TERRE HAUTE — The magic of four years ago wasn’t there, as the Post 72 season came to an end Monday at the American Legion State Tournament with a 7-0 loss to Valparaiso in the third round.
The Legion squad made it to the championship game in 2021, but they fell short of the goal of another trip to the last day this season.
A six-run first inning by Valpo set the tone from the start, and after not playing Sunday due to rain, and having more delays during the day, there was no flow for the team from Crawfordsville.
“The sitting and waiting is always frustrating,” Coach Kyle Proctor said, “but those six runs (by Valpo) in the first inning were even more disappointing. Then we didn’t find any offense. It was a tough way to end what was one of the most successful seasons in Post 72 history.”
While there was no trip to the last day, it was the second trip to the eight-team state finals in four years, and those two are only the second and third trips in Post history.
The 22 wins is the most in the Proctor era, and the second 20-win season under him.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” the coach continued. “The 22 wins, the second-place finish at our invitational, the regional championship and this trip to the state finals. There were a lot of ups and downs, as there are always in any season, but we kept getting better and that really showed at the end of the season. We finished fifth in the state tournament, and that will always be there for us.”
That finish was 8-4 since July 11, with a 4-2 record in the invitational, 3-0 in the regional and 1-2 in Terre Haute.
The end of the season only means that uniforms get turned in, goodbyes are said between players who all head their own way, the finals stats figured out and all the Legion paperwork gets filled out.
Next season has already started for Proctor and his coaching staff, who have been in initial contact with younger players who will be eligible to wear a Legion uniform next season after the many older guys can’t come back.
“We’ve already been out, and we’ll be out more right away,” Proctor said. “I’m going to enjoy a day off, but we get right back at it.”
