The measure of a successful season does not merely come in the numbers of wins and losses. Though Mechanicsville Post 175 saw their season come to an end in a 10-8 loss to Post 186 on Thursday night, they could still walk away from the field feeling that this year was a successful one.

  The record books will show that Post 175 ended the year with an 8-12 record and barely missed the district playoffs. What the record books will not show is the measure of growth that the exceptionally young team underwent as the season progressed.

  At the end of June, Mechanicsville sported a 1-7 record and was on pace to finish with one of the worst season’s in recent history. But the team that boasted a single college player and a host of high school underclassmen came together to show why the future of Post 175 baseball is bright. But more importantly, in Thursday night’s battle against American Legion’s third place team, it was the youngsters in the lineup that showed why the Hanover County high schools will field teams to look out for next spring.

  Incoming Hanover senior Bryan Johansen went 1-for-2 while incoming Hawks’ junior Ryan Long was 3-for-4 with a double. Jeff Zona will also return to the Hanover lineup next season.

  Hank Parsley, who will be a senior at Lee-Davis this fall, went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.

  Though he did not play against Post 186, fellow incoming senior pitcher Jordan Boze was solid throughout the Legion season.

  But Atlee should have the most to look forward to in the spring of 2011. The Raiders’ pitching staff gained valuable experience through 175’s season with incoming seniors Ryan Bettinger, Connor Overton and James Walsh all proving valuable on the mound. Though he had an off night against Post 186, soon-to-be senior Chop Pulisic was solid throughout the year. 

  Incoming Atlee senior Mitch Keeler continued to establish himself as a strong leader on the field, going 4-for-5 with two RBI against Midlothian. But most impressive in the Thursday game was classmate Conner Hall. At third, Hall turned in multiple impressive plays while going 3-for-5 from the plate for two doubles and a RBI.

  “They’re playing a whole lot better,” Coach Eddie Gates said of his team’s improvement over the season. “I’ve got three or four people who are playing out of position.”

  Post 175 came into the Thursday night game having won seven of their last 12 games. To add to the excitement, Post 186 was also on a hot streak, proving so in to the top of the first.

  Midlothian displayed their devastating offense against Overton from the get-go, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on hard, well-placed hits to the outfield.
  Mechanicsville answered in the bottom of the second when Parsley led off with a deep double to center.

  Parsley advanced on a ground out by Bettinger then came home on a single to second by Hall to trim the deficit to 3-1. It appeared Mechanicsville was on a roll when Keeler beat out a shot to the mound to put two runners on, but the solid Midlothian defense kept 175 in check.

  Paul Keyes drilled a shot to short, but 186 short stop Ryan Barto turned it into the first of three double-plays on the night to end the inning.

  Still, 175 came back to knot the score in the bottom of the third. Zach Broaddus led off by beating out a shot to first but Bryson Kemler’s shot to short turned into another Mildo double-play.

  Next up, Pulisic was hit by a pitch and Long’s roller through the infield put two 175 runners on base. Parsley then came to the plate for his second consecutive double, to drive in the pair and tie the game at three.

  Hall led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and Broaddus reached on a walk with two outs. Kemler then sent a shot to center that drove in Hall to put 175 ahead 4-3.

  But a controversial call allowed 186 to answer in the top of the fifth. Nick Davis led off with a double to left center and with one out, Jalen Carter singled to center.

  A sacrifice from Scott Poe drove Davis in to tie the game and moved Carter to third.

  With Nick Whiteside at bat, Keeler attempted a pick-off of Carter with a throw down the line. Standing on third, Hall reached around Carter to make the catch as the two collided. Though Carter reached third safely, the field umpire ruled that Hall obstructed his return to the bag explaining that he baseman should have been standing away from the base to make the catch. Carter was awarded home to give Midlo a 5-4 lead.

  “Again, we had some funny situations happen on the field but that’s just the way it goes,” Gates said.

  The 186 lead moved to 6-4 in the top of the sixth on a solo home run from Davis.

  Once again 175 answered in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Hall reached after being hit by a pitch and Keeler singled to right. Hall then came home on a sacrifice by Keyes.

  A single up the middle by Broaddus put two runners on and it appeared that Mechanicsville would tie the game on a hard hit shot from Kemler. But a base-running miscue trapped Keeler in a rundown between third and home. Keeler made a valiant attempt to leap over the tag of 186 catcher Dusty Woody but was caught to end the inning.

  The 186 lead moved to 10-5 by the bottom of the eighth before Mechanicsville found their offensive spark once again.

  Johansen led off with a single to second and Hall doubled past first. A single to left from Keeler then drove in Johansen.

  With one out, Broaddus walked to load the bases and when Kemler was hit by a pitch it pushed Hall home to make the score 10-7.

  But 186 turned its third double-play of the night on Pulisic’s shot to short.
  “Too many double plays,” Gates said. “It just didn’t go our way again.”
  Mechanicsville created the final margin when a bottom of the ninth sacrifice from Keeler drove in Long.

Post 186… ......3 0 0 0 2 1 1 3 0 - 10
Post 175…........ 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 – 8