Highlights from West Hartford’s summer 2021 American Legion Baseball season.

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After a brief hiatus from baseball in 2020 due to COVID-19, American Legion Baseball and West Hartford Post 96 were back and stronger than ever this year. The Post 96 program grew to fielding four teams in 2021, with players representing West Hartford and competing in the highly competitive Connecticut American Legion Baseball League.

Some highlights from each team’s very successful seasons include:

• The 19U Senior Legion team played 30 games and finished with an overall record of 19-11. Their 12-7 Zone record was second in the division and top 10 in the state, allowing them to qualify for the Legion state regional championship held in July. The young team was eliminated early after a hard-fought game vs Greenwich.
• The Post 96 17U Junior Legion team played 33 games this summer finishing 23-10 overall, had Zone 1’s top record of 16-4 and entered the state tournament as a No. 1 seed. The team advanced all the way to the finals of the state tournament where they lost 7-6 to Zone 2 champion Wallingford in a back and forth, extra innings affair.
• The 15U Prep Legion played 29 games this summer and finished with an overall record of 19-10. Their 14-7 league record earned them a top seed in the state tournament where their great run ended in a championship game loss to South Windsor.
• In its inaugural summer season, the 13U Transitional Legion team played 22 games, going 17-5 overall and qualifying for the state tournament as the No. 2 seed. The team came up a couple of runs short in the state semifinals, facing a tough South Windsor team.
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Outside of Zone and State Championships, the teams also played in several non-Legion tournaments around New England including Rhode Island’s Firecracker Tournament, Cape Cod’s “Dugout Dawgs Classic,” the “Home Run Classic,” and the “Independence Day Classic.”  All teams also participated in Post 96’s “Day at Dunkin!” playing games at the beautiful home of the Hartford Yard Goats. Also, for the older Post 96 teams, the CT Legion Rawlings College Showcase resumed this summer where Connecticut American Legion’s highest potential players demonstrated their skills in front of over 30 college scouts. The pro-style workout and game was held at the New Britain Bees Stadium. West Hartford Post 96 was well represented with several players participating.

“What an action-packed and successful year for our program, coaches and players,” said John Cotter, Post 96’s general manager. “With our 15U and 17U teams making the state finals, our youngest team reaching the semi’s and our successful non-Legion tournament results throughout all divisions, the future is very bright and exciting for Post 96.”

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Sean McCann, the Post 96 19U Senior Legion manager also chimed in about the program. “Over the years, we realize baseball players have choices as to where they play each summer. Post 96 has elevated it’s program to being the premier choice in West Hartford, and this past season shows that. Our goal is to provide the town’s best baseball players and their families with a thorough and complete baseball playing experience. We do that by promoting player development and a team-first culture, fostered by a very strong set of coaches … many who played Legion baseball themselves as kids and went on to play and/or coach at high levels.”

Planning for the 2022 season is already underway. The regular season for American Legion Baseball begins in early June and runs into early August. Fall and offseason winter workouts are conducted throughout the year as well, leveraging Hall and Conard High School baseball facilities as well as the WHABA and West Hartford Youth Baseball indoor centers. For more information on Post 96 Baseball, please contact GM, John Cotter,  [email protected], 860-978-2869.

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