By PAUL GOTHAM
A change in approach at the plate paid dividends as Greece Post 468 (24-6) clinched a spot in the 2025 American Legion World Series with a 7-5 victory over Waterford Post 161 (CT), Sunday in the Northeast Regional Championship from Fitton Field on the Holy Cross College campus.
One day after suffering a second shutout of the season, Greece grabbed a lead it did not surrender in the second inning.
Patience at the plate was the difference on Sunday.
“They were throwing a ton of off-speed, and we were swinging at it,” Greece Post manager Nelson Madrid said of Saturday’s game – a loss to the same Waterford Post team. “We were swinging in O-and-O counts at balls that were in the dirt. Times when we should be taking a pitch. We weren’t making their pitcher work. We were making it easy.”
The result on Sunday was eight walks – three of which the local nine converted directly into runs.
“We told them before this game and during warmups our approach has to completely change because we’re playing the same team and now they’re going to use this same dynamic as far as how they were going to pitch to us,” Madrid said. “We made their starter work because they weren’t swinging at the balls in the dirt any more. It threw them off. They had to re-think their game plan and what to do.”
With the game tied at one, Wesley Sturrup drew a leadoff base on balls in the second and eventually scored on a Colden Forney RBI groundout. One inning later, Tyler Cannon and Nate Brinza worked back-to-back free passes to start the third. Forney and Dylan Savage delivered with two-out RBI singles for a 4-1 lead.
“We told them ‘pull the rope,’” Madrid said. “If every player did his part and kept on going to the next, one by one it was going to work. They bought in. They knew we had to play small ball. We had to take our walks. We didn’t have to hit home runs. It’s was a matter of doing your job and going on to the next guy.”
With the win, Greece Post becomes the first known District 7 (Rochester/Monroe County area) team to reach the American Legion World Series.
“It’s surreal,” Madrid said. “I don’t think they know yet. They’re so excited.”
One year after falling in the state tournament, Greece also becomes the first team from New York State to reach the American Legion’s biggest stage since Rockland County did it in 2002.
“They knew that last year, they didn’t play to their potential,” Madrid said of the disappointment in 2024 after Greece Post had claimed back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023. “Even though we didn’t have a ton of returners, we knew we had to play better. These guys wanted it bad.”
Jack Kelly allowed an unearned run over three innings of relief work to pick up the win. The St. Bonaventure University commit struck out three and walked one.
Cam Barbulean, who tossed a complete game to clinch the state title, hurled two innings and picked up the save.
“That was the game plan from the beginning – go with righty power arms to start and then a crafty lefty at the end,” Madrid said referring to Greece starter Derrick Allen and Kelly along with Barbulean. “That way when it comes back around in the late innings, they see a different arm angle. Cam is funky with his delivery. We thought that they wouldn’t be able to adjust quick enough to him. You could see that they were trying to figure him out, but it was too late.”
Waterford, which had lost to St. Johnsbury Post 58 (Vermont) on Day 2 of the double-elimination tournament, knocked off Shrewsbury Post 397 (MA), 9-5 earlier in the day on Sunday to reach the championship game.
Greece Post will open the AL World Series on Thursday, August 14 against Mid-Atlantic Regional champion, Chesapeake Post 280. That game will be televised on ESPN3. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
Semifinals and the championship game will be aired on ESPNU.
Greece Post flies out of Boston on Tuesday en route to Shelby, North Carolina – site of the American Legion World Series.
“I think when we get on that flight on Tuesday, that’s when it’s going to kick in.”
Forney finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored. Sturrup went 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Allen doubled and came home. Barbulean singled and scored.
Greece Post 112 021 0 7 8 2
Waterford Post 102 011 0 5 8 3
*Article has been updated.
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