Nevada's Legion teams begin seasons Tuesday
By Jason Peake
Herald-Tribune
NEVADA -- Nevada's two American Legion baseball teams are set to begin their respective seasons.
For starters, the Nevada Red Sox AAA Legion team will begin the season on Tuesday night with a home date with Windsor.
Game one of a doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. at Champion Diamonds Sports Complex.
Matt Ketterman is the new head coach of the AAA Red Sox this season.
The Red Sox have seven players from Nevada on the roster this summer, all of whom played for the NHS team that set a new school record for wins in a season.
On the roster from Nevada are Lane Ketterman, Cole Sanderson, Grant Wolfe, Easton Mitchell, Alex Payne, Bradey Denney and Kyle "Bubba" Banes.
Two players on the team are from El Dorado Springs -- Trey Barger and James DuBois. There are two players from Weaubleau -- Caleb Kauffman and Joe Lean. Next, Grant Davis of Walker (NEVC), Trevor Norbury of Rich Hill, Colten Silvey of Liberal, and Austin O'Neal of Wheatland round out the squad.
There are eight home dates -- May 29, June 7, June 14, June 25, July 2, July 6, July 10, July 12 -- this season. Almost all of those dates are doubleheaders. According to the schedule, Nevada will host a district tournament from July 17-22.
Coach Ketterman pointed out that all of the team's home dates will be played at Champion Diamonds this summer.
AA team
Jerrod Alexander is coaching the Nevada AA Legion team this summer. The first game of the season is Tuesday at home vs. Lamar at 6 p.m. at Champion Diamonds.
There are two high school-sized fields at the complex that allow both Legion teams to play at home at the same time.
Nearly all of the AA players are from Nevada.
The roster and schedule is listed below.
Nevada Red Sox AAA Legion team
AAA roster -- Lane Ketterman, Cole Sanderson, Grant Wolfe, Easton Mitchell, Alex Payne, Brady Denney, Bubba Banes, all of Nevada; Grant Davis (Walker), James Dubois and Trey Barger ( El Dorado Springs); Trevor Norbury (Rich Hill); Colton Selvy (Liberal), Austin O'Neal (Wheatland), and Caleb Kauffman and Joe Lean of Weaubleau.
Head Coach -- Matt Ketterman.
Assistants -- Unavailable.
Nevada Red Sox AAA schedule
5-29 vs. Windsor, 5
5-31 at Pittsburg tourney
6-5 at Baxter Springs, 6
6-7 vs. Warrensburg, 6
6-11 at Harrisonville, 6
6-14 vs. Harrisonville, 6
6-18 at Harrisonville, 6
6-20 at Joplin, 5:30
6-22 at Webb City, 5:30
6-25 vs. Harrisonville, 6
6-28 at Windsor, 5
7-2 vs. Lee's Summit, 6:30
7-6 vs. Webb City, 5:30
7-8 at Warrensburg, 2
7-10 vs. Baxter Springs, TBA
7-12 vs. Joplin, 5:30
7-17 District tourney, TBA.
AA Legion team
Roster
Taylor Manes, Tanner Handly, Hunter Johnson, Tristan Smith, Trentyn Moore, Chance Mays, Andrew Heathman, Brett Mitchell, Austin Deer, Derek O'Dell, Davin Weeks, Clay Regers, Kyler Cliffman, and Morgan Long all of Nevada; Kason Schwalm of El Dorado Springs, and Taylor Highfill of NEVC.
Head Coach: Jerrod Alexander.
Assistants -- Jamie Alexander, Tim Moore.
Nevada AA schedule
5-29 vs. Lamar, 6
5-31 at Joplin, 6
6-3 at Lamar, 2
6-5 vs. Carl Junction, 6
6-6 vs. Harrisonville, 6
6-8 at Joplin tourney
6-9 at Joplin tourney
6-10 at Joplin tourney
6-11 at Warrensburg, 6
6-13 at Harrisonville, 6
6-19 at Clinton, 6
6-20 at Carl Junction, 6
6-23 at Holden, 1
6-27 vs. Warrensburg, 6
6-29 vs. Holden, 6
7-2 vs. Clinton, 6
7-5 vs. Joplin, 6
7-9 to 7- 13 at districts, TBA.
7-18 at Zone tourney
7-25 at state tourney, TBA.
All home dates at Champion Diamonds.