As the calendar turns from July to August, American Legion State Baseball Tournaments unfold across the country. In Wisconsin, it's been that way for 97 years.

The tournament is about tradition, teamwork, and talent. The list of former American Legion State Tournament All-Tournament teams reads like a who's who of the top baseball talent in Wisconsin over the last century. This year's American Legion Baseball State Tournament was held in Ashwaubenon, a suburb of Green Bay.

Ryan Bishop has been coaching the River Falls American Legion Post 121 baseball team for the last 22 years. This season started out as one of his toughest. It finished as one of his most rewarding.

"We were undersized and inexperienced," said Bishop. “But we had guys that played for each other. That's why we had success this summer."

River Falls' close proximity to the Twin Cities lends itself for summertime competition with the pay for play of the club baseball circuit. This year, the draw of private business club baseball took the majority of starters on the Wildcat varsity team, with the exception of Eli Condon.

Condon, who will head to UW-La Crosse to pitch for the Eagles next year, was the lone graduating senior on the River Falls' Legion team the entire summer. With most of the starting sophomores and juniors at their respective club teams, the other graduating seniors decided to play local town team baseball.

"I played because that's my family," said Condon. "I love River Falls baseball and the young guys needed me. In Legion baseball, you play for your community and this community has had my back since we moved here from Cottage Grove."

"Coach Bishop sat down with me earlier this year," said Condon. "And told me I could pick where I wanted to go (play baseball in college) and he'd make that happen for me. Without Coach Bishop, I wouldn't be in the position I am now."

Condon and basically the Wildcat junior varsity team from this past high school season headed to the American Legion State Baseball Tournament to take on other varsity teams; many of the opponents had players just finishing their freshman seasons at the college level since it's a 19-years-old and under age limit. 

Post 121 came out swinging in game one against Pulaski with an 11-1 win. Condon struck out seven and didn't allow a run, while also collecting two hits and three RBI.

"Eli continued to do what he's done for us all year," said Bishop.

Game two saw Post 121 take on Medford and one of the state's top pitchers, All-State player Logan Baumgartner. Post 121's Tyler Nelson matched the lumberjack-looking Baumgartner inning for inning, allowing only one earned run over six innings, but dropped a tough one to Medford by a final of 3-1.

"Tyler (Nelson) did a great job on the mound and made some tough pitches," said Bishop. “He put us in position to win and that's all we can ask."

Bryce Bevens had two of the team's five hits to lead Post 121 at the plate.

This set up the quarterfinal game against Holmen in what Bishop called ”one of the craziest endings to a baseball game I've ever been a part of." 

"We had no business beating Holmen on paper," said Bishop. "But it's a mind-set thing. The kids bought into it and did everything we asked them to do.

"Ty (Manninen) threw one heck of a ballgame and put us in position against a very good team."

Henry Zimmermann had a RBI single to put Post 121 on top, 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning. Condon is a pitcher and does play the outfield on occasion, but never plays in the infield. Condon was playing at third base against Holmen because that's where his team needed him. Condon booted a ground ball at third leading to two Holmen runs in the bottom of the sixth. Holmen would add one more unearned run to take a 3-1 lead.

"When we switched pitchers and went to Henry (Zimmermann) and I was moving out to right field in the bottom of the sixth," said Condon. "I was about as down as I could get after that error, but I heard a parent yell 'It'll be O.K., they got you' and right then, I knew my guys would pick me up."

His guys did pick him up.

"That's the difference between individuals and a team," said Bishop. "When you're surrounded by teammates that you trust will pick you up after a mistake, everyone will run through a brick wall for each other."

It looked grim and some of the Post 121 parents were packing up their things in the top of the seventh inning with two outs, as the Holmen fans were prematurely celebrating. 

Then, Manninen and Bevens had back-to-back singles and on a 3-0 pitch, Zimmermann rocketed a triple to right field tying the game at three apiece.

Two pitches later, Zimmermann scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead.

"It's a game built around failure," said Bishop. "But they just kept going. The beautiful thing is, even though they were over matched at times, their teammates picked them up."

In the bottom of the seventh, after a sacrifice bunt, Holmen had the tying run on third and the winning run on second with just one out. The next batter belted a deep fly ball to centerfielder Bryce Bevens. Bevens unleashed a cannon to throw it home. The runner tagging from third slid a little too early and was a little short of the plate and Post 121 catcher Colton Maves slapped the tag on him to end the game on the 8-2 double play if you're scoring in the book at home.     

"It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for sure," said Condon. "That win ranks way, way up there on my best baseball memories. I'll never forget it."

Post 121 ran into eventual state champion Ashwaubenon on Monday, losing 10-1.

"We just ran out of pitching and ran out of gas," said Bishop. "But it was an honor for our coaching staff to share the field with these young men this season."

Condon and Bevens were named to the American Legion State Tournament All-Tournament Team. Condon led the team in RBI and did not allow an earned run in the game 1 win over Pulaski. Bevens was 6 for 14 at the plate in the four-game tourney and made "play after play" in centerfield, according to Bishop.

Post 121 finished their season 17-8. Many parents thought the record would be reversed at the beginning of the Legion season.

"That Holmen game defined our summer and defined the season," said Bisho., "I'll say it again; it's amazing what can be accomplished with teamwork."