NOTEBOOK: Newberry-Chapin enjoys World Series experience
Newberry-Chapin Post 193/24 enjoyed another perk of winning the American Legion World Series.
Post 193/24 got to take in Game 1 of the World Series in Kansas City between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals on Oct. 29.
“It was a great experience,” Newberry-Chapin coach Daniel Gregory said. “It was crammed into 24 hours but well worth it.”
Gregory said the trip was supposed to be for the first two games of the World Series but ended up being a one-day trip. The team flew out of Columbia at 5:45 a.m. on the morning on the game, and were met in Kansas City by members from the American Legion.
Major League Baseball provides the tickets to the American Legion World Series champions each year and the American Legion pays for the travel expenses and food.
The players and coaches spent their day cramming in several activities before the game. They went to Negro Baseball League Museum, had lunch at Gates BBQ and a took a tour of Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Post 193/24’s seats were in the upper deck behind home plate and they were treated to a classic. The Royals rallied to tie the game in the ninth on Alex Gordon’s homer and won 5-4 in 14th innings.
The team arrived at its hotel at 1:30 a.m., less than five hours before they were suppose to board a flight to come back to South Carolina. Gregory said things got interesting when some of the players overslept, causing a frantic sprint to get the airport on time.
“It was like the Home Alone scene running through the airport but we made it there and they were waiting for us to board,” Gregory said. “It was a great time. Some of them had never been on a plane before or attended a major league game. So that was great to see.”
Healing up
With the South Carolina High School League pushing back the postseason a week, many teams around the state have a week off heading into the first round.
Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Newberry, Fairfield Central, Mid-Carolina and Batesburg-Leesville are Midlands teams with a week off. It comes at the right time for the Panthers, who lost their final three regular season games. B-L opens the playoffs at Central on Nov. 13.
“It helps us. Because of playing in the toughest conference, the week off helps you heal up and get refreshed before going on a run in the playoffs,” Batesburg-Leesville coach Perry Woolbright said.
Lower Richland Thanksgiving Tip-off field
The eight-team field is set for the Lower Richland boys Thanksgiving Tip-Off on Nov. 23-25.
Teams are River Bluff, Gray Collegiate, Westwood, Fort Mill, 22 Ft Academy out of Greenville, Science Hill (Tennessee), Airport and Lower Richland.
22 Ft Academy features South Carolina commit Sedee Keita and Science Hill is the alma mater of former South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier.
The tournament, which expanded from four to eight teams this year, will be played at both Lower Richland and Airport high schools the first two days with the final day’s games at Lower Richland.
No Oak Hill trip for A.C. Flora
The A.C. Flora boys basketball team won’t be making a trip to play powerhouse Oak Hill on Dec. 1 because of a scheduling conflict, according to coach Joshua Staley.
Instead, the Falcons will be playing in the Southeast Nike Hoops Festival on Dec. 5 at Vance High School in Charlotte.
Tennis, volleyball playoff update
Defending state champion Dutch Fork and unbeaten Lexington are alive in the Class 4A tennis playoffs.
The Silver Foxes finished their second-round, upper-state match against Greenville on Wednesday while the Wildcats (22-0) will host Wando in a lower state semifinal match Thursday.
Dutch Fork plays Fort Mill or Boiling Springs in the upper state semis Thursday.
A.C. Flora still is alive in 3A playoffs and will play its second-round match against Belton-Honea Path on Thursday. The match was scheduled for Monday but has been postponed by rain.
The upper and lower state tennis finals are scheduled for next week with the state championships for all classes Nov. 14 at the Cayce Fitness Center.
River Bluff and White Knoll remain in the Class 4A volleyball playoffs. The Gators host defending state champion Wando on Thursday in one lower state final match while White Knoll travels to Bluffton in the other. The two winners meet in the lower state championship Tuesday.
Recruiting news
Blythewood’s Eli Lake committed to play basketball at Navy last week. Lake, 6-foot-8, saw his stock rise over the summer playing for the Carolina Wolves AAU team and was one of the Bengals’ top scorers last season.
With most of its roster in tact from last season, Blythewood should be one of the top 4A teams in the state this year.
Two Midlands baseball players recently announced their commitments.
Blythewood infielder Chase Ellis verbally committed to The Citadel, while River Bluff catcher Treyce Bouknight pledged to North Greenville.
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 5:29 PM with the headline "NOTEBOOK: Newberry-Chapin enjoys World Series experience."