American Legion Post 377 in Clarkston sent their 18U travel baseball team to the Greensboro Palomino Baseball tournament July 4 to compete against teams from Greensboro, North Carolina and surrounding states. This year’s team finished with a 3-2 record in the five-game tournament.
July 5th at Stoner-White Field against the Greensboro Batting Center Shocker, Joel Lange lead the offense going 3/3 at the plate with 4 RBI and a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Joey Preston went 2/4 with a back to-back home run following Lange, but Chief Pontiac lost 15-5.
Later that day Chief Pontiac defeated the Greensboro Patriots for the first time in their history. Tied 3-3 in the fifth inning, Joel Lange jacked a three-run home run and Chief Pontiac won 6-3. Lange went 3/3, and scored two runs. Eric Checkley hit 2/4; Steve Vanderheyden 2/3 and scored a run. Jake Smith started Chief Pontiac’s scoring in the second inning with a two-RBI shot into right field. Erik Phillips scored a run and drove in another.
July 6, at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, Chief Pontiac lost to the Highpoint Spirits 10-6. During the game, J.J. Lange lead the offense going 2/2 to generate three RBI. Steven Bazner drove in three runs on two hits in four plate appearances. Richie Woods scored twice on two hits and Joel Lange went 2/4.
Chief Pontiac beat the Burlington GAPP 8-2. Vanderheyden went 2/3 at the plate with two RBI and scored twice. Checkley and Steven Bazner also scored twice. Richie Woods produced three RBI on two hits and Joel Lange went 2/4. Chief Pontiac’s final game ended at Stoner-White Field July 7 when Checkley’s third hit scored his second and third RBI of the game in the fifth inning to mercy the GAPP 9-1. Checkley also made five running catches in centerfield. Vanderheyden, Phillips and Bazner each scored twice on two hits.
Head coach Chief Pontiac beat the Greensville Drive 6-5 at First Horizon Park in downtown Greensboro. Joel Lange went 10 for 17 with 8 RBI and two home runs during the tournament.