Shrewsbury – The Massachusetts American Legion Baseball Committee has awarded the Shrewsbury American Legion Post 397 a junior team for kids 17 and under.
Manager Frank Vaccaro, who has run the program for 11 years, stated the large number of baseball players in Shrewsbury has always made tryout day a big event.
“We have always had to turn kids away,” he said. “The advent of our junior team will allow more players to compete in Legion Baseball.”
American Legion baseball was founded in 1925 and is still considered a national institution with over 5,400 teams in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Nearly 10 million ballplayers have participated and nearly 60 percent of college players are program graduates.
Post 397 has had a competitive baseball program, reaching the playoffs each of the last seven years. Prior to becoming manger, Vaccaro was the assistant coach for six years. He has also served previously as president of Shrewsbury Little League. Jay Hummer, also a past president of Shrewsbury Little League, will be the junior team head coach.
Registration for the new team will be held Saturday, May 2, from 6 -7 p.m. at the Shrewsbury High School baseball field. Tryouts are scheduled to take place Saturday, May 9, with a rain date of Sunday, May 10. Tryout times will be announced at the registration.
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