NEW WESSON AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL TEAM

Locals are starting an American Legion Baseball Team for 14-17-year-olds. The tryout date is scheduled for May 2 at 10 a.m. at Copiah Academy.

The games will be a true high school feel and atmosphere. Players will be exposed to junior and senior collegiate coaches. Interested players must reside in the state, but must still attend all practices and games. Players may be come from homeschools or high schools.

American Legion Baseball is a national institution that had a modest beginning in 1925. The baseball program thrived through a world war, several national tragedies,

and times of great prosperity and great despair.

Community service has always been a core value of The American Legion and its 2 million members. The league still stands behind the traditional values upon which it was founded. American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health and active citizenship. 

“American Legion Baseball has held a reputation as one of the most successful and

tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Countless ALB alumni have gone on to play

college and professional baseball, with 82 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Bobby Thornton, American Legion Drane-Prine Post 79 Commander. “The men and women of the American Legion Post 79 are strong supporters of children and youth in our community.”

American Legion Basebll is a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young

athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. American Legion Baseball has been, and continues to be, a steppingstone to manhood for millions of young men who have gone on to serve their country or community, raise families, or play the sport at the highest level.

Breazeale Hood

Coaching the team will be Ricky Breazeale of Wesson, owner of Grace Foam Solutions, and Brandon Hood of Crystal Springs, owner of Brando's and newly acquired Wynndale

Steakhouse.

Johnson

The team will receive regular input from Copiah County native and Mississippi State College World Series winning pitcher, Preston Johnson, a former Baltimore Orioles pitcher.

"After the age of 14, travel baseball opportunities are scarce in our state. This gives our kids the ability to get high-quality reps over the summer while focusing on development and exposure to college opportunities" said Breazeale who played ball at William Carey, Jones College and Belhaven College.

The newly formed team will represent American Legion Post 79 Drane Prine in Wesson.

American Legion Baseball is widely recognized as one of the most successful and

tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers teams in all 50

states plus Canada.

“Over the years, summer baseball programs have been moved to only the younger

children and not the high school and junior high school students. American Legion

Baseball will meet that need and provide teenage boys the opportunity to play and

compete at the next level, said Thornton. “The Veterans of Post 79 in Wesson are proud to be involved and help sponsor the Legion Baseball Team.”

Players will adhere to the American Legion Code of Sportsmanship.

“I will:

Keep The Rules;  Keep Faith With My Teammates; Keep My Temper; Keep Myself Fit; Keep A Stout Heart In Defeat; Keep My Pride Under In Victory; Keep A Sound Soul; A Clean Mind And A Healthy Body" This site is dedicated to providing information about the program to the managers, coaches, and players.”

Most games will be in June on Fridays and Saturdays. If you are interested, please

email goatministry@gmail.com.