Alumni game celebrates Charleroi Legion baseball

By JEFF OLIVER

MVI Sports

It was old-timers’ and new-timers’ day at Vets Field in Charleroi Sunday afternoon.

And the old-timers prevailed in the annual Charleroi Legion Alumni Baseball Game. The alumni team may have won, 11-6, but the theme of the day wasn’t about winning and losing. It was getting together generations of players who have come through the program.

“I just enjoy getting some of the old guys together and playing a game against our Legion team,” said Luke Mollis, manager of Charleroi Legion. “I think it’s good for baseball. I know the old guys enjoy it and I hope their love for the game rubs off on my team, which is really young.”

The game featured short rosters on both sides as a few Alumni players failed to show and some of the Legion players were missing because of travel ball commitments.

“Our Legion team used a lot of our Colt players, but it was still a good experience,” Mollis said. “I really wasn’t able to put as much time into organizing it this year because of what my family has been going through.”

Mollis’ oldest sister, Kara, passed away Thursday due to complications from cancer, and the family had been spending most of their time in Kentucky, where she lived.

“I really enjoyed myself today,” said Jim Smith, who at 51 was the oldest member of the Alumni team. “I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow, but I feel great right now. It felt good to swing a baseball bat again.”

Smith had two hits, including a double for the Alumni.

Frankie Francia, 49, the second-oldest player in the game, belted a bases-loaded triple highlighting an eight-run fifth inning for the winners.

“I caught it well,” smiled Francia. “If I didn’t hit it to deep center, it would have gone over the fence. But I’ll take it.”

The old-timers, several of whom had not played in a baseball game since the last Charleroi Legion Alumni event, spent most of the day waxing nostalgic, telling old stories about their glory days and ribbing the younger team whenever they got the chance.

Mollis, one of the greatest catchers in Charleroi American Legion history, caught all seven innings for the Alumni squad. He was thrilled that he picked off two base runners, but wasn’t too happy with his hitting performance.

“I was 0-for-2. I walked twice and struck out twice,” he said. “I hate striking out.”

The offensive star of the game for the Alumni was Ben Carson, who went 4-for-4 at the plate.

“This was the first baseball game I’ve played in since my senior year of college ball in 2014,” said Carson, a former standout for California Area. “I kinda surprised myself.”

The game had some interesting sidelights, including the father-son starting pitchers. Luke Glasser took the mound for the Alumni while his son, Lorenzo, pitched first for the Legion squad.

“It was nice to go up against my son instead of coaching him,” Luke Glasser said with a smile. “But I only had one inning in me for pitching.”

Frankie Francia’s son, Dom, pitched the final four innings for the Alumni to pick up the win.

“He had a lot of pop with his stuff,” Mollis said of the younger Francia. “His fastball was pretty good and his curve broke nice.”

Alumni player Jeff Herman, a former pitcher in his legion career, played left field hoping he wouldn’t have to pitch.

“But I had seven balls hit to me in the first two innings,” he said, laughing. “I probably won’t be able to move tomorrow.”

The Alumni players were glad to see their former manager, Kevin Mollis, make an appearance at the field.

Both Smith and Francia said they would never have loved their American Legion baseball experience had it not been for their relationship with the elder Mollis, who was a legendary fiery skipper.

“This was a really good time and I guarantee I’ll be back next year, God willing,” said Smith, who left his son’s birthday party to play in the game.

“My wife might not talk to me for a little, but I’m really happy I played,” he said. “But I gotta be honest: I’m really happiest for Luke to be here. If this gave him a minute of relief in his mind, then it was all worth it. 

“You look around here in this dugout and all of us love Luke and Kevin and are feeling for what they’ve been going through. It was nice to see them smile a bit.”