Hard work, dedication and a true love for the sport of baseball has paid off nicely for two Bath Haverling/Bath Legion Post 173 players. Bath senior Jim Tunison and Bath junior Mitch Buckley have both been honored with a spot on the Team U.S.A. 18U Upstate New York Baseball team. They will compete against other Team U.S.A. teams in Allentown, Pennsylvania from August 2-4, for a chance to compete in the final segment of tryouts in North Carolina in September.
Tunison enjoyed a 23 game hitting streak this past season during which he posted a .473 batting average from May 5-July 8. He ended the Legion baseball season with a team leading and astounding .491 batting average. Jim also tossed a complete game one hit shutout during the Joel Stephens Wooden Bat Invitational Tournament in Mansfield, Pennsylvania against Northern Tioga.
Buckley batted leadoff most of the season for the Legion team and posted a very solid .333 batting average. He led the team in plate appearances and drove home many key runs. Buckley’s play at shortstop was nothing short of spectacular at times and his outstanding play at the position kept Bath in many ballgames.
These two dedicated players were not alone this past season while a number of their teammates turned in great seasons. Catcher and Bath senior Pete McDonnell thrived at the plate this year with a .346 batting average with 18 walks for an incredible .600 on base percentage while playing a very demanding position. He will showcase his talent in Montclair, New Jersey in August in front of a large number of college coaches along with teammate Jim Tunison.
Bath’s Justin Howell batted .360 during his last Legion season and teammate Nick Hillman hit to the tune of .314 for his last year. Kiele Wilson, Brian Schuster and Kyle Christensen did a great job of patrolling the outfield and Christensen was especially strong on the mound when he threw three straight complete games, one in which he struck out ten batters without allowing a walk against a very strong Buffalo club.
Prattsburgh’s Nate Underhill showed great versatility at many positions and hit a respectable .300 while Bath’s Ethan Hall showed strong promise on the mound at times.
Bath’s Brian Hultzman played excellent defensively at first base and Bath’s Kurt Ludden was the most dedicated and reliable for the team while not missing a single game and he turned in a defensive play against Buffalo at third base that will not soon be forgotten by his teammates.
Hammondsport’s Rick Rosekrans and Bath’s Bret Sutryk hit .429 and .391 respectively in limited action this year.
Hard work, dedication and a true love for the sport of baseball has paid off nicely for two Bath Haverling/Bath Legion Post 173 players. Bath senior Jim Tunison and Bath junior Mitch Buckley have both been honored with a spot on the Team U.S.A. 18U Upstate New York Baseball team. They will compete against other Team U.S.A. teams in Allentown, Pennsylvania from August 2-4, for a chance to compete in the final segment of tryouts in North Carolina in September.
Tunison enjoyed a 23 game hitting streak this past season during which he posted a .473 batting average from May 5-July 8. He ended the Legion baseball season with a team leading and astounding .491 batting average. Jim also tossed a complete game one hit shutout during the Joel Stephens Wooden Bat Invitational Tournament in Mansfield, Pennsylvania against Northern Tioga.
Buckley batted leadoff most of the season for the Legion team and posted a very solid .333 batting average. He led the team in plate appearances and drove home many key runs. Buckley’s play at shortstop was nothing short of spectacular at times and his outstanding play at the position kept Bath in many ballgames.
These two dedicated players were not alone this past season while a number of their teammates turned in great seasons. Catcher and Bath senior Pete McDonnell thrived at the plate this year with a .346 batting average with 18 walks for an incredible .600 on base percentage while playing a very demanding position. He will showcase his talent in Montclair, New Jersey in August in front of a large number of college coaches along with teammate Jim Tunison.
Bath’s Justin Howell batted .360 during his last Legion season and teammate Nick Hillman hit to the tune of .314 for his last year. Kiele Wilson, Brian Schuster and Kyle Christensen did a great job of patrolling the outfield and Christensen was especially strong on the mound when he threw three straight complete games, one in which he struck out ten batters without allowing a walk against a very strong Buffalo club.
Prattsburgh’s Nate Underhill showed great versatility at many positions and hit a respectable .300 while Bath’s Ethan Hall showed strong promise on the mound at times.
Bath’s Brian Hultzman played excellent defensively at first base and Bath’s Kurt Ludden was the most dedicated and reliable for the team while not missing a single game and he turned in a defensive play against Buffalo at third base that will not soon be forgotten by his teammates.
Hammondsport’s Rick Rosekrans and Bath’s Bret Sutryk hit .429 and .391 respectively in limited action this year.
