American Legion baseball opens this weekend statewide, with Juneau’s Post 25 starting their league schedule with a home doubleheader against South at 12 and 3 p.m. Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Field. Non-league games will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday.
American Legion Baseball is as summer youth league for high school-age athletes affiliated with the American Legion veterans organization. Juneau’s Post 25 team features players from both Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas High School.
Last year the Juneau team registered a 16-2 record and placed third in the American Legion Alaska State Tournament, losing to Kenai 3-2. The team welcomes new manager Joe Tompkins this year who replaces Andy Macauley, one of the three American Legion AA managers of the year in 20125.
“I am expecting some good things. If they play together like they have before with some new guys, I think they’re going to be tough,” Tompkins said. “Both high school teams in town practice so much, but it’s such a short season, so they don’t always get to show all the skills they’ve been working on. During Legion, it’s a longer season and a lot more baseball, so you get to show a lot more. Just like any sport, the more mileage you have on you, the better.”
Tompkins said the team is young but is led by some experienced seniors. TMHS senior Finn Collins and JDHS senior Alex Muir are teaming up for the summer and lead a group of surging juniors, sophomores and freshmen.
The Juneau team will play 18 league games this season, six home and 12 away. After this weekend, their four remaining home games come from doubleheaders on Saturday, June 18, against Chugiak and July 16 against West. Those games start at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
