Lafayette Post 11 prepares for stretch run of American Legion baseball season

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Each summer, Lafayette Post 11 gathers to play baseball against other teams from Indiana in the American Legion Baseball League.

Comprised of players from Tippecanoe and surrounding counties, the Post 11 roster is a high school all-star team of sorts constructed each season by Dan Yeoman and his staff.

“It’s a competitive league," Yeoman said. "We used to have more teams, but it’s still competitive.”

To fill in the holes left from departing players, Yeoman will attend high school games and read newspapers to find players. Yeoman prefers players that can pitch and play other positions.

The rise of travel baseball has dwindled participation, but Lafayette's Post 11 has kept a team present while other communities have severed ties with sponsoring a summer ball club.

Others are reading:From South Korea through Lafayette Aviators, Kim sees a path to the major leagues

The American Legion Baseball League is the only amateur league with representation in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The winner of the American Legion World Series gets its picture hung up at the Baseball Hall of Fame and has the opportunity to be introduced during Game Four of Major League Baseball's World Series.

Teams play a five-week schedule followed by the postseason, which is different from the 11-week format that was scrapped a few years ago.

Yeoman has coached the team for many years and enjoys the attention players get from coaches at college programs and scouts from MLB organizations by playing in the league.  

“I’m happy for the kids," Yeoman said. "Coaches call and I get to talk about my kids. I’ve had 800 kids be a part of my family. I love them all.”

The league provides players with the opportunity to learn from one another, while forming friendships and memories at the same time. 

“It’s good to play with kids from around the area," said recent Harrison graduate Will Isom, in his first year playing for Post 11. "Most of them I didn’t play with in high school, so it’s a good experience. It was weird playing with some of these guys at first, but we have since become friends.”

The relatively short season combined with players potentially not having prior experience playing together can make building chemistry difficult.

Constructing a rapport comes from practice and talking with one another. Noah Hill, who attends Faith Christian, stated that the team's positivity and attitude helped build chemistry as building each other up bonds them together.

Isom enjoys the relaxed environment of the league, and with less practice compared to high school, the season allows him to enjoy the game and have fun. Hill was intrigued by the element of being invited to join the team and not having to try out.

“As soon as coach asked me last year, I was immediately in because I didn’t think I was good enough to do this,” Hill said.

Hill also discussed how he is more social and outgoing since he is closer in age to other players on the team. The personal growth is evident in the way he speaks, indicating a boost of confidence in himself that he might not have had before, showing how the team’s camaraderie builds others up.

The league is about giving players more of an opportunity to play the game they love in a relaxed environment that promotes fun.

Post 11 is currently competing in the Leo Bruner Invitational in Moline, Illinois. The regional tournament begins July 14 in Kokomo. 

Playing as a united team representing Lafayette is a big opportunity for the players. Second-year player Gavin Gleason is up to the task of playing for the name on the front of the jersey.

He mentioned coming from a small school helped him understand that you represent something bigger than yourself.

The ascension of travel baseball and summer camps for players have resulted in the Legion league being overlooked. The league is full of passionate coaches who teach athletes more than baseball and helps build character, which creates a community between the teams and cities they represent. 

“I have a sense of pride playing with the name Lafayette on my chest," said Gleason, who graduated from Delphi.  

Michael Hemmerle is a 2022 Hoosier State Press Association Pulliam intern for the Journal & Courier during the summer. Hemmerle can be reached by email at mhemmerle@gannett.com.

Lafayette Post 11 roster: Brock Robertson (Harrison), Gavin Gleason (Delphi), Bradyn Gleason (Delphi), Chris Fry (Delphi), Mason Rice (McCutcheon), Keaton Crum (McCutcheon), Braden Mullendore (Clinton Prairie), Xavier Cantrell (Tri-County), Nate Brown (West Lafayette), Noah Hill (Faith Christian), Logan Holmes (Harrison), Dailan Reece (Twin Lakes), Will Isom (Harrison), Kaden Mullendore (Clinton Prairie)