Just in time for the playoffs, Arlington Post 1995 is winning games and playing some of its best American Legion baseball of the summer season.
The District 17 team has won three straight games, five since June 29, and likely will have an 8-10 overall record (8-9 district) entering the league’s double-elimination tournament, scheduled to begin July 18.
Those five wins have been over McLean Post 270, by a 21-13 score and a forfeit win, Alexandria Post 24, 13-2, Kingstown District 17, 6-4, and Fairfax Post 177, 13-9, the most recent on the night of July 14.
The team may have one final regular-season game prior to the start of the district playoffs, but that is undetermined.
“We have been playing well and getting healthy,” Arlington manager Jason Moccia said. “We have had some players out with injuries, so getting them back helps.”
One key player not healthy and out for the playoffs for Arlington is starting pitcher and infielder Jack Couture. He is resting a sore elbow.
In the 13-9 victory over Fairfax, Jackson Wiley had three hits and two RBI to lead the hitting, and Arlington used four pitchers. Sam Jackman started, then Alex Devens got the win in relief.
Jake Guffey had two doubles and three RBI, Thomas Koomey had an RBI double and Sean Duffey a two-run double. Jackman (two RBI) and Devens had RBI groundouts.
Bryan Slattery had two hits, Bradley Labant had one and George Thompson had a run-scoring groundout.
Many of those same players had big hits in Arlington’s other recent wins, in addition to Alex Bartl, Luke Harnishfeger and Kai Trentin. Koomey homered twice in one of those outings and had four hits in another. Slattery was a winning pitcher in relief in a contest and had two hits in the same game, and Jake Guffey had a two-hit game.
Harnishfeger and Thompson did some pitching in relief.
With Couture sidelined, James Pilot, John Sharkey and D.J. Reichert will be among Arlington’s top pitchers in the playoffs.
“It’s a loss not having Couture, but we still have some good pitching,” Moccia said.
The playoff bracket has not been finalized for the district tournament. With its eight victories, Arlington has a chance to be as high as the fourth seed in what is expected to be an eight-team field.
“Arlington has good pitching. So they are a team to watch out for,” Falls Church Manager Ray Zdancewicz said.
Falls Church, Fairfax and defending tournament champion Vienna Post 180 likely will be the top three seeds.
The two teams that reach the district-tourney championship game earn state-tournament berths. The state tournament is in Chesapeake this year.
“There is a lot of pairity in the district this season, so the tournament is wide open,” Vienna manager Nick Good said.