Hungry Pedal Valves squad opens World Series play Thursday

To say that the Pedal Valves squad is eager would be accurate. To say that the Cardinals are hungry is sincere. To say that the New Orleans area team is ready to compete for a national championship is an understatement.

Pedal Valves (35-8) opens play in the American Legion World Series Thursday morning at 9 a.m. (Central time) against Danville, IL Post 210 (36-8) at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, NC. The tournament runs through next Tuesday, August 20.

This is the 93rd Annual version of the event. The first champion was crowned in 1926 and has been played every year since then with the exception of 1927.

Pedal Valves will attempt to become the sixth New Orleans-based team and Louisiana squad to win a national championship.

New Orleans-based teams to win it all previously included the S.J. Peters-based Zatarain Papooses team in 1932, the Jesuit-based team in 1946, Jesuit-based Tulane Shirts in 1960, Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration in 2006 and Jesuit-based Retif Oil in 2012.

Pedal Valves won the Louisiana state title and then captured the Southeast Regional in Tampa, FL last weekend, beating Tupelo, MS 4-2 in the championship game. Stephen Klein of De La Salle and Delgado was the MVP of the Southeast Regional.

Cardinals head coach Danny Riehm cannot wait to get started.

“We are pretty hungry and we are pretty healthy,” Riehm said. “As is always the case at this point of the season, you have bumps and bruises. Klein, who took a ball right above the ankle in the Southeast Regional final against Tupelo is getting treatment, will start in right field. He is tough.”

Josh McCord of Destrehan High will get the start for Pedal Valves against the Illinois squad Thursday morning.

“It’s pretty special for our program, players and coaches to know you were one of 3,700 registered legion teams in the country to be part of the final eight,” Riehm said. “It is special to be playing in a big-time environment. We are told that on Friday night, there could be up to 10,000 people in attendance and a chance to play on national television. These kids deserve the opportunity they have.”

The eight teams making it to North Carolina include state champions from Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and North Dakota, along with Pedal Valves and the Illinois team.

Riehm is not sure what to expect tomorrow morning.

“I do not really know much about the Illinois team,” Riehm said. “They are all good teams or they would not be here. Clearly, they are extremely talented. No one really has had the chance to scout each other. After we play our game, we can certainly watch the other teams play.”

The Cardinals are playing well, getting contributions from virtually all who set foot on the field.

“Ron Franklin was outstanding in the regional with a couple of home runs and multiple extra base hits,” Riehm said. “He really did a good job going the other way. Kolby McWilliams had a great tournament for us. Nick Lorio and T.J. Thomas were very good. Lorio is better now after suffering heat exhaustion. Klein has been superb, obviously. It has been a team effort. We have excellent depth.”

The opportunity for Pedal Valves is rare and it is clearly appreciated.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity just to get here,” Riehm said. “The goal was to get here. We are here. If we settle in, shake the nerves, focus on the task at hand and play our brand of baseball, I truly believe we have a shot.”

The games will air on ESPN3 Thursday, ESPNU Friday through Monday and ESPN News on Tuesday.

Here are the teams participating in the 2019 American Legion World Series:

Region 1: Shrewsbury, MA Post 397
Region 2: Randolph Co., NC Post 45
Region 3: Destrehan, LA Post 366
Region 4: Festus, MO Post 253
Region 5: Danville, IL Post 210
Region 6: Fargo, ND Post 2
Region 7: Idaho Falls, ID Post 56
Region 8: Albuquerque, NM Post 13

Here is the full schedule. All times are Eastern time:

Thursday, Aug. 15, on ESPN3.com
Game 1 – 10 a.m. – Destrehan (LA) Post 366 (PEDAL VALVES) vs. Danville (IL) Post 210
Game 2 – 1 p.m. – Festus (MO) Post 253 vs. Albuquerque (NM) Post 13
Game 3 – 4 p.m. – Fargo (ND) Post 2 vs. Idaho Falls (ID) Post 56
Game 4 – 7:30 p.m. – Shrewsbury (Mass.) Post 397 vs. Randolph Co., (NC) Post 45
Friday, Aug. 16, on ESPNU
Game 5 – 4 p.m. – Danville (IL.) Post 210 vs. Albuquerque (N.M.) Post 13
Game 6 – 7 p.m. – Destrehan (LA) Post 366 (PEDAL VALVES) vs. Festus (MO) Post 253
Saturday, Aug. 17, on ESPNU
Game 7 – 1 p.m. – Idaho Falls (ID) Post 56 vs. Shrewsbury (MA) Post 397
Game 8 – 4 p.m. – Randolph Co., (NC) Post 45 vs. Fargo (ND) Post 2
Game 9 – 7:30 p.m. – Destrehan (LA) Post 366 (PEDAL VALVES) vs. Albuquerque (NM) Post 13
Sunday, Aug. 18, on ESPNU
Game 10 – 1 p.m. – Festus (MO) Post 253 vs. Danville (IL) Post 210
Game 11 – 4 p.m. – Shrewsbury (MA) Post 397 vs. Fargo (ND) Post 2
Game 12 – 7:30 p.m. – Randolph Co., (NC) Post 45 vs. Idaho Falls (ID) Post 56
Monday, Aug. 19, on ESPNU
Game 13 – 4 p.m. – Semifinal – Winner Stars vs. Runner-Up Stripes
Game 14 – 7 p.m. – Semifinal – Winner Stripes vs. Runner-Up Stars
Tuesday, Aug. 20, on ESPNews
Game 15 – 6:30 p.m. – Championship – Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14
The championship game will be replayed at 10 p.m. on Tuesday on ESPNU

**The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly two million members and was instrumental in the creation of the GI Bill and the Department of Veterans Affairs over its history. The American Legion was founded in 1919 and is celebrating its centennial year.

American Legion Baseball has over 3,500 teams nation-wide with approximately 60,000 participants aged 13-19 annually. Of the millions of participants over the 92 years of American Legion Baseball, a total of 81 went on to become Baseball Hall of Famers. Current stars such as Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom played American Legion Baseball.