Edina, Eden Prairie continue state's Legion baseball legacy

Nick Leer is far from a celebrity. Just don't tell that to the horde of youngsters who showed up this summer at his baseball games.

"It's kind of cool to have them know your name -- "Hey, great game, Nick!' -- and want to give you knucks after the game," said the shortstop for American Legion Post 471 in Edina. "It's great to see the shift in culture in Edina. And we're honored to represent Minnesota."

In a town known for its hockey, Legion baseball -- played by teenagers on hot days and buggy nights before crowds that include veterans and typically exceed those at spring high school games -- has surged in popularity.

This weekend Edina joins the Legion team from Eden Prairie, defending American Legion World Series champs, in the Central Plains Region tournament in Dickinson, N.D. The winner of that eight-team field moves on to next week's annual end-of-summer passage for baseball players in their late teens: the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.

"Some people call me crazy for saying our goal is to win the region and win the World Series, but what am I supposed to say, we want to finish fifth?" Edina coach Nick Kennedy said. "Nobody would respect that. These guys are ready. We don't want to roll over. It's a good confidence, but on the other hand, everyone there is a winner."

Eden Prairie advanced to play again Friday after a 9-4 victory over West Des Moines on Thursday, and Edina advanced by beating West Fargo 3-2.

The two west metro suburbs are among 321 Minnesota teams this summer, second in the United States to the 360 from Pennsylvania.

Today's players hope to be the stars of tomorrow. But for now when the three or more games a week aren't on their minds, it's readying for the last year of high school or returning to college.

"You're playing for the same thing players did 80-whatever years ago," said Eden Prairie's Cameron Mingo, the winning pitcher in last summer's World Series clincher. "And you're playing for the country. Once you get to the playoffs and all the Legion members are there, you want to put on your best. They've done so much for the country."

American Legion baseball sprang from a state convention speech that deviated from the norm and instead focused on the role of athletics in developing youth. It has survived summers marred by war and forces of nature.

Last week's Minnesota American Legion State tournament was played at picturesque Chaska Athletic Park, notorious for spring flooding from the nearby Minnesota River. By summer, however, its iconic high light towers shine down on a manicured canvas of raked dirt and clipped grass, a Norman Rockwell symbol of Americana.

The American Legion, based in Indianapolis, registers more than 5,000 teams from all 50 states. It estimates more than 100,000 players are involved.

In a scene as common as the national anthem, players from American Legion teams recite a pledge before each game that concludes with a vow to "keep a sound soul, clean mind and healthy body."

They want to win, too.

"We had a big target on us this year," Eden Prairie coach Scott Hackett said. "When we lost, we saw a lot of celebrating. But everybody respected the game."

Games are played using major league rules, with one notable exception: no take-out slides.

Baserunning has been especially important this year since American Legion switched to BBCOR bats, the softer, safer alternative to composite bats that the National Federation of High School Associations mandated beginning this year. Only seven home runs were hit during last week's state tournament, compared with 25 a year ago.

"I'm a very proud Minnesotan, you bet," Berg said.

Richfield Post 435 won Minnesota's first American Legion championship in 1943. Forty years later Minnesota picked up another World Series title when Edina won, thanks in part to catcher Mike Halloran. He retired this spring after 18 years as Eden Prairie's head high school baseball coach and is an assistant on the American Legion team.

As a student, Halloran walked the Edina halls with classmates who are now parents of Edina players who played with Eden Prairie in the District 10 tournament and the state tournament.