FEATURE STORY
2009 SEASON RECAP
Rapid City Post 22
Record: 43-21
Notes: Won program’s 36th state title … won Pev Evans Tournament title … posted a 15-game win
streak in July … finished 0-2 at Central Plains
Regional.
“You win games with talent, but you win
championships with ‘team,’”
Rapid City Post 22 manager Dave Ploof’s
quote was proven true again this summer, as the
Hardhats won the South Dakota state championship for
the 36th
time in program history.
Post 22 had a highly successful season that could
almost be split into three parts, based on the
performance of the team.
The Hardhats started off the year extremely well,
going 12-3, with two of those losses by a single
run. Then the dog days of summer hit, as some call
them, and Post 22 was sub-.500 during that
month-long stretch.
But starting with the final day of competition at
the Gopher Classic, the Hardhats rattled off 15
straight wins, and won 18 of their final 21 to
finish the season 43-21.
“It was nothing in the state tournament that we
haven’t done in the regular season,” Ploof said. “We
played a really good schedule to prepare us, both
mentally and physically, and the kids came forth as
a team, which was good to see.”
SEASON
HIGHLIGHT
Winning a State Title
The lingering image of Post 22’s season will be the
17 players lifting the state championship trophy up in front of a capacity crowd
at Fitzgerald Stadium.
“One of the big keys to winning the tournament is the pairings, and I thought
the first game was really important,” Ploof said.
In that opening contest, Emery did not allow an earned run as the Hardhats
downed Sioux Falls West 7-1.
“(West) was one of the finer teams in the state, and they used their top
three pitchers in that game. It was a big win for us, and West struggled the
rest of the way.”
After a 12-2 drubbing of Mitchell on day two, Post 22 suffered a 10-9 setback
at the hands of Rapid City Post 320.
“We stumbled a bit and lost a game,” Ploof said, “but the kids stayed focused
and really worked hard, and our conditioning really showed.”
Post 22 stayed alive the next day with a 9-3 victory over Watertown, then had
to win twice Sunday for the title.
“It was 94 degrees outside, and we had to come out and win two ball games,
and we did that.”
The Hardhats again pounded Mitchell, 12-2, then avenged the earlier loss to
Post 320, winning 6-2 for the state crown.
Final Thoughts from Coach Ploof
“The whole program had an outstanding summer. From the first-year kids on the
Cadets to the No. 1 team, the improvement was really exciting to see. The kids
at every level really worked hard and they put up outstanding numbers.
“The program is headed in the right direction, thanks to a lot of hard work
and quality execution by a lot of kids.
“We are not where we want to be, but we are heading in the right direction,
and if the kids keep working hard, the program will achieve.” |
NEWS AND NOTES
NEW COACHES
Posted: January 25,2010
The Rapid City Post 22 baseball program has three
new coaches: Mitch Messer,
Marty Andrews, and Bud Bartholow.
The program will have nine coaches for the four teams-
The Cadets, Bullets, Expos, and Post 22.
Returning coaches are Dave Ploof, Rich Downs, Lee Shepherd, Kyle Yamada,
Dr. Carl Stonecipher, and Jeff Barbier.
These additions will give the players more individual training.
Each new coach has his bio page that is being updated;
check the coaches link.
Last season was an excellent year for post 22 baseball.
Winning the South Dakota state championship for the 36th time, and
Kolton Emery pitcher/infielder receiving the South Dakota
American Legion player of the year award were just two of our
accomplishments.
Kolton is the 29th player from post 22 to receive this award.
Returning
players and parents meeting will be Thursday
january 28th 6:30pm at fitzgerald stadium in the indoor training facility.
The new players and parents meeting is Monday February 1st .
It will also be at 6:30 pm in the training facility at fitzgerald stadium.
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