The Schedule
S.D. Ireland Legion Baseball will schedule anywhere between 32-40 games which will include league games, non-league games and/or tournaments. The team will have at least one days off each week to enjoy their summers, however, these may be taken away if rainouts occur. When the weekends come, they are big for the team as we will either be participating in a tournament, having two doubleheaders or maybe have some well deserved time off.
Practices and Extra Work
There will be designated practices in the beginning of the season in June, and before the state tournament at the end of July. There will be occasional practices if our schedule if it is possible, however, players are offered extra opportunities to get better. There can be pre-game work with coaches before batting practices, we also offer BP in the mornings at CVU based on coaches availability. Players can also lift at the CVU Fitness Center on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday mornings, all at no charge.
Showcases
While we are not a travel showcase program, we do generally try and schedule around showcases that our players would like to attend. We are currently promoting our players to attend showcases whenever they can. SDI also has a numerous contacts within the collegiate ranks as scouts attend tournaments we play at and some offer exclusive showcases prior to the tournaments as well.
League Games
There are currently eight other teams that participate in the Northern Vermont Legion Division along with S.D. Ireland (Barre, Colchester, Franklin County, Montpelier, Mt. Mansfield, OEC, Post 91 and South Burlington). It is required that each team plays each other two times. Each game and series with league opponents is very crucial as these game determines if you qualify for the state tournament. You have to finish in the top four in order to qualify (three if a northern team hosts the state tournament), with tiebreakers being the season series with that particular team. Last year, we have had 24 league games, but teams can be suspended or added each year.
Tournaments
SD Ireland generally participates in two to three tournaments each year. In the past we have hosted a charitable tournament with Post 91 called the Punch Out Cancer Baseball Tournament. This year we will be attending Cooper's Cave Tournament in Saratoga Springs, NY (12 team tournament) and the Dick Maynard Memorial Tournament in Schrewsbury, MA (18 team tournament). We view these events as an opportunity to play at a higher level as we have played teams such as Upper Deck (RI), Moline (IL), Rockland (NY) and Bangor (ME), all past representatives in the Eastern Regionals of the Legion World Series.
Non-League Games
While we travel to tournaments and play crucial league games, its is virtually impossible to give everyone equal playing time. We will be scheduling occasional non-league games for those who do not play as much to get better as well. We will play local teams that we don't usually play during league play such as Clinton County Mariners, Keene Post 4 and Southern Vermont Legion teams that we may or may not see in the state tournament.
State Tournament
Each year the state hosts a state tournament at the end of July. It is a double elimination tournament featuring the top four teams from the North and South in the state with a berth to regionals on the line (along with a championship). Past locations have been Rutland, White River Junction and Colchester. This year, the finals will be played at both Colchester High School and Champlain Valley Union High School.
S.D. Ireland Legion Baseball will schedule anywhere between 32-40 games which will include league games, non-league games and/or tournaments. The team will have at least one days off each week to enjoy their summers, however, these may be taken away if rainouts occur. When the weekends come, they are big for the team as we will either be participating in a tournament, having two doubleheaders or maybe have some well deserved time off.
Practices and Extra Work
There will be designated practices in the beginning of the season in June, and before the state tournament at the end of July. There will be occasional practices if our schedule if it is possible, however, players are offered extra opportunities to get better. There can be pre-game work with coaches before batting practices, we also offer BP in the mornings at CVU based on coaches availability. Players can also lift at the CVU Fitness Center on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday mornings, all at no charge.
Showcases
While we are not a travel showcase program, we do generally try and schedule around showcases that our players would like to attend. We are currently promoting our players to attend showcases whenever they can. SDI also has a numerous contacts within the collegiate ranks as scouts attend tournaments we play at and some offer exclusive showcases prior to the tournaments as well.
League Games
There are currently eight other teams that participate in the Northern Vermont Legion Division along with S.D. Ireland (Barre, Colchester, Franklin County, Montpelier, Mt. Mansfield, OEC, Post 91 and South Burlington). It is required that each team plays each other two times. Each game and series with league opponents is very crucial as these game determines if you qualify for the state tournament. You have to finish in the top four in order to qualify (three if a northern team hosts the state tournament), with tiebreakers being the season series with that particular team. Last year, we have had 24 league games, but teams can be suspended or added each year.
Tournaments
SD Ireland generally participates in two to three tournaments each year. In the past we have hosted a charitable tournament with Post 91 called the Punch Out Cancer Baseball Tournament. This year we will be attending Cooper's Cave Tournament in Saratoga Springs, NY (12 team tournament) and the Dick Maynard Memorial Tournament in Schrewsbury, MA (18 team tournament). We view these events as an opportunity to play at a higher level as we have played teams such as Upper Deck (RI), Moline (IL), Rockland (NY) and Bangor (ME), all past representatives in the Eastern Regionals of the Legion World Series.
Non-League Games
While we travel to tournaments and play crucial league games, its is virtually impossible to give everyone equal playing time. We will be scheduling occasional non-league games for those who do not play as much to get better as well. We will play local teams that we don't usually play during league play such as Clinton County Mariners, Keene Post 4 and Southern Vermont Legion teams that we may or may not see in the state tournament.
State Tournament
Each year the state hosts a state tournament at the end of July. It is a double elimination tournament featuring the top four teams from the North and South in the state with a berth to regionals on the line (along with a championship). Past locations have been Rutland, White River Junction and Colchester. This year, the finals will be played at both Colchester High School and Champlain Valley Union High School.
