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The American Legion Post 70 17U baseball team is 10 games into their 2020 season and head coach Will Austin believes the team is about to round into shape.

“The season has been going great,” Austin said. “It’s kind of been a weird scenario with COVID-19. We have played 10 games and I think our kids are really  starting to play better. We are starting to hit out stride with out hitting, our pitching and our defense. Chandler Lunn does a great job with our infielders and our hitting and coach Scotty Bateman does a great job at getting our pitchers to where they need to be.”

With athletics shut down earlier in the year, Post 70 started practicing near the end of May, not knowing when they would be back on the field for a game.

“There were a lot of question marks about when we were going to play,” Austin said. “The uncertainty of not playing has worked out in a good way for us as the summer has progressed. I think the kids are getting in a really good routine with our practice and game schedule.”

When they finally got on the field to play, the players were ready to go play.

“They were very excited,” Austin said. “Anytime they can show up and play the game, they love to play. That’s all you can ask for.”

Post 70 typically plays in tournaments every weekend. They also mix in mid-week games when able.

“We play a lot of tournaments on the weekends,” Austin said. “Coach Ross Hixon is over a lot of 19 and 17U scheduling. He has tournaments set up and we also have been picking up mid-week games either on Tuesday or  Wednesday.”

The 17U team plays most of their midweek game at Pike Liberal Arts in Troy. With a roster that features five players from Pike Liberal Arts along with a player from Charles Henderson in Bailey Sparrow, local baseball fans have enjoyed returning to the ballpark this summer.

“It’s been a pretty cool thing,” Austin said. “I know people from the community like to come out and watch and see some pretty good baseball. We have a lot of kids from around the Troy area. We have two from Rehobeth, one from Dothan and a couple from Enterprise, so we are all over the Wiregrass.”

Most of Austin’s players are versatile enough to play multiple positions on the field.

“That is a really good thing for a coach,” Austin said. “We have a decent amount of pitching as well and that will take you a long way in a tournament.”

Post 70 will be participating in a tournament in Dothan this weekend before playing in two mid-week games next week.