Even when combined, the Arlington Junior and Senior Legion baseball teams sported small rosters this summer.
While short on bodies, the Post 71 Eagles earned success with the quality of their play anyway. Every roster member made a state tournament.
“Some even made it twice,” coach Ed Menking said Sunday after his Senior Legion squad was eliminated from the Class B State Tournament in Crete. After the Juniors finished up their state run 1-2 on July 19, the Seniors closed out their season 0-for-2 Saturday and Sunday on Thom Stallard Field.
Despite its losses to Alliance and Columbus Lakeview, Menking was proud of his Senior squad's 13-11 season.
“I am just so happy for the kids,” he said. “I really am.”
The Eagles were eliminated in six innings by Lakeview, 11-3. The Columbus-area lineup notched 15 hits, while Arlington managed just three. Post 71's foe built a 6-0 lead through two innings and Menking's squad couldn't pull any closer than 6-2 the rest of the way.
“Everything they hit had eyes,” the coach said, noting that the top of his own lineup hit “rockets” that found Lakeview gloves. “We didn't make any plays, to be honest.”
Arlington earned its way to Crete, however, with season-long improvement. Menking said the team was able to get good through the year.
“We gave ourselves a chance,” he added.
The coach credited his three super seniors for much of that success. Braden Rump, Tanner Pittman and Cooper Hilgenkamp, 2020 Arlington High School graduates, returned to their hometown team for one more season this summer.
“Wouldn't have got (to state) without them,” Menking said.
The last time the coach could remember both the Arlington Junior and Senior Legion baseball teams reaching the state tournament during the same summer was 1990.
