August
11, 1999 12:46 AM
R.I. positions itself at regional
 Losing a
three-year infield starter right in the middle of a tournament run could
be devastating to some baseball teams.
While Rock Island Legion Post 200 coach Mike Bell admits there is no replacing
the heart and determination that J.J. Tubbs brought to his team, he's not worried
about whoever he slides into Tubbs' shortstop position after Tubbs was forced
to depart and join the University of Illinois football team.
"No, you never really replace a J.J.
Tubbs for all he means to a team,'' said Bell.
"However, if the system works the way it's supposed to, we can just plug
someone else into the lineup and move right on ahead.''
It appears the plugging will actually mean several position changes for Post 200
when it begins play Thursday in the Great Lakes Region Five Tournament in
Midland, Mich.
Veteran second baseman Dustin Harksen will slide over to shortstop, Zach Vroman
will move in from left field to play second base and Shawn Marshall will move into the
lineup in left field.
"The thing I like most about this
team is the versatility,'' said Bell. "I don't doubt
Harks' will do just fine at short and Zach is a natural anywhere you put him.
Shawn is a guy who would be starting for almost any other team we've played.
"If that doesn't work, we have a lot
of other ways we can go. This team gives me
so much flexibility.''
It also gives Bell a real joy to know he can come to practice any day and tell the
players they are switching positions and get no negative feedback.
"We have such versatility because we
have a lot of athletes,'' Bell said. "There
is a difference between a guy who can play more than one position and a guy
who wants to play more than one position."
"Jason Morelock is a great example.
When I came to him at the start of the
season and told him he was going to catch for us this year, he was thrilled. Even
though he hadn't caught in several years, he was ready to do it. Brad Pannell
can play the infield, the outfield, pitch and catch. Ryan Jones can do the same
thing."
"That's the kind of things they are
looking for in college and professionally,
guys who can play a lot of places and do a lot of things.''
Bell knows his team will have to use all of that ability this week in Midland
where they will open play Thursday at 5 p.m. against Dearborn, the Michigan
state champion.
"It gets tougher every game, but I
think our guys know that,'' he said. "Someone
asked me how we keep winning and I'm not sure there is a formula. I think it
comes down to the fact that these young men are not afraid of any challenge
and they know how to get around obstacles.''
The regional tournament format is different from previous rounds and the previous
appearance by Rock Island in 1997.
The eight teams are divided into two four-team pools and play round-robin the first
three days. The top two teams in each pool then advance to the semifinals on Sunday and
the winners of Sunday's games play a winner-take-all title game Monday night for the right
to advance to the World Series in Middletown, Conn., beginning Friday, Aug. 21.
Jeff Wendland covers American Legion baseball for The Dispatch and The Rock
Island Argus. Please email him at Wendland@qconline.com.
Copyright 1998, Moline Dispatch
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