ALWS Game 10: Michigan wraps pool play with perfect record
Midland (Mich.) Post 165 has a rich American Legion World Series history, particularly in games played at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
Post 165 added another chapter to that history by finishing as the first ALWS pool play unbeaten team since 2019 in Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Billings Scarlets (Mont.) Post 4 in Game 10 of the 2024 ALWS.
The win gives Midland (30-8) the 2024 Stripes Division title and a 4 p.m. Monday semifinal matchup against the Stars Division runner-up that will be determined later on Sunday.
Post 165 became the 20th team to go 3-0 in pool play since the ALWS has used the format from 1998 to 2003 and in every ALWS since 2014. Midland also went 3-0 in 2018 when it was in the Stars Division.
Coach Dan Cronkright’s team scored twice in the first inning and once in the third and fourth innings. Post 165 led 2-0, 3-0 and 4-1 before holding off a late Scarlets’ rally.
“We got a couple of runs in the first inning and that really set the tone for us,” said Cronkright, whose program is a 2009 ALWS champion, is making its 12th all-time ALWS appearance and has a record nine appearances in Shelby.
Cayden Smith had an RBI single and Nathan Ball a sacrifice fly to knock in the first-inning runs, with Smith adding an RBI double in the second and Aidan Robinson an RBI groundout in the fourth.
The rest was up to Midland’s pitching and defense as pitchers Sam Briggs (5 1/3 innings) and Jack Sequin (1 2/3 innings) combined on a four-hitter and Post 165 defenders committed only one error and made several sparkling plays.
“We’re playing well and I think we’ve still got something left,” Cronkright said of his team, whose five-hit offense was led by Smith (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs) and Sequin (double).
For the Scarlets (63-19), who were making Montana’s first ALWS appearance since 1962, the loss ended their ALWS with a hard luck 0-3 record. Billings lost 6-1 on Thursday to Wilmington Delvets (Del.) Post 1 and had a pair of one-run defeats on Sunday (1-0 to Bossier City (La.) Post 202 and 4-3 to Midland).
“I take this as a great experience for our players,” Scarlets coach Adam Hust said. “They came and they battled and they played hard and competed. We had two one-run games today. We played hard and didn’t give up and proved that we belonged in this field and that we can compete with anybody. I’m so proud of the boys.”
Billings scored on Michael Brew’s two-out RBI single in the fourth and on a wild pitch and fielding error in a sixth-inning rally that ended with two runners in scoring position.
Colter Wilson (2 hits) led the Scarlets’ four-hit offense.
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