By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
For the first time in a very long time, the Burlington American Legion isn’t fielding a Senior Legion squad this summer.
The team, which usually combines baseball players from Burlington and Catholic Central high schools, didn’t have a coach this summer.
Who knows what could have been for the senior legion, as Burlington’s squad advanced to the Region 7 state tournament last summer.
Region 7 American Legion Director Dick Imrie said recently that it’s disappointing the senior legion couldn’t field a team.
He said a couple Burlington kids were forced to play on Waterford and Lake Geneva squads.
Imrie said it’s the first time he remembers Burlington without a senior legion squad in decades.
Imrie said pressures from other sports, like summer basketball, demand too much time from young athletes and take away from baseball commitments.
16U going strong
Although there isn’t a Burlington Senior Legion squad this season, there’s still one legion squad, and it’s having a memorable season.
Head coach Randy Francois has the Burlington 16U legion squad at 5-0.
Francois said the Trashers consist of 12 Burlington kids and four Catholic Central kids.
Francois, who has coached legion for many years, said Don Golon would’ve been the coach but had to back out due to personal reasons.
Along with assistant coaches Dylan Friend and Jared Francois, two college baseball standouts and former Demons, the legion squad is led by Burlington’s Brian Sturtevant, Liam Schaefer, Dale Damon and Ben Golon.
So why are these guys off to such a good start?
“These kids have played together a long time,” Randy Francois said. “These guys went far with really good little league teams here in Burlington. Right now, we’re figuring it out and playing everybody everywhere.”
The state tournament will be held in Burlington this summer at Beaumont Field at the end of July.
The Trashers will receive an automatic bid since the event is in Burlington.
If Burlington keeps playing like it has been, the squad should earn a state berth the old-fashioned way.
Roster
1 Aaron Sturdevant
8 Connor Wegge
10 Liam Safar
11 Nick Klug
12 Jordan Kopac
14 Tate Harper
16 Bryan Sturdevant
17 Owen Dirksmeyer
20 Cole Kresken
22 Dale Damon
23 Ben Golon
24 Derek Morrow
30 Grant Tully
32 Reid Moen
33 Daniel Rummler
44 Isaiah Brenner
Coaches: Randy Francois
Jared Francois
Dylan Friend
Schedule: July – 2: @ Janesville DH 5:30 and 7 p.m.. 5-6: Appleton Tournament. 7: at Lake Geneva, 6 p.m. 10: Waterford, 6 p.m. 14: Lake Geneva, 6 p.m. 17-20: Regional tournament. 24-27: State tournament in Burlington.
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