|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Josh Felz remembers back when he was an intimidated 16-year-old, trying to find a niche on the Independence Post 21 American Legion team.
“I watched guys like Kyle Clifton and Jamie Hayes to see how they played the game,” said Felz, who is enjoying his fourth and final year with Post 21 as he and his teammates prepare for their 8 p.m. game today at Liberty Park Stadium in Sedalia, Mo., the site of the American Legion State Tournament.
“Now, four years later, we’re a young team and the older guys want to show the younger guys how to play the game, how to act, how to get things done.
“The younger guys on the team are great – great players and great teammates – but the older guys feel like it’s our responsibility to be leaders, leaders who lead by example on and off the field.”
Felz, Tyler Bodenstab and Tommy Harris are a trio of players who have made quite an impact on Post 21 and manager Tom Bush.
“Let me put it this way, because I want everyone to understand where I’m coming from,” Bush said, “this has been a team effort all season. The young guys, all the guys, have played a role in this team going to state. But we’re not going to state without our three 19-year-olds.
“This is my seventh year as the manager of Post 21 and I’ve been around kids I didn’t enjoy being around, I’ve had some who were OK and then I’ve had players like Tyler, Josh and Tommy who are the type of kids you really enjoy being around.
“I don’t know when this season is going to end, but I promise you this, my talk after the last game will be short because I don’t want to break down – and I know I will.”
Each of the three standouts played a key role in Post 21’s Zone 2 Tournament championship as Harris won Game 1, Felz drove in the winning run in Game 2 and saved Game 4 and Bodenstab starred in the field, at the plate and on the mound.
“I knew all along I was coming back, I felt like I owed it to Tom,” Felz said. “He’s meant a lot to me. He’s a good guy and a good manager. This is a young team, and look at all the success we’ve had. You hear the old Post 21 guys talk about winning tournaments and going to state – or the guys from the other Legion teams who have had a lot of success – and you think what that would be like.
Josh Felz remembers back when he was an intimidated 16-year-old, trying to find a niche on the Independence Post 21 American Legion team.
“I watched guys like Kyle Clifton and Jamie Hayes to see how they played the game,” said Felz, who is enjoying his fourth and final year with Post 21 as he and his teammates prepare for their 8 p.m. game today at Liberty Park Stadium in Sedalia, Mo., the site of the American Legion State Tournament.
“Now, four years later, we’re a young team and the older guys want to show the younger guys how to play the game, how to act, how to get things done.
“The younger guys on the team are great – great players and great teammates – but the older guys feel like it’s our responsibility to be leaders, leaders who lead by example on and off the field.”
Felz, Tyler Bodenstab and Tommy Harris are a trio of players who have made quite an impact on Post 21 and manager Tom Bush.
“Let me put it this way, because I want everyone to understand where I’m coming from,” Bush said, “this has been a team effort all season. The young guys, all the guys, have played a role in this team going to state. But we’re not going to state without our three 19-year-olds.
“This is my seventh year as the manager of Post 21 and I’ve been around kids I didn’t enjoy being around, I’ve had some who were OK and then I’ve had players like Tyler, Josh and Tommy who are the type of kids you really enjoy being around.
“I don’t know when this season is going to end, but I promise you this, my talk after the last game will be short because I don’t want to break down – and I know I will.”
Each of the three standouts played a key role in Post 21’s Zone 2 Tournament championship as Harris won Game 1, Felz drove in the winning run in Game 2 and saved Game 4 and Bodenstab starred in the field, at the plate and on the mound.
“I knew all along I was coming back, I felt like I owed it to Tom,” Felz said. “He’s meant a lot to me. He’s a good guy and a good manager. This is a young team, and look at all the success we’ve had. You hear the old Post 21 guys talk about winning tournaments and going to state – or the guys from the other Legion teams who have had a lot of success – and you think what that would be like.
“Now, I know. And it’s awesome.”
Bodenstab might be appreciating this season more than any of his teammates as he missed out on his senior year at Truman and last year of Legion ball with a broken leg.
“I could have played Ban Johnson or with Post 21 and I picked Post 21 because I really like the guys on the team and Tom has done a great job as manager,” Bodenstab said. “When you miss out on something like baseball, you realize how much it means to you.
“I eat, sleep and breathe baseball, and now, to prepare for state, is pretty cool. Everyone talks about Fike and the (Blue Springs Rod’s Sports) A’s because they have been the teams that have won and gone to state. Now, they’re going to be talking about us. And whether you’re in Little League or MLB, if you’re winning, people are going to notice you.”
Although Harris is out of town, Bush said he is still making an impact on his team.
“We need the guys’ birth certificates, and I can’t tell you how many forgot them,” Bush said, grinning and shaking his head, “but Tommy’s mom sent his by FedEx and had a neighbor go to their house to get his uniform and equipment. He might not be here physically, but he’s here mentally and we can’t wait to get him back with the team.”
