There will be American Legion baseball in Arlington this summer, after all.
But the long-standing Arlington Post 139 team that plays in District 17 and has been a top league contender over the years will have a new sponsor in Post 1995 for the 2024 season, which begins June 1. That 1995 number will be worn on the jerseys of Arlington players.
After Post 139 made the decision in recent weeks not to continue sponsoring the Arlington Legion team, the district began exploring other sponsor possibilities, to keep the squad of high-school-age players on the field without interruption of play. Eventually, the membership of Post 1995, located in Chantilly, agreed to be the new sponsor.
American Legion rules permit a Post to sponsor a team in another jurisdiction.
“This was a little bit of a headache for all of us, but we came out ahead,” District 17 commissioner Mike Farabaugh said.
Post 1995 fielded a District 17 team years ago, the last in 2013. Post 1995 also was a past district-tournament champion under then manager Chris Kestyn.
In recent years, the Chantilly Post has tried to re-enter the district on various occasions, but had trouble getting enough players or finding a manager to field a team.
Having a sponsor to continue fielding an Arlington team is a relief to players. In recent weeks they had been exploring where else they would play this summer.
The Arlington Legion coaching staff will continue the same as for Arlington Post 139 in recent summers. Bob Romano will be the manager with Jason Moccia and Jim Ashley returning as assistant coaches, and Scott Nathanson as a new assistant.
“Kudos to Mike Farabaugh for putting this altogether. He has done a huge job for American Legion baseball in Arlington,” Romano said. “Let it continue.”
Last summer as Arlington Post 139, the team finished with a 15-8 record, including a 2-2 state-tournament mark. Arlington has played in the state tourney the last three seasons.
Romano said the team already has more than a dozen players committed to joining the Arlington Post 1995 squad this summer.
Farabaugh also announced the District 17 will field a new team this summer, giving the league eight teams. The squad will be called Kingstown and be sponsored by District 17. It will consist of players from Edison High School and Hayfield Secondary School.
District 17 had fallen to as few as just five teams not long ago.
“They have players, coaches and everything and are ready to go,” Farabaugh said.
Farabaugh said Legion baseball is starting to grow again in popularity across the state, after multiple teams dropped out during and after the 2020 COVID season.
