TimesLeader.com

July 23
VFW players to represent Abington area

Residents chosen as members of East team for American Legion Scouts Showcase

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com

ABINGTONS - Each year, more than 20,000 Legion baseball players in eastern Pennsylvania compete for a position in the East-West Legion Scouts Showcase in Harrisburg. The number is dwindled down and the 21 best players in the East are hand-picked to go head-to-head with the 21 best players in the West.

From left, Dunmore Post 13’s Mark Fortese, Abington VFW’s Cory Spangenberg, Joel Rosencranz and Stephan Arcure will represent the region at the upcoming East-West American Legion Scout’s Showcase in Harrisburg.

Submitted Photo

Times Leader Photo Store

“This is my first year with this, but I know it’s a very big deal to just get one guy on the team,” said Abington VFW head coach Bill Zaleski. “People have been saying they don’t think three players from the same team have ever gone.”

Three Abington VFW players -Stephan Arcure of Scranton Prep, Corey Spangenberg of Abington Heights and Joel Rosencranz of Holy Cross, have all made the team.

The three players were nominated by the coaches in the Legion to participate in a tryout. From there, the three, along with six others, made the cut to compete in the first round of tryouts, where 56 players were cut to down 28, and those 28 moved on to the second round.

This went on for five rounds, until all three local area athletes were asked to join the East team. And one man who saw it coming.

“I was pretty sure at least three players from Abington were going to make the team, we have a lot of talent this year,” said Arcure, “it was just a matter of which three.”

Arcure’s accurate prediction could have something to do with the fact this is nothing new for him, he’s made the team the past two years, and gained a feel for what the coaches are looking.

“It’s a really nice weekend event, everyone’s really talented, it’s your average all-star game,” said Arcure. “It’s usually a pitcher -dominated game and typically low scoring. I’m just really excited to be going with two of my teammates this year.”

“The last two years, I’ve been on my own. Everyone’s been great, but it’ll be nice going this year and knowing a few guys, especially two guys as great as Joel and Corey.”

Arcure graduated in June and will attend William and Mary College in the fall, where he will continue his baseball career. But this will be the last game of his high school career and it is that much more special that he’ll be playing the game with teammates he’s known for almost a lifetime.

“I’ve been playing with them since I’m 10-years-old, Stephan was on my little league team. I’m excited about going down with Stephan and Joel,” said Spangenberg

In addition to Arcure, Spangenberg and Rosencranz, Dunmore Post 13 outfielder Mark Fortese also made the team.

“We’ve all known Mark through the Legion ball, probably since the beginning of high school, and he fits right in. We don’t feel like it’s the three of us and him going, we really feel like the four of us are going down, and we’re really excited that he’s coming with us,” said Arcure.

The East-West game will take place Sunday, August 2, at 2 p.m. at the Commerce Park in Harrisburg.