By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Tuesday was the lull before the storm for Pittsburg Post 64 American Legion baseball manager Mike Watt.
“Preparing for this trip is a little different,” Watt understated with a laugh. “It’s been interesting.
“It’s unique to be flying, of course,” Watt said. “We’re being treated like major leaguers this week.”
Post 64 qualified for the Central Plains Tournament at Minot (N.D.) by winning the Kansas Class AAA Tournament last week.
“The American Legion is paying for everything,” Watt said. “The players are even getting $18 daily for meals.”
Watt said today’s agenda calls for the Pittsburg group to leave at 11 a.m. to drive to Kansas City. It will take a flight to Minneapolis and another to Minot. The group tonight will attend a banquet for the participating teams.
The tourney opens at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at Corbett Field with Aberdeen (S.D.) meeting Omaha NP Dodge. Pittsburg plays Dubuque (Iowa) County in Game 2.
The second doubleheader, starting at 4:30 p.m., is Dickinson (N.D.) vs. Minnesota Eastview and Blue Springs (Mo.) Rod’s Sports Athletics vs. host Minot Vistas.
Records are Aberdeen 40-16, NP Dodge 35-16, Pittsburg 29-10, Dubuque 10-2, Dickinson 38-15, Minnesota Eastview 31-8, Blue Springs 49-6 and Minot 37-21.
Watt and coach Kyle Wolf haven’t worried about a scouting report.
“We really don’t know any people with whom to talk,” Watt said. “I’m unsure right now about a starting lineup.”
Dubuque County, returning to regional play, has a veteran team and the record is deceptive considering that the high school season is played in the summer.
Pittsburg has a roster of 14 players. They are Nate Arnold, Drew Beasley, Tyler Bennett, Shane Drenick, Michael Hayes, Brett Marshall, Adam McCormick, Austin Ross, Tanner Smith, Brandon Spear, Kenny Wachter, Jesse Watt, Willie Watt and Nick Whetzell.
Individual batting averages for Pittsburg, which has boosted its team mark to .314, include .396 for Jesse Watt, .355 for Wachter, .324 for Ross, .321 for McCormick, .319 for Smith and .312 for Willie Watt.
Jesse Watt also has 10 doubles and 38 runs batted in. Smith has swatted five home runs and three triples. Willie Watt and Wachter are tied for the team lead in runs scored with 33.
Pitching records include 7-1 for Spear, 6-1 for Beasley, 6-3 for Drenick and 5-2 for Jesse Watt.
Post 64, which won three games after advancing with a forfeit to romp through state at its JayCee Ballpark, is in a national regional for the first time since 1970.
Pittsburg, if it wins its opener, will play the last game on Friday night against the Missouri champion or Minot. A loss means the second losers’ bracket game on Friday against the loser of Blue Springs-Minot.
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