The Clovis NightHawks Post 147 baseball team is set to represent California at the American Legion Regional Playoffs. (Photo: American Legion Cecil Cox Post 147)
The Clovis NightHawks Post 147 baseball team is set to represent California at the American Legion Regional Playoffs, as reported by Fresno and Central Valley news.
Clovis Post 147 defeated El Segundo 4-3 to win its first state championship. The NightHawks will now get to play the top teams in the West Region. They will face Hawai’i in their first game on Wednesday, August 7, in Fairfield, CA, with the goal of reaching the American Legion World Series in Shelby, NC. The last Californian team to win the World Series was in 2000.
Frank Ducar, Clovis’ baseball commissioner, enlisted Rollo Adams to coach the NightHawks. Adams has been the head coach for the past four seasons and is now leading the team in pursuit of their first World Series appearance. The NightHawks, a senior-level team composed of high school players from grades 10-12 across several Clovis area high schools, are eager to make a mark in the regionals.
California holds a strong record in the American Legion Baseball World Series, having won the championship 17 times, more than any other state. Since its inception in 1925, American Legion Baseball has instilled values of sportsmanship, good health, and active citizenship in young athletes. It promotes equality by bringing together players from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and has served as a steppingstone for millions of young men, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in various fields, including professional baseball.
The Clovis NightHawks were established in 2021 and are sponsored by Cecil Cox Post 147, located in downtown Clovis. In July 2022, the NightHawks competed in a best-of-three series against the Atwater/Merced Yammers at Chukchansi Park. After splitting the first two games, the NightHawks won the decisive third game with a score of 13-8, earning the title of Area 3 Champions and securing their place in the California State Championship Tournament.
As they prepare for the 2024 regional playoffs, the NightHawks carry with them the hopes of their community and the legacy of California’s strong tradition in American Legion Baseball.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
