Congratulations to the boys from Lincoln East who earlier this month won the American Legion baseball national tournament held in Shelby, North Carolina.
They won by defeating a team from Portland, Oregon, 9-6. A number of teams from Nebraska have played in the Legion World Series but it's been since 1939 that a Nebraska team won it all.
I was very fortunate to have played Legion ball on a team made up of boys from Omaha North, sponsored by Storz beer. You would recognize the names of several of our players, among them Dave Underwood, who later coached baseball at NU; Bob Churchich, who quarterbacked the Huskers for three seasons, and the late Dan Sorensen, who taught and coached at Omaha North for many years and probably knew just about every high school athlete in Omaha during that time. That '61 Storz team played in the nationals at Hastings, taking third place.
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That summer of winning bonded us players and our coach, the late Ken Bauermeister, together in a special, respectful, enjoyable and rewarding friendship that remains active and strong yet today, some 65 years later.
Relatively few earn the opportunity to accomplish what you fellows from East have. This will remain a highlight of your lives, for sure. Embrace it and all the parents, family, teachers and friends who made your success possible. It will bond you guys together for a lifetime.
Roger Baumann, Plymouth, Minn.
