Legion tourney begins Monday

American Legion baseball season is about to get real in Ohio.

After over 30 games of regular season action, all are focused on preparing for the District 10 Tournament, set to begin Monday at Steubenville's Vaccaro Field and Toronto's Knight Baseball Complex.

"We're as ready as we're going to be," Richmond Post 740 head coach Sam Davis said. "We've improved a lot during the season and historically the teams that improve the most during the regular season do best in the tournament.

"We've continued to improve on a daily basis and we are coming in healthy. I think we are in position to play our best baseball. I hope it happens."

Added Steubenville Post 33 skipper Mark Stacy, "I think we have as good a chance as anyone to win the tournament."

Monday's opening round games at the Knight Baseball Complex have Toronto Post 86 taking on Wayne County at 4 p.m. and the defending champion, Tuscarawas County, playing Massillon at 7 p.m.

At Vaccaro, Coshocton and Cadiz Post 34 lock horns followed by Stacy's Steubenville squad doing battle with Davis' Richmond team at 5 p.m. in an intriguing local match up.

"Obviously in a situation like Monday we hope to play our best," said Davis. "We're confident that we will. Pitching and timely hitting is going to be the key.

"We believe Steubenville is the team to beat. They have the best offense and may have the deepest pitching.

"Historically that's usually the team to beat so it's not a surprise."

Stacy sees it as a potentially great game, with both teams able to send out its top hurler.

"I think it's an interesting match up," he said. "You have two great competitors going head to head with us having JoJo Pierro pitching and Greg Stagani throwing on their side.

"I think it's going to come down to how the others play behind those guys."

According to Davis and Stacy, there doesn't seem to be a clear cut favorite in this year's tournament. Both believe when you match up with a team is the important factor in your team's success.

"This year is wide open," said Davis. "It would not be an upset if anyone beat anybody this year.

"We have a lot of respect for all the teams. The field is wide open so you can't count anyone out. We'll see how things match up."

Added Stacy, "Tusky is the No. 1 seed, but it's all about match-ups. When you're in a tournament it doesn't matter what the records are.

"It only matters what the pitcher who is pitching's record is. It's all about match ups."

In the past, the District 10 tournament featured more teams, making pitching depth a greater issue. Having just eight squads in its current incarnation makes this somewhat less of a concern.

"With only eight teams in the tournament you can win it with just four wins with no loss," said Davis. "It is also much easier to come out of the losers' bracket than it used to be.

"If we hit how we're capable we'll be fine. We're comfortable with our pitching and our defense.

"Our hitting comes and goes just like everyone else. If we get quality at-bats and score some runs we'll be successful."

Remarked Stacy, "It's not as big as it has been in the past when there would be 13 or 14 teams.

"Eight teams diminishes how deep your staff has to be somewhat. We've put eight or nine guys on the hill this year that have done a good job for us.

"We're just going to do the best we can with the guys we've pitched all year."

Post 33 will play Monday through Wednesday at Vaccaro Field, with times and opponents to be determined based on the outcome of games.

Opponents and sites will be determined on a day-to-day basis on both fields through Wednesday.

Beginning Thursday, the remainder of the tournament games are scheduled in Toronto.