Second season

From staff reports
Published: June 19, 2008

Four games into the second season of American Legion Baseball in Orange, head coach Chris Haney likes what he sees.
His team has split its first four games, but the program is growing and the local teams have potential.
“This is our second year and the core of our team is back,” Haney said. “On paper, this team is better. We’ve still got to go out and play, but we’ve got a good chance to be a good team.”
Last summer, for the first time in nearly 30 years, American Legion Baseball returned to Orange.
Regardless of the record (the local boys won a few more than they lost), the season was successful because of the return of the program and the interest it generated.
American Legion Baseball is the premier summer baseball opportunity for teenagers. It has a rich national tradition that has fostered teamwork, discipline, leadership and good sportsmanship since 1925.
Indirectly, it benefits the local high school baseball programs.
The more the boys play together, the better they can be. They’re playing a higher level of competition in Legion ball–essentially regional all-star teams–that only make them stronger when next spring’s high school season rolls around.
Interest in the program is growing locally–so much so that a junior Legion team was established this year–which should only mean good things for the quality of local baseball in Orange.
So far, the senior team has gone 2-2. They won their opener 14-1 over Post 116 Louisa, then whipped Post 2003 Fluvanna 10-0. In the next two games, they lost by two runs both times, 6-4 to Post 89 King George, and 7-5 to Post 55 Courtland. The junior team is 2-1.
“In the games we’ve won, we’ve rolled,” Haney said. “We were swinging the bats great. Jeremy Brown and D.J. Brown hit great and Hunter Kenney led the charge.”
In the last few games, the local boys’ biggest challenge has been attendance. Post-graduation beach trips have thinned the ranks of the Orange team, leaving them a little shorthanded.
But, if he can get his team fully assembled, Haney said this team is well-stocked to compete this summer–especially with the experience of last summer’s season.
“We should have a strong pitching staff–especially now that everyone’s a year older,” he said.
Overall, Haney’s pleased with the program’s health.
“Last year, it came together better than I expected,” he said. “We had a lot of support for a first-year program.”
Haney is joined on the coaching staff by his father Larry, another former Major Leaguer, who spent more than 40 years as a player, coach and scout in the Major Leagues. Additionally, Brian Funk, Jeremy Cole and Kevin Haney round out the senior team’s coaching staff. Brian Rasnick, Skeeter Lutz and OCHS baseball coach Jesse Lohr head up the junior team.
“The community has been really good,” Larry Haney said. “It’s caught on. A lot of people enjoyed coming out to the ballpark and this year, they’ll have twice as many opportunities.”
Home games are played at Porterfield Park in Orange and there is no admission. Donations are accepted at home games and the team appreciates sponsors.
“It’s a good brand of baseball,” Chris Haney concluded. “People can come out and see good baseball teams. I think people were happy with what we did last year. It’s the time of year people expect to watch baseball.”
Anyone interested in supporting American Legion Baseball is encouraged to contact Chris Haney at 832-2503.