Nebraska back up 14-5. Texas kept fighting to the end, adding two more runs to cut the score in half to 14-7; however, that was all they could muster—final score: Nebraska 14, Texas 7.

  Nebraska scored 14 runs on 13 hits, made 3 errors and left 7 on base. They improved to 1-1 and will play Portland at 4 pm on Sunday. Texas scored 7 runs off 9 hits, made 1 error, and left 12 runners on base. They fall to 1-1 and face Rockport, Indiana, on Sunday at 1 pm. After two days, 21 homeruns have been slammed out of Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium. Come on out Sunday and see how many more will be knocked out of the park.

Standings and Schedule After Day 2 

---

For further WNN articles and news stories, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com

For more WNN video news stories, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork

Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com

©️Copyright 2025 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.