Post 467 host Brockway in semis tonight
WILCOX – Post 467 will host Brockway in Elk-McKean semifinal action tonight at the Jones Township Recreational Park (6 p.m.).
Wilcox finished atop the league's South Division with a 9-1 record. Last night, 7-4 Brockway defeated St. Marys 11-1 in five innings to advance. Brockway defeated Post 467 5-2 in the first game of a June 26 doubleheader in Wilcox. The home team took the second game 9-0.
In the North, Kane, and Smethport go at it this evening. Bradford, the third team in the division, dropped out. The championship and consolation games will be played on Saturday. Three teams earn a berth in the Region 8 tournament that starts on Friday, Jul. 15, in Albion.
Post 467 last played on Jun. 27 when they beat visiting Kane 12-2. Despite the long layoff, Wilcox manager Scott Zimmerman feels his team is chomping at the bit to back in action.
“It's been a while since we played, but we've been getting a lot of work in the last couple of practices to ensure we have the fundamentals down. I think these guys are getting bored with us, and they're ready to go against a real opponent.”
Zimmerman is assisted by Casey Zimmerman, Mike Porter, and Anthony Allegretto.
The Post 467 pitching has been incredible in the ten games. The staff has a combined ERA of 1.279. Collin Porter and Aiden Zimmerman each have four appearances and have pitched 15.1 innings. Porter has not given up a run, and Zimmerman two. Porter leads the team with 24 strikeouts, and Zimmerman has 20. Domenic Allegretto has 18 strikeouts in 11.1 innings, and Ben Paul has 10 in five. Jefferson Freeburg, Kaden Dennis, Luke Zimmerman, Camron Marciniak, and Cameron Larkin have also been on the hill.
“We've pitched well, and that was keeping us going,” said Zimmerman. “And now that our bats are coming around, it takes some pressure off the guys on the mound.”
Marciniak leads the team with a .542 batting average. As a team, Wilcox is hitting .330 and averaging 8.2 runs per game. Luke Zimmerman (.444), Domenic Allegretto (.438), Ethan Wells (.355), and Kaden Dennis (.346) are all hitting over the team average.
Caden Smiley (OF, 19 runs), Dalton Stahli (3B, 7 runs) have been starters all season.
Zimmerman praised the support his team has received.
"The Club has been great whenever we need something, and the fans have packed this place when we're here. It's nice to have so much support in this small town."
Last season, Wilcox fell to French Creek Valley 1-0 in nine innings at the regional tourney. The winner of the region earns a berth in the state championship tournament.
While not looking past the next two games, Zimmerman hopes to advance out of the region.
“Nobody likes coming in second. That was a good game, but we just couldn't finish in the end. We have our eyes on taking it this year.”
2022 Wilcox American Legion Statistics
Hitting Avg-H-AB-RBI-R-BB-SB
Camron Marciniak .542-13-24-10-14-5-10
Luke Zimmerman .444-8-18-5-8-3-5
Dom Allegretto .43814-32-4-8-2-6
Ethan Wells .355-1135-6-6-6-9
Kaden Dennis .3469-26-15-11-7-13
Aiden Zimmerman .276-8-29-2-16-11-11
Jefferson Freeburg .276-8-29-1-2-6-4
Collin Porter .273-622-3-3-2-1
Caden Smiley .263-519-0-4-2-4
Ben Paul .200-1-5-11-1-2 Dalton Stahli .185-527-2-7-5-5
Cameron Larkin .125-1-8-1-3-2-0
Team .330-89-27050-82-49-70
HR – Luke Zimmerman 1; 3B – Camron Marciniak 3, Luke Zimmerman 1; 2B – Domenic Allegretto 3, Camron Marciniak 2, Ethan Wells 2, Aiden Zimmerman 1, Dalton Stahli 1, Jefferson Freeburg 1, Luke Zimmerman 1, Cameron Larkin 1.
Pitching Appearances-IP-HR-ER-ERA-SO-BB-HB
Collin Porter 4-15.13-1-0-0.000-24-8-4
Aiden Zimmerman 4-15.1-9-2-2-.913-20-2-0
Domenic Allegretto 2-11.1-5-4-2-1.235-18-3-0
Jefferson Freeburg 2-6.2-7-5-3-3.150-10-5-4 Ben Paul 3-5-2-0-00.000-10-4-0
Kaden Dennis 2-4.24-3-3-4.500-8-1-0
Luke Zimmerman 1-4-1-0-0-0.000-6-2-0 Camron Marciniak 1-2.1-3-3-2-6.000-2-1-0
Cameron Larkin 1-11-0-0-0.000-1-2-0
Team 10-65.2-35-1812-1.279-99-28-8