Rock Memorial, Festus to play summer baseball without Legion sponsorship

While it won’t be called American Legion baseball, some of the best high school players in Jefferson County will hit the diamond this summer.

Rock Memorial Baseball in Imperial, normally sponsored by Legion Post 283, will begin playing games this Friday night and is slated to have a schedule of at least 25 games.

Head coach Dan Sigman says, while it’ll be nice to be coaching again, the players are the ones feeling the real excitement.

Sigman says the team has been able to hold practices the last few weeks and is trying its best to round into form.

Festus Post 253 has also settled on a preliminary schedule of games.

They will refer to the club as the Festus Diamond Club, and will try to participate in Babe Ruth Baseball, including a state tournament at the end of July.

Head coach Zac Bone says, once the Legion season ended, he was grateful to find a partner in Babe Ruth Baseball.

Festus will open the season with a doubleheader against Union at home on June 29th.

While there is no full team practice until a week prior to games, Bone says the team is already holding workouts to get back in playing shape.

Both Festus and Rock Memorial cannot use logos of or references to American Legion, as the Legion announced it would not sponsor any baseball played this summer nationwide.

Rock takes on the Jefferson County Blazers of the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association to open up play.

First pitch Friday night is set for 7:30 in Imperial.