World Series Champs
(Created: Thursday, August 28, 2008 9:16 AM EDT)

Although no teams from Northern Virginia qualified for the competition,
but one team from the state was in the eight-team field, the American
Legion World Series baseball champion was crowned Wednesday in Shelby,
N.C.

Las Vegas Post 76 (75-7) won the title by defeating Pasco Post 34 of
Washington state. The final score was 5-1.

All of the local teams that participate in Northern Virginia's local
District 17 should take note. It is quite possible to win a World Series
championship. Some of the more established District 17 programs that
work hard and take American Legion baseball seriously do have such a
wish.

This year District 17 tournament champion Annandale Post 1976 was the
one team that had that chance, but finished with 1-2 record in the state
tournament and was eliminated from postseason competition.

Annandale should be commended this summer for making the commitment to
play in the state tourney and making a respectable showing. That wasn't
the case a few years ago when Post 1976 also won the district
tournament, but decided not to participate in the state. That decision
did not sit well with state and local district officials, has not been
forgotten, and at the time was bit embarrassing for the district.

That year, third-place district tourney finisher Alexandria Post 24
saved total embarrassment for the district by getting its team back
together within about an hours time and took Post 1976's place at the
state tournament. Post 24 finished with a 1-2 state tourney record.

This year's Virginia state champion was South Richmond Post 137, which
went on to win the Mid-Atlantic Region 2 title to qualify for the World
Series. In the Series, South Richmond (35-7) finished third when it was
eliminated by Las Vegas.

The last Virginia team to win the World Series was in 1985 when
Midlothian Post 186 captured the title. No District 17 team has ever won
the World Series, at least yet, but it is possible.

Virginia teams have actually done well in the World Series.

With its third-place finish this summer, South Richmond became the fifth
Virginia team to place in the top three in the event. Midlothian Post
186 was third in 2006.

Maybe some year soon a it will be a District 17 team having such a
strong World Series showing.

It is possible.

- Dave