WAYNESBORO – The year was 1996 and Waynesboro hosted the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 4 tournament.
Fast forward to 2023 and Waynesboro will be the site of the regional tournament, with the winner moving on to play in the state tournament at Latrobe July 24-28.
Teams from Franklin County, Cumberland County, York County, Dauphin County, and Lebanon County will compete in the five-day tournament, which spans July 15 through July 19 at Robinson Field on the Waynesboro Area Senior High School campus.
“I kind of look at it this year that we’re going into it with nothing to lose,” said Waynesboro manager Dan McCleaf. “We wouldn’t have made the tournament without winning the Franklin County league championship. It’s the icing on the cake for the season.
“We do have some guys with experience in the tournament and we’re playing teams that haven’t been in it and we’re home. We’re used to the field and all the nuances that go with that.”
Waynesboro finished 9-9 on the season, including an 8-8 record in the county. Post 15 finished strong, winning four of its final five league games, including a come-from-behind 10-6 win over Chambersburg on July 10.
“We’re playing better at the end of the year,” McCleaf said. “I’d like to see us keep it up and see what we can do. We’re going to have fun. I’m hoping it all comes together.”
Play begins Saturday morning at 9:30 when Franklin County champion Shippensburg plays Hampden Township (Cumberland County).
The rest of Saturday’s schedule is as follows: Hummelstown (Dauphin County) vs. Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County) at 12 p.m.; Northeastern (York County) vs. Paxton (Dauphin County) at 3 p.m. and Waynesboro vs. Fifth Ward (Lebanon County) at 5:30 p.m.
The losers from Day 1 will play Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. The winners will play at 3 and 5:30 p.m. The winner of Waynesboro/Fifth Ward will play the winner of Hummelstown/Mechanicsburg.
Waynesboro’s roster consists of Tyler Caron, Aiden Campbell, Logan Clapsaddle, Blake Daywalt, Brody Daywalt, Seth Dodson, Connor Earley, Ethan Earley, Ethan Hotchkiss, Nicholas Jenkins, Eric Knepper, Dylan Morgan, Brett Powell, Evan Swanson and Devin Wynkoop,
Waynesboro came within a game of advancing to the 2022 state tournament. Post 15 lost to Hampden Township, 1-0 but reeled off three straight wins against Red Lion (10-5), New Oxford (5-2), and Fredericksburg (4-3). Waynesboro lost to Paxton in the championship game, 11-2.
Pennsylvania consists of seven regions. The top two teams in the state play in the Region 2 tournament (teams representing Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia) in Morgantown, West Virginia (Aug. 2-6). The World Series will take place in Shelby, North Carolina, Aug. 10-15.
OTHER ROSTERS
Fifth Ward (Lebanon): Noah Brandt, Kaleb Walizer, David Furjanic, Griffin Gonzalez, Ander Duran-Dedios, Jordy Polanco, Colby Robb, Flynn Krouse, Aliver Luciano, Elian Paredes, Randy Polanco, Braden Collazo, Daulton Heisey, Tyson Griffiths, Yostin Guerrero
Hummelstown Post 265: Roman Wintergrass, Wyatt Yeakle, Luke Warner, Ethan Woods, Noah Heath, Ellis Snow, Bryce Forney, Connor Hassinger, Tyce Fischl, Casey Westerberg, Trey Harper, Ryan Jorich, Connor Hanula, Hunter Gundy, Ethan Duff, Joey Swartz, Colin Warner and Lucas Millar
Shippensburg Post 223: Cody Cella, Braxton Neil, Caleb Roth, Zachary Martin, Elijiah Bailey, David Kunkleman, Thayne Stine, Kade Rumbaugh, Owen Wise, Mason Timmons, Athan Miller, Dominic Gaudiano, Tucker Chamberlin, Troy Chamberlin, Brady Carr, Brady Maciejewski and Everson Weller
Hampden Township (Mechanicsburg): Ace Perry, Dylan Carruthers, Ryan Remetta, Colin Basehore, Joshua Myers, Kyler Parks, Justin Taylor, Caleb Cawthern, Jason Madrak, John Shinn, Zach Cherrup, Brady Hawkins, Kaden Schoenly, Paddy Hernjak, Ryan Balaban, Tyler Carruthers, Caleb Rau and Ayden Thelen
Northeastern (Manchester): Marshall Busser, Derek Gross, Dalen King, Garrett Baker, Drew Barshinger, Brinden Floyd, Zack Ball, Konner Reeser, Brayden Ford, Donovan Blake, Ethan Reibold, Zachary Bortner, Tyler Wales, Brandon Charleston, Quinn Shindler, Nate Moser, Brandt Johnson and Mitch Moser
Mechanicsburg Post 109: Cody Fey, Shawn Karpaitis, Zachary Lochary, Owen Rynex, Reese Young, Henry Zercher, Kale Clark, Alex Woodring, William Hummel, Landon Mark, Eli Pratt, Dane Mark, Grady Weaver, Gavin Muza, Liam Owens, Luke Bencivenga, Nicholas Patrick and Eli Reider
Paxton (Harrisburg Post 730): Alex Yarrish, Charles Kane, Corey Kalinoski, Ben Long, Tyson Gill, Brayden Paul, Brady Park, Nathaniel Dorris, Hank Fedullo, Charles Long, Nathan Bingaman, Michael Kelemen, Sean Roadcap, Zachary Kelemen, Nick Keane, Cole Geedy, Adam Reeser and Christian Foltz
