American Legion Tournament comes to Spa City

SARATOGA SPRINGS – For the third consecutive season, the Saratoga Stampede will compete in the American Legion District IV Tournament, but this time they will host the tourney at East Side Rec.
Saratoga completed its regular season with a 36-6 Legion record, the best in New York State. Manager Paul Mound is thrilled that his team has surpassed its 2006 record of 36-10.
“Last year we came out of the district tournament unscathed to advance to the New York State final. Back in May, I felt as though this year’s Stampede team was better than last year’s that made it to the state championship final.”
Mound is also quick to acknowledge that the regular season is behind them, and that advancing to the state tournament will be no easy task.
“We have formidable competition, with the likes of the Anaconda Indians and St. Johnsville.” said Mound. “The task this year is going to be tough, but we have players on this roster that have the ability to play as a state championship team. We’re going to need to play state championship-winning baseball to advance past our very difficult district.”
The American Legion has been around since 1925. It’s the oldest and largest teenage baseball organization in the United States, as 10,000,000 players have competed in the league since its inception. It also continues to grow, as 1,900 new teams have registered to join the Legion since 1985.
The Legion boasts ties to Major League Baseball as well, as 52 percent of all Major League players have gone through the American Legion system. MLB also honors the Legion at the World Series, as it is there that the big boys celebrate the Legion’s national championship team by presenting a trophy to the winning club.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame also recognizes the American Legion, as they annually honor the Legion player of the year with a plaque. This year, Fernando Irizarry, from Puerto Rico, received his trophy at the Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown.
MLB doesn’t stop there, either, as they contribute $35,500 - 3 percent of the Legion’s annual budget - to the American Legion.
Once the state winners have been decided, the teams advance to the regionals. The country is divided into eight regions: the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Great Lakes, Central Plains, Northwest, and West. 64 teams, including 1,280 players and coaches, do battle to come out of their region as champions, and the right to go to the American Legion World Series. The regional tournaments draw quite a crowd, as the average attendance at the regionals was 75,000 people last year. Saratoga plays in the Mid-Atlantic District.
This year, the eight teams will fight for the right to go to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where the national champion will be crowned.
Mound would love to see his club go that far, but admits that there is plenty of work to be done.
“We have been practicing defensive plays we wanted to work on, as well as other strategies we wanted to develop.”
Although Mound yearns to board a plane with his team and head to Bartlesville, he’s taking one step at a time.
“Our goal that we set out to achieve this year is to win the district and the state.”
The tournament will begin on Tuesday, but the Stampede have earned a bye, and will play their first game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night, against the winner of Tuesday's 4 p.m. game between the Clinton County Mariners (Plattsburgh) and Ticonderoga.

Stampede shuts out Ticonderoga

July 24

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Stampede closed out the American Legion regular season on a high note – defeating Ticonderoga by a 4-0 score to claim their fifth consecutive win.
The game was well pitched on both sides, and through the first two innings Ryan Washburn gave up just two hits for Saratoga, and Ticonderoga starter Hunter Denno allowed only a single by Justin Wilock.
In the third, Washburn was relieved by Andy Brown, as Stampede Manager Paul Mound continues to fine tune his staff heading into next week’s district tournament. In the tournament, the games change from seven innings to nine, so starters can’t pitch complete games as they do in the regular season.
Brown was very effective, yielding just a walk to Garret Hume in the third.
In the bottom of the inning, the Stampede would open the scoring. Brad Elliott drew a walk, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. Kenny Recore then did his job, grounding out to the right side, driving home Elliott, and giving Saratoga a 1-0 lead.
Brown got the first out of the fourth easily, but then an error on third baseman Chris Hackett put Todd Carr on first. Two batters later, Travis Tabor singled, and there were runners on the corners. But Brown worked out of it, striking out Andrew Stanley to retire the side.
In the fifth, Brown again worked in and out of trouble. With one out, he walked Steve Burris, and then Hume slapped a base hit to left field. Brown then hit pinch hitter Travis Turnbull to load the bases, but he came back to strike out Adam Pond and got Carr to ground into a force play at second to end the threat.
Saratoga added two more runs off of Denno in the bottom of the frame, but only one of them was earned. Wilock reached on an error on Burris at short, and then stole second. A wild pitch sent Wilock to third, but when Tabor, the catcher, recovered the ball and fired to third, it sailed past Hume, the third baseman, and Wilock scored to make it 2-0. Later in the inning, Recore doubled, and Brown followed with a single to center to plate Recore and make it a 3-0 contest.
Neil Callahan came on to pitch the sixth, and he faced just four batters to keep the shutout alive.
The Stampede completed the scoring in the bottom of the sixth, as Callahan and Hackett started with back-to-back base hits. After Denno struck out Washburn and Wilock, Zach Hartman, playing right field, smacked a single to drive in Callahan, and it was 4-0.
Mike DeGregory, who just returned to the Stampede after a shoulder injury, saw his first action on the mound since the beginning of the season in the seventh. DeGregory showed some rust, walking Hume and throwing three wild pitches, but he struck out three batters, including pinch hitter Pat Wallace, to strand Turnbull on third and preserve the shutout.
Manager Paul Mound talked about his pitching staff, and the difference between the regular season and tournament play. He’s also quite pleased at what he has seen.
“When we go to district play we’re going to be doing nine inning games, so you’ve got to piece it together. We’re not going out and throwing complete games when they’re nine inning affairs. We’re getting more and more positive out of Mike DeGregory, I’m really pleased. He had a lot of pop on the fastball that last inning. Andy Brown threw phenomenal. (If) You get that kind of approach out of Andy, who got the win tonight, and I’ll tell you what, that’s a big contribution for us. Callahan’s been doing extremely well out of the bullpen, and that’s really what’s going to be the difference in this tournament. In these nine inning games, that’s the great equalizer – pitching.”
Mound also believes that the parts of his bullpen are coming together.
“I’m actually looking at one of our starters, if not both of our primary starters (Wilson and Hartman) as being the ultimate closer. The key to being able to use them in that role is to minimize how many pitches they throw in starts they have… if we can get the kind of performances out of the middle guys like I’m seeing right now, namely Callahan, DeGregory, Brown, those guys are going to be very big players in the districts. We get good starting pitching, with Travis, with Zach, with Wash(burn), with Hack(ett), and with Ryan White, I like what we have from the starting rotation’s perspective.”
The win puts Saratoga’s record at 36-8, and they are ahead of last year’s pace, where they finished at 36-10.
The Stampede will play a non-league double header against the Vermont Lakers on Thursday night, with the first game beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Stampede tops Oneonta

July 23
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Neil Callahan drove in eight of Saratoga’s 11 runs as the Stampede finished their regular season on Monday by defeating Oneonta Post 259 by an 11-6 score.
The Stampede jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kenny Recore led of with a base hit, as he would go on to reach base safely all four times that he batted. After Recore moved to second on a passed ball, Andy Brown popped out to second baseman Lance Ratchford, and then Vince Farfaglia reached safely on an error by third baseman Ryan Lynch. Next up was Callahan, and he smashed a home run over the left-center field wall to put the Stampede on top, 3-0.
Manager Paul Mound was working his pitching staff, as he prepares for the District IV Tournament that begins on July 31. Mound used four pitchers during the game, and starting pitcher Ryan White was taken out after the second inning.
In the second, Oneonta picked up a run on a walk, a stolen base, and a two-out single up the middle. They tacked on two more runs in the third to tie the game. Three straight singles off of newly reactivated Mike DeGregory made it 3-2, and then a double two batters later tied the game.
But Saratoga answered back in the bottom of the inning. Recore was hit by a pitch, Andy Brown reached on an infield single, and then two batters later, Callahan picked up his fourth RBI when his infield single plated Recore to make it 4-3. Chris Hackett smacked a sacrifice fly to left, and Brown came home to make it 5-3.
DeGregory was shaky in the fourth, surrendering a single and two walks to load the bases. Lance Ratchford then lined a bullet to short, but Brown snagged it and tossed to Justin Wilock at second to catch P.J. McMullen off the base to complete the double play. A single to right brought in a run, and Oneonta pulled to within 5-4.
The Stampede got the run back in the fifth, as Recore, Brown, and Farfaglia all singled to start the inning. Farfaglia’s base hit scored Recore to make it 6-4. An error would lead to Farfaglia scoring later in the inning, and at the end of the fifth Saratoga was on top by a 7-4 margin.
In the sixth, the Oneonta club showed that they had plenty of fight left in them, and they scored twice to make it a 7-6 game.
But in the bottom of the inning, Callahan saved his finest feat for last. After Brad Elliott walked, Recore was hit by a pitch, and Brown reached on a bunt to load the bases, Callahan would clear them on a 1-0 pitch, slamming a grand slam high over the left field wall to give the Stampede an insurmountable 11-6 advantage.
Levi Washburn, who came in to pitch the sixth, closed out the game, allowing a base hit, and then inducing A.J. Herrmann to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. After walking McMullen, Jack Benjamin popped out to Callahan at third to end the ball game and improve Saratoga’s record to 35-8 on the season.
The Stampede will host a tune-up doubleheader against the Vermont Lakers on Thursday before heading to the District IV Tournament next week.

Stampede sweep double header

July 22

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Stampede swept a double header at East Side Rec today, coming from behind to defeat Hudson Post 184 7-6 in the first game, and then coming from behind again, this time against Mohican Post 553 out of South Glens Falls, to win by a 4-2 margin.
Against Hudson in the first game, Travis Wilson took the ball from Manager Paul Mound, and the 6’ 5” southpaw struggled just a bit with his control, which is a rarity. After allowing an infield single and a base hit with one out, Wilson tried to pick off Dave Ellis at first. The throw sailed past first baseman Neil Callahan, and the runners advanced to second and third. Wilson settled down and struck out Brian Gauthier, but then walked Zach Kraham to load the bases. Wilson then got his focus back, and fanned Mike Rigos to retire the side.
In the bottom of the frame, Saratoga took a 1-0 lead without the benefit of a base hit. Catcher Kenny Recore led off by drawing a base on balls, and then went to second base on Andy Brown’s swinging bunt down the first base line. A wild pitch then sent Recore to third, and when the catcher recovered the ball, he overthrew third baseman Eric Mossman, and Recore jogged home for the game’s first run.
Hudson touched Wilson for their first run in the third. With one out, Brooks Winner lined a single to center, but Wilson came back to strike out Ellis. Gauthier came up next, and he smacked a double to drive in Gauthier and tie the game. Kraham then smacked a line drive that seemed destined for center field, but second baseman Justin Wilock timed his leap perfectly and robbed Kraham of a hit and Hudson of the lead.
The Stampede threatened in the bottom of the inning, with runners on second and third and nobody out, but Kraham did a beautiful job of working out of it, as he struck out Recore, Brown, and Vince Farfaglia to snuff out the threat.
In the fourth, Hudson took the lead for the first time. With runners on first and third, Jeff Mound muffed a ground ball, and it was a 2-1 game. Wilson wasn’t fazed, as he then picked off Nate Toussant for the final out.
It remained a 2-1 game until the seventh, when things took a turn for the worse for Saratoga. After Erin Mossman fouled out to Callahan, Wilson walked Zach Issler, and Toussant reached on an infield single. Winner reached on Mound’s second error to load the bases, and then Ellis drew a walk to plate Issler and give Hudson a two-run advantage.
The walls seemed to be falling in on the Stampede, as Gauthier then smacked a two-RBI single to center to make it 5-1, and then Paul Mound lifted Wilson in favor of Callahan. Callahan came up huge, first by inducing Kraham to pop out to left field. The shot appeared that it was going to fall in, but Brown showed his range at short by tracking it down and making the catch two steps in front of left fielder Brad Elliott. Wilson then got Drew Doty to ground out to Mound to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Kraham was cruising for Hudson. Through the first six innings, the Stampede could only muster three base hits; Wilock reached on an infield single in the third, Recore singled in the fifth, and Chris Hackett lined a base hit in the sixth. Kraham also had sent nine batters down on strikes. Down by four runs, the Stampede were down to their final three outs.
The Stampede opened the inning with four straight hits. Wilock singled to right, and then Elliott doubled him home to pull the Stampede to within 5-2. Recore’s base hit to left put runners on the corners, and then Brown pulled a single to left. Elliott scored to make it 5-3, but Gauthier misplayed the ball in left, and Recore and Brown moved up to second and third. A wild pitch by Kraham scored Recore, making it 5-4, and then two batters later Callahan singled to left to plate Brown and tie the ball game at five.
The game went into extra innings, as it remained tied until the top of the ninth, when Hudson again took the lead. Toussant was safe on an infield single, went to second on a bunt by Winner, and then stole third. Mound’s third error at second scored Toussant and gave Hudson a 6-5 lead. Gauthier then lined out to Elliott in left and then Callahan got Kraham to ground out for the final out.
But Saratoga would not be denied. Back-to-back base hits by Recore and Brown put pressure on Hudson reliever Brett Anderson, but he came back to strike out Farfaglia.
Next up was Callahan, who has come up big all season for the Stampede. Neil wasted no time, as he blasted a double on the first pitch that he saw, scoring Recore and Brown and giving the Stampede the come-from-behind win.
Chris Hackett took the mound for Saratoga in the second game, against Mohican Post 553.
Hackett showed much better form than he has in recent outings, and he kept the Mohican bats at bay, scattering just two hits and two walks over the first five innings.
The Stampede got on the scoreboard in the third. Levi Washburn led off with a base hit to center, and then he stole second. Jeff Mound bunted him over to third, and then a wild pitch by Mohican starter Lance Chapman allowed Washburn to race home for the game’s first run.
After five innings of futility, Mohican finally scored in the sixth. Hackett struck out the first two batters, and then Lance Bull singled to center. Hackett then lost his control, throwing two wild pitches that moved Bull around to third. Chapman walked and stole second, and then Matt Lacy slapped a single, scoring both runners and giving Mohican a 2-1 lead. Hackett then got Tyler Beecher to hit a ground ball to Brown at short, and he flipped to Mound at second for the force to end the inning.
But, as in the first game, Saratoga could not be held down. Brown led off with a base hit, and then went to second on Farfaglia’s ground ball to short. A wild pitch sent Brown to third, and then Callahan drew a walk. Kyle Baldani came up next, and he singled to plate Brown and tie the game at two. Ryan Washburn walked to load the bases, and then Levi singled to right, driving in Callahan and Baldani, and Saratoga re-took the lead at 4-2.
Mohican would make it interesting in the seventh. A walk and a singe put runners on first and second with nobody out, but Hackett collected himself, and he got Damian Tyler to fly out to Recore in right. Joe Deutchman tried to tag up from third, but when Recore’s throw was cut off by Callahan, Deutchman tried to head back to second, and Callahan fired to Brown at second for the double play. Hackett then went to a full count on Ryan Chadwick before he caught him looking at a called third strike to end the ball game.

Double Trouble

July 18

The Saratoga Stampede are off to a terrific start to defending their 2006 District IV American Legion championship, and pitchers Travis Wilson and Zach Hartman are two of the reasons why. With identical 7-1 records, the two have a combined earned run average of just 1.82, and have accounted for nearly half of Saratoga’s 31 wins.
Wilson has had a tremendous season on the mound for the Stampede, ranking as one of the aces on the staff. In 13 appearances, eight of them starts, Wilson has thrown 58.2 innings, has yielded just 48 hits and 16 earned runs, has struck out 55 batters while walking only 24, and boasts an earned run average of just 1.91.
He has also helped his own cause while at the plate. The Stillwater grad has made the most of his nine at-bats, as he’s contributed three hits, scored two runs, has two runs batted in, and sports a .500 on-base percentage to go along with his slugging percentage and batting average, both at .333.
As for Hartman, he has been equally effective, if not more so. He’s had 10 appearances and seven starts, and has allowed just 13 earned runs on 32 hits, and has struck out 55 batters in only 53 innings while walking just 17. Hartman also has a miniscule ERA of 1.72, in a league that has an optional designated hitter.
A product of Ballston Spa High School, Hartman has proven to be an asset at the plate, as well. In 21 games and 57 at-bats, Hartman has 18 hits, including 14 base hits, three doubles, and a triple. He’s driven in 10 runs, scored 12, has an on-base percentage of .426, a slugging percentage of .404, and is batting .316 on the season.
When talking to the two hurlers, one finds many similarities between the two. Whether talking about their high school careers, their summer with the Stampede, or their future at the college level, Wilson and Hartman seem to be on the same page.
Hartman was quick to note the difference between Legion ball and his experience at the high school level.
"I have more confidence with the guys I'm playing with over the summer," said Hartman. "Everybody out there's a stud, and you know they're going to score for you, too. In high school we didn't get as many runs as the Stampede puts up. And with these guys we know we can put the ball in play and they're going to get the out.
One of the advantages of American Legion baseball is that it gives the players who just graduated from high school a taste of what they're to expect come next fall at the college level. This is particularly helpful to Wilson, who attended Stillwater High, and may have been considered a big fish in a small pond. This opportunity was huge for Wilson, and it has helped to answer any questions he may have had about his own ability, and how he might fare against college competition.
"Definitely for me (the experience has helped), because I go to a smaller school than he (Hartman) does, and I face less competition, so this summer was a real test for me, to make sure I could get out good hitters, said Wilson. I'm a lot more confident going into college now then I was at the end of the high school year.
Hartman agreed that this summer with the Stampede would give him an edge as a freshman pitcher.
"Some of the legion players already played in college," replied Hartman. "Guys are coming to get after you, too. They're all stars on their high school teams, so it prepares you for some of the hitters you're going to see in college."
Another one of the advantages for the players of Paul Mound's Saratoga Stampede program is that some of his players come from sub-par high school programs, where they carry the burden for their team, but they all get to showcase their talents for the Stampede.
When asked why it all seems to come together for the Stampede, Wilson offered his view.
"I think that the weight's lifted off of everybody's shoulders (with the Stampede). You know that if you don't get a hit that the guy behind you is going to pick you up. And I think that takes a lot of pressure off of everybody because they're more relaxed, more confident. I know, being in high school, when I was pitching, I knew that if I was getting tired that were no other options. Now, if I get tired, I can look over in the bullpen, see him (Hartman) warming up, I know that I can give the ball up.
The Stampede is a fun team to be around. They're loose, they know how to have fun, and it's an atmosphere that baseball is all about.
With that said, don't think that this team doesn't take its job seriously. When talking to these players, it's clear that they know what's going on, they love what they do, they know what it takes to win, they study the game and its effect on their lives, and they also appreciate heir teammates. For Wilson and Hartman, this is the best pitching staff that they have been a part of.
"This (staff) is unreal," said Hartman. "Usually, you're team has one or two good pitchers, if that, and this team's got four or five… It's nice to have confidence that everybody that you hand the ball to, no matter who goes on the mound, we know we have a shot at the win."
This team has shown that they definitely have a shot at the win, no matter who they're playing. The Stampede just completed the 12th Annual Cooper's Cave Tournament, where they were a perfect 7-0 to take the title.
The regular season is nearly over, which means that the District Tournament isn't too far away, and then, hopefully for the Stampede, it will be on to the state tourney.

Hartman and Wilson both feel good, and they're ready for what lies ahead.
"I'm pitching with a lot of confidence right now, trying to get rolling into the districts," said Hartman.
The Stampede will be at home at East Side Rec to take on Anaconda in a double header on Friday night, and the District Tournament, which they will host, begins on July 31.

Stampede wins title

July 15

Saratoga Springs – Powered by Neil Callahan’s two home runs, the Saratoga Stampede defeated the Newburgh Nuclears 6-2 to win the 12th Annual Cooper’s Cave Tournament Sunday at East Side Rec.
Callahan, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, launched his first shot in the bottom of the first inning with Andy Brown on first base to give Saratoga a 2-0 lead.
Travis Wilson took the mound for the Stampede in the title game, and he had one of his finest outings of the season. Wilson kept the Newburgh bats silent, giving up a harmless single in the second, and then he did not allow another hit until the top of the fifth.
Saratoga made it a 3-0 contest in the second. Ryan Washburn walked to lead off the inning, and then brother Levi smacked a single up the middle to put runners on first and second. One out later, Brad Elliott laid down a beautiful bunt that plated Ryan Washburn to make it 3-0.
The Stampede kept the pressure on in the following inning, as Callahan’s second dinger to left field drove in Kenny Recore, who opened the inning with a base hit, and Andy Brown, who had drawn a walk, and the score was then 6-0.
Wilson ran into some hard luck in the sixth, and Newburgh took advantage of it. Josh Depew started the inning by hitting a shot to third base, and Chris Hackett misplayed it for a two-base error. Rick Pacione then reached on a swinging bunt infield single, putting runners on the corners. Wilson then threw a wild pitch that got past Recore, which doesn’t happen often, and Depew raced home to pull the Nuclears to within 6-1. After Jack Crawford flied out to Elliott in center, John DeGroodt lined a single to left to drive in Pacione and Newburgh was within 6-2. Wilson then took matters into his own hands and picked DeGroodt off of first, the second time he nailed a runner in the game.
In the seventh, Wilson caught Sean Griffin looking at a called third strike for the first out. Mark Corrado then popped out to Brown at short, and Saratoga was one out away from winning. But Newburgh wouldn’t go down without a fight, and after Vinny Moscato reached on an error and Tommy Hand doubled, the Nukes had some confidence back with runners on second and third.
But once again Wilson answered the call, and he struck out pinch hitter Sean Leahy to end the game.
The Stampede finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, and they will next play at home on Friday night in a double header against Anaconda.
For the tournament, Callahan went 8-for-22 (.364), with two home runs, seven RBIs, seven runs scored, four doubles, and six walks.

Stampede take two

July 14

Saratoga Springs – The Saratoga Stampede did what they had to – win two games to advance to the championship game of the 12th Annual Cooper’s Cave tournament at East Side Rec on Saturday.
The Stampede (29-7) first took on St. Johnsville Post, where they won a tight match, 3-2.

Saratoga wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as designated hitter Kyle Baldani drove in Andy Brown to make it a 1-0 game after one inning.
The Stampede would score the remainder of their runs in the second. With runners on first and second with two outs, Zac Kozersky ripped a base hit to score Justin Wilock to extend the lead to 2-0. Kenny Recore followed with a single to right, plating Brad Elliott for a 3-0 edge.
Ryan Washburn took the ball from Manager Paul Mound, and he turned in a terrific performance. Washburn, who now hurls for the Hudson Valley Community College pitching staff, has pitched sparsely for the Stampede. It didn’t show, as Washburn held St. Johnsville, a formidable team, scoreless over the first four innings, while scattering just three hits. The three hits in the fifth inning would amount to two runs, but after Josh Nethaway’s RBI double made it a 3-2 game, Washburn struck out Nick Manganelli to retire the side.
In the next inning-plus that he pitched, Washburn would yield just a harmless base hit before giving way to Travis Wilson, who struck out Derrick Nugent and Brandon Elmendorf to end the game.
In the semifinal game that leads to the championship match, which will be played today at noon at East Side Rec, Saratoga was matched against Hoxsie Cleansers from Rhode Island, who crushed the Malone Post earlier in the day to make it to the semis.
Zach Hartman, who has been an ace for the Stampede all season (7-1, 1.72 ERA), took the mound for the Stampede. Hoxsie was not intimidated by Hartman’s success, as they tagged him for a run in the top of the first inning.
Hartman would have the last laugh, however, as he settled down and held Hoxsie to just three runs over six innings.
Saratoga doesn’t play from behind very often, and this game was no different. Third baseman Chris Hackett led off with the first of two long doubles that he would hit on the night, and he would score later in the inning on a wild pitch by Hoxsie starter Angelo St. Laurent.
Ryan Washburn, who drew a walk, scored later to make it 2-1, as the Stampede sent eight batters to the plate.
In the fourth, Saratoga picked up another run. With one out, Kozersky reached on an infield single, stole second, went to third on an error, and then scored when Recore laced a single to center
The Stampede put the game way in the fifth, as Kyle Baldani, Hackett, and Washburn all drew walks to open the inning. Wilock then polished off Hoxsie with a base-clearing double, giving Saratoga an insurmountable 6-1 lead.
Hoxsie, however, refused to go down without a fight. They ripped three straight singles off of Washburn to start the sixth, but Washburn showed his mettle, as he gave up just one run while retiring the next three batters to end the inning.
The Stampede added two more runs in the bottom of the frame, as Hackett’s double to deep left-center field scored Neil Callahan, and then he would come around to make it 8-3 on an error on shortstop Dan Gamache to complete the scoring.
Neil Callahan, who sparkled defensively by making two tremendous diving plays to steal a hit from the opposition in each game today, recorded the final three outs to preserve the win.
The Stampede players are excited to be playing Newburgh, who they lost to by a 3-2 score in an earlier tournament this season. Zach Hartman is just one of the players who remembers the heart-wrenching loss.
“We saw them with the wood bats earlier, and we can’t wait to get back at them with the metal ones,” said Hartman.
Manager Paul Mound, who has seen his club in the championship game of two tournaments already this season, is thrilled to be in the same position once again.
“The team’s on a roll, just like last year…we’re doing it with all kinds of players…up and down this lineup, every day it’s somebody else… so, what more can you ask for?.. Washburn was huge today, Hartman was unbelievable on short rest, Hackett’s bat is back, Justin Wilock is hitting the cover off of the ball, Kozersky is a major weapon because of his foot speed and what he brings to the game… so, for us, I’m incredibly pleased.
“Newburgh is a very good squad… they’re well managed, they’re fundamentally sound… they came from behind to beat Saugerties 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning… Newburgh’s undefeated (5-0 in the tournament, one game cancelled due to rain), we’re undefeated (6-0), so I guess it’s fitting… We’re going to give them our game, we know what they are all about, our guys are pretty stoked to go and play them again, and we feel like we owe them one."
Saratoga and Newburgh will face off today at noon at East Side Rec.

Hartman continues to mow down competition

July 12
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Stampede starting pitcher Zach Hartman had another impressive outing, this time in the 12th Annual Cooper’s Cave tournament, as he allowed just one earned run in a 4-2 win over the Rondout Royals at East Side Rec on Thursday night.
Hartman struck out eight batters while walking just one as he kept the Rondout bats quiet for most of the night.
The Stampede gave Hartman an early 1-0 lead with a little two-out lightning in the bottom of the first inning. After Kenny Recore and Justin Wilock grounded out to shortstop Dan Steers, Andy Brown worked out a walk. Neil Callahan then delivered the big blow, a double into the left field corner that scored Brown all the way from first.
Saratoga increased its lead to 4-0 the following inning. Ryan Washburn reached safely on an error on second baseman Gideon Sterer, and then advanced to second when Mike Hughes, the Royals starting pitcher, threw wildly to first in an attempt to pick him off. Ryan’s brother Levi then stroked a base hit into left field, scoring Ryan and putting the Stampede up 2-0.
After Brad Elliott struck out, Recore reached on an infield single. Justin Wilock delivered another blow to Rondout when his single to deep left field scored Levi Washburn and Recore, and Saratoga was on top 4-0.
Hartman was in a groove by then. After surrendering a single to Joe Dennin to open the game, Hartman retired the next eight batters before Sterer poked a single to left. Hartman then got Fred Moore to ground out to Wilock at second to end the inning.
The Stampede threatened again in the third, with runners on second, but 15-year-old relief pitcher G.C. Yerry came in, walked Levi Washburn on a full count, and then struck out Brad Elliott to end the inning. Yerri would strike out seven Stampede batters in 3 2/3 innings.
Other than a hit batsman, Hartman sailed through the fourth. In the fifth, he stumbled just a bit. He walked Joe Viviani, and then Levi Washburn misplayed a fly ball in left, resulting in an error. Sterer’s groundout to Andy Brown at short scored Viviani, but then Moore smacked a ground ball to short that hit Dennin, who was running to third, and the inning was over.
Hartman allowed his only earned run in the sixth, but struck out Jonny Harkins for the third out.
In the seventh he picked up his final two strikeouts, including Moore for the final out of the night.
To go with his eight K’s, Hartman scattered just six hits over the seven-inning contest.
The tournament continues today, with the first game scheduled for 9 a.m. at East Side Rec, and the Stampede will play at 8 p.m. versus Malone Post.

Stampede - Saratoga's best-kept secret

July 9
SARATOGA SPRINGS – There’s some great baseball being played right here in the Spa city, and no one’s watching.
The Saratoga Stampede, the defending District IV Champions of the American Legion, is one of Saratoga’s best-kept secrets.
The Stampede was founded by their head coach, Paul Mound, seven years ago. Starting out as a Babe Ruth team as well as a 15-and-under independent travel team, Mound turned down offers to bring his club into the Connie Mack league and instead opted to join the American Legion. Some say that his club is better suited for Connie Mack, but Mound defends his choice to join the Legion.
“I don’t believe that Connie Mack baseball is as good as American Legion baseball because college guys don’t come out and follow Connie Mack baseball. I can give you college coach after college coach that are big proponents of Legion baseball. I think it’s a much better brand of baseball also because in American Legion, you can come back and play after you’ve completed your freshman year of college and challenge high school kids. You can’t do that in Connie Mack, they’re all high school players. So it’s an extension of high school baseball in many ways. It (Connie Mack) typically doesn’t travel outside of the immediate area, where we go outside of our immediate area to seek out tougher competition.”
Others believe that the competition would be better in Connie Mack, but again Mound stands by his league.
“Locally, when we play weeknight games I would make an argument that some of the teams that come out of certain counties are not as strong because there are too many posts in that area.
“If you were Melvin Roads out of East Greenbush, who won the Newburgh tournament last weekend, they’re a very good team, and we pounded them. After we pounded them they went up to Plattsburgh and won the Plattsburgh tournament, and went down to Newburgh and won the Newburgh tournament.
Mound is 100 percent dedicated to his team as well as his league, and he has made it a point to learn the history of the league, former players, and the current teams as well as the management of the other clubs.
“We go down and we play Shrub Oak. The director of the Shrub Oak baseball program happens to be the East coast director of scouting for the Kansas City Royals. We play the Newburgh Nuclears, chartered in 1948 and personally have put nine players in the major leagues and continue to be a college hotbed for quality college baseball players. Beacon is a solid program whose players are always being recruited to go play. So to the nay sayers I would say this, ‘What percentage of players are you placing at top-shelf college programs versus what percentage the American Legion is placing,’ and I think that speaks volumes.”
Mound continued to show his detailed knowledge of the league.
“St. Johnsville’s head coach was a nine-year major league baseball player, Roger Weaver, who pitched for the Detroit Tigers for nine years… St. Johnsville has an amazing baseball program. You go out to Utica, New Hartford, who are New York State champions, they ran nine guys out on us last year, eight of them who were Div. I or Div. II baseball players!”
American Legion baseball has been around since 1925. The American Legion in the state of New York has produced over 50 major league baseball players, including many from this area.
“Think of these names, out of the Utica area; American Legion baseball players Mark Lemke, Andy Van Slyke, Dave Cash, all out of Utica, New York. Gary Tuck, who played American Legion baseball with me out in Amsterdam, was solely responsible for the development of Jorge Posada. He’s currently the catching instructor for the Boston Red Sox. Dave LaPointe from Glens Falls Post, and David Palmer, who pitched for the Montreal Expos and the Atlanta braves.
“American Legion baseball is quality, quality baseball, and, on top of it, you can go travel to American Legion tournaments and get tested even more.”
And when it comes to quality baseball, Saratogians do not have to travel to Utica or Amsterdam to see fine athletes, as the Stampede play right in our own back yard.
Of the players from last year’s squad who helped bring home the crown, Kevin Gent, who pitched for the Stampede for six years and holds all of Saratoga’s pitching records, is now hurling for Plattsburgh State. Matt Kelley is playing for Hartwick, Oliver Aldrich is a member of Castleton State’s baseball team, Steve Hughes is in the U.S. Naval Academy, and Brian Sheridan is part of Hudson Valley Community College’s starting rotation.
And it doesn’t end there. Currently, part of this year’s Stampede team just completed their freshman year of college, while others who graduated high school this year have a college career already mapped out for them.
Third baseman Chris Hackett, one of five Saratoga High School products currently on the Stampede roster, will be headed to the University of Albany. Second baseman Jeff Mound, one of the team’s co-captains, just completed his freshman year at Plattsburgh State, as did Andy Brown, the team’s other co-captain, at Union College. Underclassmen Brad Elliott and Ryan White also hail from the Blue Streaks’ squad. Zac Kozersky, a Schuylerville grad, is playing for Hudson Valley, where he led the team in stolen bases in his freshman campaign. Ryan Washburn, who was a teammate of Kozersky’s at Schuylerville, is also on the roster at Hudson Valley, where he led the club in batting average in his first year.
Not only are the players on the Stampede talented, as their record consistently shows, but they are loyal to the program as well.
The aforementioned Gent was with the Stampede for six years, co-captains Mound and Brown are seven-year veterans of the program, and since they have been with the club since before they were a Legion team, have put up records that will never be broken by another Stampede player.
Kozersky, while sitting out last season, is also in his sixth season with the club, as is Washburn. Hughes played for Saratoga for four years, and Hackett is in his fourth season and will most likely be back for a fifth and maybe even a sixth season. Neil Callahan, Justin Wilock, and Kenny Recore are all three-year veterans of the Stampede.
When asked why he thought his players were so loyal to the team, Mound wasted no time in giving his perspective.
“Because I love each and every one of them like they’re my own family,” said Mound.
“You won’t know what kid is my kid, other than the name on his back. I don’t treat any of them any different. They’re all an extended part of my family. They know that I care about them not only as players, but as people, and I want them to have these years, when they look back at them, to be the greatest time in their life. So we have a lot of fun.”
Ryan Washburn added some color on the subject when he said that he had opportunities to play elsewhere, but he didn’t want to miss a season of “Paul Ball,” as the players have titled Mound’s baseball philosophy.
What exactly is “Paul Ball?” Quite simply put, it’s fundamentally sound, winning baseball. His team can hit, they are excellent defenders, there’s plenty of team speed, and they round it all out with outstanding pitching.
The Stampede are off to another fine season, as their record shows (20-5 American Legion, 22-7 overall). So, if you’re a fan of baseball, there are some great games being played right here in town, where you can see the stars of the local high school and college baseball diamond, and it also gives you a chance to follow the area players after they have graduated from high school.
Saratoga plays its home games at East Side Rec, and will have an extended home schedule this season, as they will be hosting the 12th annual Cooper’s Cove tournament, an 18-team tournament that will be played from July 10-15, as well as the American Legion District IV Tournament, which runs from July 31 - Aug. 5. To see the complete 2007 Saratoga Stampede schedule, visit http://www.saratogastampede.com/, click on the eteamz link, and the click on schedules.

Stampede lose first home game in over a year

July 3
Saratoga Springs – The Saratoga Stampede lost their first home game in more than a year, as they split a double header to the Vermont Lakers, a college team, on Tuesday night.
The Stampede (17-4 American Legion, 19-6 overall) took the first game by a 2-0 score, as Ryan White, a Saratoga High School product, scattered six hits over six innings and struck out four batters while walking just one to earn the win.
The game went by quickly, as both starting pitchers carried shutouts into the fifth inning.
Both teams threatened, but could not come up with the key hit. In the top of the second, a two-out hit loaded the bases for Vermont, but White got former Stampede player Oliver Aldrich to ground out to Levi Washburn at shortstop to end the threat.
Saratoga answered in the bottom of the frame, as Chris Hackett opened the inning with a walk. A single by Ryan Washburn and a beautiful sacrifice bunt by Kyle Baldani put runners on second and third, but Zach Hartman’s grounder was played to home to cut down Hackett, and then Justin Wilock tapped one back to the mound, and Vermont pitcher Jeremy Gilchrist threw to the plate to end the inning.
In the top of the third, White surrendered back-to-back singles to start the inning, but then got Matt O’Rourke to fly out to Hackett in right, struck out Ted Mills, and enticed Dan Conley to groundout to Wilock at second to retire the side.
The Stampede broke through to end the scoreless tie in the fifth. Levi Washburn opened with a base hit up the middle, Wilock grounded out to first, and then Saratoga received four consecutive singles, by Zac Kozersky, Kenny Recore, Vince Farfaglia, and Hackett. Recore drove in Washburn and Farfaglia’s base hit to left plated Kozersky for the 2-0 lead.
That was all that White needed, as he gave up a leadoff single in the sixth, and then got the next three batters. In the seventh, he struck out Mike Jones, gave up an infield single to Anthony Angrasano, picked him off, and then ended the game by striking out Aldrich.
Vermont sent pitcher Stephen Shorml to the mound for game two, and he simply dominated the Stampede. He sent Saratoga down in order in the first, and then his club gave him a 1-0 lead to work with in the top of the second.
Shorml was even more impressive in the second, as he struck out Andy Brown, Baldani, and Hartman all in a row. After two innings Shorml had four strikeouts.
Stampede starter Chris Hackett pitched well in the third, but lost the strike zone in the fourth, walking the first three batters he faced. Three hits and a sac fly later, Vermont had built a 4-0 lead.
They added two more in the fifth, as two more walks came around to score, making it a 6-0 contest.
After Ryan Washburn struck out two and faced the minimum three batters in the sixth, the Lakers picked up their final two runs in the seventh off of Brown on four base hits, and the deficit was then 8-0.
Saratoga went quietly in the seventh, as Mat Tutthil struck out Farfaglia and Brown before Baldani scorched a line drive to short, and Scott Robinson timed his leap perfectly, robbing Baldani and ending the game.

Stampede to hoist flag tonight

June 26
Saratoga Springs – The Saratoga Stampede will receive their 2006 American Legion Division IV championship flag, which they will raise tonight in a pregame ceremony at East Side Rec.
The flag will be presented by Saratoga Central Catholic baseball head coach Alphonse Lambert. Lambert has close ties to the Stampede, as Vince Farfaglia, Neil Callahan, and other members of the Saints’ team are a part of Paul Mound’s Stampede squad.
To honor the ’06 team that won District IV and went to the state finals, Mound has invited players who were on last year’s club, but are age ineligable to play this season, back for the ceremony.
Kevin Gent, a left-handed pitcher who now attends Plattsburgh State, is one of the former players that will be attending the ceremony. Gent played for the Stampede for seven years and holds all of the Stampede’s pitching records. Since the Stampede began as a Babe Ruth and 15-and-under independent travel team and have only been in the American Legion for three years, Gent’s records should stand for as long as the Stampede remains a baseball club.
Also appearing for the ceremony will be Matt Kelley, who only played one year for Saratoga, but was a huge part of the ’06 team. Kelley hit three home runs in one game against St. Johhnsville in last year’s state tournament.
Mike Ruggiero, who posted a 15-3 record in two years as a starting pitcher for Saratoga, will be in attendance, as will Oliver Aldrich, who now plays for Castleton State in Vermont. Rounding out the list of last year’s players are Steve Hughes, who left the club midway through the season to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, and Brian Sheridan, who recorded an 8-2 record as a starting pitcher and worked his way into the closer’s role by season’s end. Sheridan is now a member of Hudson Valley Community College’s pitching rotation.
Making the ceremony extra sweet for the Stampede is the fact that they are playing St. Johnsville, who they defeated for District IV title.
The ceremony will begin at 6:45, with first pitch scheduled for 7:30.
Also attending tonight’s ceremony will be the Director of the Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission, Linda Tericola.
“Linda has worked closely with me over the past seven years to insure the growth of the Stampede program. Her time and assistance has been extremely valuable to our success,” said Mound.