The teams of American Legion Post 77 have finished the state tournament, which took place from July 22-26.
Conyers took the title, while Rockdale finished fifth (which was the team’s exact seed in the tourney).
With Conyers now moving on to the regional American Legion Tournament this week, here’s a look at the next challenge for Coach Eddie Bagwell’s state champion bunch.
NEXT UP
Conyers Post 77 sets out to conquer the southeast after winning the Georgia American Legion baseball title, taking a trip to compete in the American Legion Southeast Regional Tournament in Sumter, S.C.ARRIVING IN STYLE
The Conyers team will take a private charter bus up to the tournament site for a banquet on Wednesday, but Bagwell’s team has a tough challenge from the get-go on the field. The Conyers boys square off in what will practically be a home game for the South Carolina Legion champ at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6 – the first day of the double-elimination tourney, which runs through Monday, Aug. 10.
STAR STRUCK DOWN
The 16-man squad will also be a bit light, having to play at least without Heritage standout and MLB prospect Tyler Austin. Austin, who hit the walk-off, two-run homer to end clinch the state title, is out with an undisclosed injury.SERIES BOUND?
If Conyers can advance out of its group – also including Legion champs from Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Tennessee – they will travel to Fargo, N.D., for the National American Legion World Series that starts on Aug. 14.
SOUND OFF
"Most of all, you prepare for teams you haven’t seen by preparing to do what you do well," Bagwell said about matching up against an unfamiliar opponent. "We are going to focus all our efforts on solid defense, pitching strikes and let the offense catch up. The scouting is taking place when the game is going on. The purpose behind us playing our best defense and pitching is to keep the game close while we can adjust at the plate. Because, like I tell our guys, there’s no difference between the first pitch and the last pitch of the game. The only thing that changes is what’s going on between your ears up there."
