West Hartford American Legion Post 96 U-19 baseball team repeated as state champions on Aug. 2, 2024.

By Ronni Newton

After a decades-long drought in reaching the pinnacle of American Legion baseball at the state level, West Hartford’s Post 96 U-19 team won the state championship in 2023 – and earned the honor again, defending their title in 2024 with a 4-2 win against Danbury.

On July 29, 2023, West Hartford’s American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 U19 baseball team won the Connecticut title for the first time since 1973, beating Danbury 10-1, but their run ended after two losses at the regional level.

The 2024 Pot 96 team, which included multiple players now in college and in their final season of eligibility, won several more games after earning the state title, but lost to Post 100 (Massachusetts) in the semi-finals of the Northeast Region on Aug. 10. Over the past two years their overall record was 51-13.

The team and its coaches – holding the championship trophies from both years – were recognized Tuesday night by the West Hartford Town Council, and Mayor Shari Cantor presented a proclamation congratulating them for the achievement and also noting their commitment to teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Post 96 head coach Sean McCann with West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Head coach Sean McCann presented Cantor with a West Hartford State Championship cap.

“When you come back after winning one you get a little bit of a bulls-eye on your back,” he said. “And to have the group of guys that we had, and with the core of leadership that came back, and another core group of hungry young men, that was the chemistry and the combination for us to succeed again this year and bring it back home to where it belongs.”

McCann also thanked Post 96 for their support of the team. “You guys always have concern and care for us and the young men that played for our post, and that’s huge,” he said. The support of the community has been great as well, he added.

While not all team members could be present, those that could attend posed with the Town Council, proudly displaying their banner and the two trophies.

Proclamation congratulations Post 96 on their second state championship. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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