OLD ORCHARD BEACH — They rolled into The Ballpark as one of the best American Legion baseball teams in the entire Northeast.
Any doubts that they were indeed the best were blasted to bits, Monday, when Bedford (N.H.) Post 54 captured the Northeast Regional tournament crown with a 10-0, eight-inning thumping of Whitestown (N.Y.) Post 1113.
Righthander Luke Olen hurled his second complete game of the five day tournament, holding the New York state champions to four harmless hits.
Third baseman Pat Parker slugged a solo home run to help put the polish on his tournament MVP trophy.
It all served to send Bedford, whose Legion program is just five years old, to the American Legion World Series, which gets underway this week in Shelby, N.C.
“It’s crazy,” said Olen. “It’s like a dream. This is what we all want to do. The competition’s going to be great. But I think we can hold our ground.”
Said fellow hurler Joe Maher, “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to us. This group of kids has been together for a bunch of years. It’s been a long time coming. Since Little League.”
How dominant was Bedford in the Regional?
Try this for size.
Bedford hurlers accounted for four complete games, and all told, the staff allowed just four runs during the five-day tournament.
So loaded was Post 54 that Maher, drafted this year in the 32nd round as a pitcher by the New York Yankees, wasn’t even in the line up for the clinching game.
Then again, the Northeastern Univeristy-bound right-hander wasn’t needed.
This game was all but iced up before the first half inning ”“ when Bedford jumped out to a 3-0 lead ”“ was completed.
“I wouldn’t say we rolled through the tournament,” said Olen, who fanned eight and walked just one, “because we earned every win. We had to hit, we had to pitch. And I think that’s going to help us tremendously.”
Parker, who racked up an impressive .524 average (11 for 21) through the tournament, swatted a seventh inning solo shot out of The Ballpark.
“Parker is just a beast,” said Maher. “He not only brings the intimidation factor, he’s a jokester, too. I think that’s what made us click.”
Maher, a 6-foot-5 fireballer, brings his own brand of intimation.
He highlighted the tournament on Day 2 with a complete game one-hitter ”“ the only hit being a sixth inning bunt single ”“ against Colchester (Vt.).
It may have been one of the single most overpowering pitching shows in the 28-year history of The Ballpark.
“His fastball is very strong,” said Bedford manager Tim Conway. “And then he’s got some off speed pitches to go with it. He spots the ball, throws strikes, and he throws hard.”
Having served as Maine’s first Northeast Regional host since 1991, The Ballpark, which drew raves from several players and coaches throughout the tournament, will also be the site of next year’s regional.
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.
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