Announcement
By Gary Kreinbink, The Lima News ,June 24, 2003
The Ottawa Post 63 American Legion baseball team is off to another solid start. Post 63, under the direction of head coach Ted Miller, currently owns a 12-4 record after falling to Lima, 5-3, this past Sunday in the Tawa Run Classic in Ottawa. The Legion Post in Ottawa has sponsored a team since 1930 and has owned a winning tradition since its infancy. Miller, now in his 9th year, describes the 2003 version as a team that really likes baseball and is willing to work together to be successful. "Even though we stumbled against Lima on Sunday, we have had a very good start," Miller said. "Our strength this year is our pitching and our overall defense. If we can get our bats going a little we feel we could be pretty dangerous around the district tournament time." Leading the way for Ottawa is Marty Baird from Van Buren. The junior to be is hitting .361 and owns a 3-1 record on the mound with a 1.21 earned-run average. Derek Patrick has also pitched well for Post 63. Patrick, who will be a senior this fall at Ottawa-Glandorf, sports a 3-1 mark with a 2.21 ERA. "We are really a young club, especially our pitching staff. However, this is the deepest staff since I have been here," Miller said. "I have to give Mike Baird, our pitching coach, a lot of credit for helping our pitchers understand how to pitch. Every pitch, depending on the count on the batter, is now thrown with a purpose. Mike has helped give our pitchers a lot of confidence." While pitching has been the strength, Ottawa's hitting has been a different story. Currently, the squad is just hitting .245 overall. Besides Baird, the top hitters have been Steve Andrus from Van Buren and Drew Bishop from Patrick Henry. Said Miller, "We were counting on three of our top hitters to be back in our lineup, but, because of other circumstances, they are not playing this year. But we are slowly adjusting." Miller is referring to Adam Miller of Elida and Jason Selhorst and Nick Ruhe of Ottawa-Glandorf. Miller is using the summer to prepare himself for football at Harvard. Selhorst is playing baseball this summer in Indianapolis, and Ruhe is getting ready for football at the University of Dayton. Coach Miller, now retired, taught and coached at Leipsic High school for 26 years. He recorded more than 400 wins and 22 league titles. His 1976 squad won the state championship. "It's different coaching Legion than your high school team," said Miller. "Even though we don't get the same practice time, I guarantee you we still play baseball the right way. We teach the kids about discipline, teamwork and how to play fundamental baseball. In American Legion baseball, we teach them to respect the game, the flag and their freedom. We show every kid how to stand for the national anthem and how to put their cap over their heart. We want young men who love to play baseball." When Ottawa goes on the road, Post 63 takes care of its athletes like few Legion Posts do. Every player's expense is paid for, including all hotel costs, traveling expenses and meals. Former and current general managers Dave Kersh and Dave Yoder handle all the business aspects of the baseball program. Ottawa has traveled to New York, Iowa, West Virginia to participate in tournaments recently. Home games at Memorial Park in Ottawa have the feeling of a minor league ballpark. Bands are regularly brought in and placed under one of the hundreds of trees that line the diamond for between-innings entertainment. Activities such as Little Buddy night, Elvis appearances, and Fan Appreciation giveaway night make it an enjoyable event for the entire family. Twice in the past four years, Post 63 has brought in "The Field of Dreams" players from Iowa to entertain standing-room-only crowds. Kersh has organized all of these activities because he believes that baseball is still about summer and families. The 2003 edition of the Ottawa squad has players from 12 different high schools, and to mesh all of these players takes time. Said coach Miller, "Each player that makes the team was one of the top players on their high school team. When they come here, however, they are just another player. Some players have a hard time adjusting when they are not the star and have to sit the bench. Therefore, we lose some players occasionally because of this. I admit I am 'old school' and not the easiest coach to play for. But if you love baseball, willing to get better, and play your rear end off, we'll get along fine." It sounds like a lot of American Legion programs around the state could learn a thing or two from coach Miller and the entire Post 63 baseball program in Ottawa.
June 24, 2003 THE LIMA NEWS
The Ottawa Post 63 American Legion baseball team is off to another solid start. Post 63, under the direction of head coach Ted Miller, currently owns a 12-4 record after falling to Lima, 5-3, this past Sunday in the Tawa Run Classic in Ottawa. The Legion Post in Ottawa has sponsored a team since 1930 and has owned a winning tradition since its infancy. Miller, now in his 9th year, describes the 2003 version as a team that really likes baseball and is willing to work together to be successful. "Even though we stumbled against Lima on Sunday, we have had a very good start," Miller said. "Our strength this year is our pitching and our overall defense. If we can get our bats going a little we feel we could be pretty dangerous around the district tournament time." Leading the way for Ottawa is Marty Baird from Van Buren. The junior to be is hitting .361 and owns a 3-1 record on the mound with a 1.21 earned-run average. Derek Patrick has also pitched well for Post 63. Patrick, who will be a senior this fall at Ottawa-Glandorf, sports a 3-1 mark with a 2.21 ERA. "We are really a young club, especially our pitching staff. However, this is the deepest staff since I have been here," Miller said. "I have to give Mike Baird, our pitching coach, a lot of credit for helping our pitchers understand how to pitch. Every pitch, depending on the count on the batter, is now thrown with a purpose. Mike has helped give our pitchers a lot of confidence." While pitching has been the strength, Ottawa's hitting has been a different story. Currently, the squad is just hitting .245 overall. Besides Baird, the top hitters have been Steve Andrus from Van Buren and Drew Bishop from Patrick Henry. Said Miller, "We were counting on three of our top hitters to be back in our lineup, but, because of other circumstances, they are not playing this year. But we are slowly adjusting." Miller is referring to Adam Miller of Elida and Jason Selhorst and Nick Ruhe of Ottawa-Glandorf. Miller is using the summer to prepare himself for football at Harvard. Selhorst is playing baseball this summer in Indianapolis, and Ruhe is getting ready for football at the University of Dayton. Coach Miller, now retired, taught and coached at Leipsic High school for 26 years. He recorded more than 400 wins and 22 league titles. His 1976 squad won the state championship. "It's different coaching Legion than your high school team," said Miller. "Even though we don't get the same practice time, I guarantee you we still play baseball the right way. We teach the kids about discipline, teamwork and how to play fundamental baseball. In American Legion baseball, we teach them to respect the game, the flag and their freedom. We show every kid how to stand for the national anthem and how to put their cap over their heart. We want young men who love to play baseball." When Ottawa goes on the road, Post 63 takes care of its athletes like few Legion Posts do. Every player's expense is paid for, including all hotel costs, traveling expenses and meals. Former and current general managers Dave Kersh and Dave Yoder handle all the business aspects of the baseball program. Ottawa has traveled to New York, Iowa, West Virginia to participate in tournaments recently. Home games at Memorial Park in Ottawa have the feeling of a minor league ballpark. Bands are regularly brought in and placed under one of the hundreds of trees that line the diamond for between-innings entertainment. Activities such as Little Buddy night, Elvis appearances, and Fan Appreciation giveaway night make it an enjoyable event for the entire family. Twice in the past four years, Post 63 has brought in "The Field of Dreams" players from Iowa to entertain standing-room-only crowds. Kersh has organized all of these activities because he believes that baseball is still about summer and families. The 2003 edition of the Ottawa squad has players from 12 different high schools, and to mesh all of these players takes time. Said coach Miller, "Each player that makes the team was one of the top players on their high school team. When they come here, however, they are just another player. Some players have a hard time adjusting when they are not the star and have to sit the bench. Therefore, we lose some players occasionally because of this. I admit I am 'old school' and not the easiest coach to play for. But if you love baseball, willing to get better, and play your rear end off, we'll get along fine." It sounds like a lot of American Legion programs around the state could learn a thing or two from coach Miller and the entire Post 63 baseball program in Ottawa.
June 24, 2003 THE LIMA NEWS
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