MANCHESTER N.H. – Shrewsbury Post 397’s season was decided by a matter of millimeters.
Down one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jimmy Mitchell stepped up to the plate with two outs and teammate JJ Ferguson at first base ready to run on contact. Mitchell stood in the batter’s box for three high-pressure pitches, ultimately roping the pitcher’s fourth offering down the third-base line. The ball screamed toward the infielder, who made an acrobatic, backhanded catch.
Though Shrewsbury had played some of its best baseball down the stretch – becoming state champion and qualifying for the American Legion Northeast Tournament at Gill Stadium in Manchester, N.H. – the grab finalized a 2-1 loss to South Burlington (Vt.) on Aug. 9 that ended Post 397’s season and chance to qualify for the 2024 American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.
Shrewsbury finished the season 23-11.
“We didn’t do our best. Their pitcher did a good job and kept us off-balance. We didn’t get the hits when we needed them … You reap what you sow,” longtime Shrewsbury Post 397 Head Coach Frank Vaccaro said after the game. Vaccaro has led Post 397 to every regional tournament held since 2016, including American Legion World Series berths in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
After defeating tournament host Sweeney (N.H.) to open the tournament, Post 397 dropped each of the next two games in the last inning. In a game on Aug. 8 against Cumberland (R.I.) that was twice delayed by rain and finished at roughly 12 a.m., Shrewsbury lost control of the game late, surrendering six seventh-inning runs in a 9-2 defeat that dropped the team to the losers’ bracket in the double-elimination tournament. Though Post 397 pitcher Jack Roche maintained a no-hitter through 6 1/3 innings in the game against South Burlington, two errors (and a subsequent safety squeeze) allowed the winning run to score.
“Roche pitched a gem – he pitched his heart out. It was his last legion game. He did a good job, I’m very happy for him,” said Vaccaro.
Post 397 will bid farewell to five players before the next season, including Roche and captains Tedy Cove and Mitchell. The group of older players had “really led the team” according to Vaccaro.
“It’s tough. Every year I lose guys and I feel bad. I wish them all the best luck in the world. They did a good job, they served the team well, and I hope they have good college careers. Now it’s up to five new guys – five, six, or seven guys – to come in and keep the tradition going,” said Vaccaro. “We’ve got a young club with 13 possible returnees. I don’t know if all of them will return – they have to make it and they have to be hungry to want it – but we’re going to get at least 10 out of that group I’m sure. That’s a win.”
While the loss stung, Vaccaro insisted Post 397 will “keep it going.” The team will host next year’s regional tournament, so its ticket to the playoffs has already been punched.
“We’re not going to stop being a [top] program. We’ve got a good reputation, everyone wants to beat us, and I don’t blame them. We’ve got to keep that going,” said Vaccaro.
