Fremont American Legion Post 121 is having a terrific summer on the baseball diamond, and several players from the Press coverage area are leading the way.

Post 121, which plays in the Greater Buckeye League for players 19 and under, had a 19-8 record through Wednesday and had won two tournaments

“We have shined in the tournaments we've gone to,” second-year head coach Jeff Todd said. “We won in Pemberville and we went to Blissfield, Mich., and won that tournament, and that is an exceptionally tough tournament. This is a very good group. I have more arms than I've had in the four years I've been involved with Post 121. We have more quality arms, and when we hit, we hit. We did it to Maumee the other night.”

Fremont American Legion Post 121 baseball player Mark Konieczny (Oak Harbor) levels his swing for what would be a double in his team's 12-8 victory over Maumee Post 320. (Press photo by John Pollock/www.pollock.smugmug.com)

Last weekend, Fremont Post 121 exploded for 10 runs in the ninth inning in a 12-8 comeback win over host Maumee Post 320, which has five starters from the Division I state runner-up Perrysburg team and others from Maumee, Anthony Wayne, and Rossford. Fremont had eight hits, sent 17 batters to the plate and had 14 base runners in the ninth en route to the win.

“We told them we've been living and dying by the big inning all year,” Todd said. “We'll beat a good team 17-5 or we can lose to an average team 2-1. It was surprising that it happened in the ninth inning, but it didn't surprise me because we've been doing it all year long. It's contagious. Everybody hits.”

Post 121 features three players – Mark Konieczny and twins Joey and Brian Mallernee – from Oak Harbor along with recent Gibsonburg graduate Brett Diekman and Woodmore graduate Andy Flick. Diekman has signed on to play for Lourdes College in its inaugural season next year.

Post 121 also has players from Clyde, Bellevue, Tiffin Columbian, Norwalk, Fremont Ross, Fremont St. Joe and Fostoria.

Diekman, a pitcher/catcher/infielder, has played for Post 121 for four years, making the team as a freshman at Gibsonburg.

“Very seldom do you ever see a freshman try out, let alone make it,” said Todd, who was an assistant under head coach Mark King for two years. “We've had one other freshman make it since then. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's very rare that a freshman makes it.”

Todd called Diekman, a first-team All-Suburban Lakes League catcher at Gibsonburg, “Mr. Utility” for Post 121. Diekman is 0-2 on the mound in three appearances.

“He can play all the spots, everywhere,” Todd said. “He is probably going to Lourdes as a catcher. That's what I see as his best position. Left-handed catchers are at a premium, and he swings the bat pretty well. He's played third base, left field, pitcher, DH, and he's got a good throwing arm. He has picked it up behind the plate and he doesn't complain if he doesn't get in. When he starts, he's ready to go.”

Flick, a right-handed reliever and the team's lone 19-year-old, attends Bowling Green State University but does not play baseball there. He has one win, one save and a 3.82 ERA in his second season playing for Post 121.

“Andy is a great teammate,” Todd said. “He has known for two years that all he would do is pitch in relief. He's loose in the dugout and he knows when to laugh and pick someone up. He's someone who some day will be a great baseball coach because he has a good mind for the game. He comes to play every night, like a lot of kids don't. He might get in the game and he might not get in the game. He throws the ball pretty well, too.”

Mark Konieczny, who is in his first season with Post 121, was a second-team All-Sandusky Bay Conference pitcher this spring as a sophomore at Oak Harbor. Konieczny, who also plays the infield, is 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA.

“Mark has been a pleasant surprise this year,” Todd said. “He's a right-handed pitcher who throws submarine style and he's a better-than-average second baseman, which gives us relief in the middle infield because we can move people around. He handles the bat really well at the plate. He has been a surprise on the mound. He doesn't throw real hard, but he isn't scared to pitch against anybody.”

Joey Mallernee, who will be a senior at Oak Harbor this year, catches and plays in the outfield for Post 121. He is one of three catchers on the roster, joining Diekman and Jordan Garcia from Fremont Ross.

“Joey, out of the whole group, has gotten the least amount of playing time,” Todd said. “He's another kid who hasn't complained. He's there all the time. He has a real good attitude and has swung the bat well for us when he's had his opportunities.”

Brian Mallernee, a pitcher/outfielder, is 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA. He will also be a senior at Oak Harbor.

“Brian is having an outstanding year,” Todd said. “He hits the ball very well and he's become very reliable. He can play right or left field and he can go to the mound for us or DH for us. He has been a huge surprise with what he can do at the plate. He's got some pop. If he goes to the next level and plays, he's going to surprise people with how much pop he's got.

“He very seldom gets himself out. You have to get him out, because he doesn't swing at a lot of bad pitches. He has been a big surprise and a big help for our team this year.”

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