Honored guests, political dignitaries, even a color guard was on hand June 8 at Stone Bridge High School to celebrate the growth of American Legion baseball in Loudoun County.

The Leesburg Rangers of Post 181 lined up along the first base line across from their hosts, the Ashburn Knights of Post 2001. Comprised chiefly of the area’s top ballplayers under age 20, the two squads readied to test themselves against their neighbors in the early stages of the District 16 season.

The assembled crowd, many in their distinctive Legionnaire caps, cheered appreciatively when Edwin “Ned” Woisard’s ceremonial first pitch flew smartly toward the catcher, bouncing just a foot in front of its target.

Woisard, a 50-year Loudouner and among the county’s eldest living veterans, didn’t entirely agree with his cohorts’ sentiments in the bleachers.

“I threw three strikes when I was warming up,” said the World War II vet and former third baseman. “But this is an honor…. [The American Legion] is to produce citizens who know how the country runs.”

When he got his own turn on the mound, Knights’ starting pitcher Spencer Brookbank followed Woisard’s example. The former Stone Bridge Bulldog—pitching competitively for the first time in nearly a year—delivered low strikes to hold the Rangers to one run in six innings, earning the win.

Ashburn’s aggressive offense came alive with three runs in the fourth, then tacked on five in the seventh and three more in the eighth for a 12-7 victory in the all-Loudoun matchup.

“Because of his work ethic the past couple practices, we said, hey, take the ball and give us what you got,” said Ashburn manager Tom Whipple of Brookbank. “He did a great job. I was very impressed.”

The result gives the Knights a 1-0 mark while the Rangers fall to 0-2.

Among the Knights’ offensive stars were Drew Mason and Dillon Berger. Mason, ex of Park View, clubbed an RBI single to go along with a pair of stolen bases. Berger, once a Bulldog who now plays for Shepherd University, broke the game open with a deep three-run double in the seventh.

Leesburg answered Ashburn’s five-run explosion with five runs of their own in the eighth, sparked by Jonathan Smoot’s RBI single and exacerbated by consecutive throwing errors by the Knights’ infield.

Rangers’ leadoff man Mitchell Bowers of Heritage was noticeable, making solid contact in each at-bat to end with a pair of hits.

Brady Orrison entered for the Knights in the eighth to toss one and a third scoreless innings, settling down the Leesburg threat to secure the win for Ashburn.

New territory

Together with Purcellville Post 293 and Ashburn’s junior (17-and-under) team, the four teams is the most ever hosted by Loudoun-based posts.

“It’s to get more kids involved in American Legion baseball,” said Jim Grenier, manager of the Leesburg Rangers and the chief instigator of Legion ball’s return to Loudoun in 2008 after a 10-year absence. “This is good ball.”

This season marks the first time the 10-year-old Post 2001 has sponsored a baseball team—but they couldn’t stop at one. The Ashburn post—considered a relatively small one with a current membership under 40—is hosting teams in the 19-and-under and 17-and-under divisions.

“The mission of the American Legion is more than helping veterans. It’s also part of our mission to support citizenship and youth,” said Post 2001 commander Jon Canerday. “We wanted to take this extra step and sponsor Legion baseball.”

Canerday believes the teams serve to connect Legion posts with their own communities, and can expose citizens to the American Legion’s philanthropic initiatives, such as Boys’ and Girls’ State, Operation Homefront, or the multitudinous services posts anonymously provide to veterans in need.

“Here we are at a centrally located high school, where you’re seeing two great baseball teams play, with players who are going to someday be playing in college and maybe beyond,” Canerday said, surveying the stands. “It’s an inspiration to these younger kids. The entire community benefits.”

Legion ball’s diamond notes

At least one college scout was in attendance to observe the contest ... Stone Bridge will be the Knights’ home diamond while the Rangers will call Heritage High School home ... Purcellville Post 293, made up mostly of Briar Woods Falcons, will use that school’s field in Brambleton as their home base ... Former Broad Run and current William & Mary pitcher Cole Shain is serving as Whipple’s pitching coach with the Knights ... For the first time, Grenier managed against his own son, James, an outfielder for Ashburn. “That was a little weird,” the dad said. “I wanted him to hit the ball hard, but then make an out!”