At the conclusion of the last group event celebrating American Legion Post 84’s championship in the Aurora American Legion Baseball League this year — a pizza party sponsored by the Aurora Exchange Club — team parent Sharon Young stood up and, with her voice slightly cracking with emotion, thanked the team’s coach Kevin Holmes, stating “what you can do with young men is amazing.”
And, she should know. All of her four sons including her youngest, Marmion Academy senior Jon Young, a standout pitcher, played for Holmes on the American Legion team.
Although this season ended her family’s “official” long-time affiliation with the American Legion Post 84 team, she vowed to return to the stands next season to cheer the team on.
With a record of 7-0 for the team, Young was voted the most valuable player in the Aurora Legion League and hopes to continue to play baseball in college. He said playing in the league and for Holmes was a special experience.
Holmes has coached the American Legion Post 84 team for the past 15 years, even after his son went on to play baseball at Waubonsee Community College.
A retired Aurora policeman, Holmes, who now drives a school bus, said he began coaching baseball when his son signed up for T-ball.
Twice before this year’s victory, the Legion Post team under Holmes’ leadership made it to the championship game, only to come up short. Holmes credits the pitching by Young and Hinckley-Big Rock’s Jacob Morsch for helping the team win the championship.
For the boys, many who also play baseball for their high school or a traveling team, the chance to play on the American Legion team was especially rewarding.
Comprised of boys who attend seven different area high schools, the team came together from the beginning, Holmes said. After a couple of early losses, the American Legion Post 84 team ended the season with a 15-game winning streak.
The win was especially meaningful since it was only the third time in the Aurora American Legion Baseball League’s history that American Legion Post 84 team came out on top.
Started in 1953 through a cooperative effort between UAW, the Third Ward Club and American Legion Post 84, the Aurora American Legion Baseball League was formed to give boys ages 15 to 17 the opportunity to play baseball at a reasonable cost.
Once run by the American Legion, the Aurora league is now sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District and each of the founding league members still sponsors a team.
Supporting the baseball team is one of the American Legion’s missions, Commander of American Legion Post 84 Mike Eckburg said.
While many are familiar with the work that the American Legion does to help veterans, the organization also is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring programs in the community, he said.
Since 1925, American Legions throughout the country have supported baseball teams, giving boys the chance to develop citizenship and sportsmanship as well as “loyalty, respect for the rules, courage, and physical fitness.”
Nationwide, American Legions sponsor nearly 3,800 teams, Eckburg said.
Post 84 members Paul and Norma Peterson said the American Legion has helped pay for uniforms and equipment for the team.
Second basemen Logan Piercy from Kaneland High School joined the team after another player was injured and after their only losses of the season. Although Logan missed the pizza party and award recognition at City Hall due to a driver’s education class, his dad, Mike Piercy, came to the event to support the team.
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The program is a great opportunity for kids to keep playing baseball throughout the summer after the high school season has ended, Piercy said.
“This particular group of boys has a very positive team attitude no matter what the situation,” he said.
Cathy Janek is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News