It’s Texas vs. Nebraska for the 2023 ALWS title

One team is looking for its state’s first American Legion World Series title in 84 years. The other is looking for its state’s first ALWS title, period.

The two pool-play division winners — Stars division champion League City (Texas) Post 554 and Stripes division champion Lincoln (Neb.) Post 3 — won Monday’s semifinal games to advance to tonight’s championship game at 7 p.m. ET at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. The game will air on ESPNU.

Here’s a look at the two teams and how they got to the final game of the 2023 American Legion Baseball season.

Lincoln (Neb.) Post 3, 53-11 overall (3-1 in Shelby)

Lincoln’s streak of shutout innings came to an end in the third inning of Monday’s semifinal win over Cheyenne (Wyo.) Post 6. It looked as if Cheyenne’s 1-0 lead might hold up as their starting pitcher, Colter McAnelly, held Lincoln hitless until the sixth inning.

But Garrett Springer’s one-out single — Lincoln’s only hit — scored Harrison Biester and Landon Sandy for Lincoln’s only runs in the 2-1 victory.

Lincoln is the first Nebraska team to play for the ALWS championship since 2017, when Omaha Post 1 lost to Henderson (Nev.) Post 40, 2-1. The state’s lone ALWS title came in 1939 when host Omaha defeated Berwyn, Ill., 6-2.

“We’re on the doorstep,” said Lincoln coach Mychal Lanik, who was an assistant coach for Omaha Prep in 2017. “We’ve got to take it tomorrow. … We know it’s going to be a war.

“I like our kids’ fight. We’ll see what happens.”

League City (Texas) Post 554, 26-4 overall (3-1 in Shelby)

League City opened with two wins to clinch the Stars division ahead of their final game in pool play, a 4-2 loss to Ellsworth (Maine) Post 207.

Their offense took awhile to get going in Monday night’s semifinal against Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72, which led 1-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. But a wild pitch allowed Kyeler Thompson to score in the bottom of the fifth, then League City erupted for three runs in the sixth inning to win 4-1.

“It’s amazing to be back here and make it all the way,” said Thompson, one of five League City players back from last year’s ALWS participant.

League City is trying to become the first Texas team to win the ALWS championship. Five Texas teams — including League City last year — have played in the ALWS. Austin (1952) and Texarkana (2009) had the previous best finishes; each finished third in their appearances.

 


American Legion Baseball

American Legion Baseball

American Legion Baseball enjoys a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers more than 5,400 teams in all 50 states, including Canada and Puerto Rico.

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