Rockport remained unbeaten in state finals play with a 10-0 win over Terre Haute Post 346 Monday night at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.

Already assured of a berth in the state championship game via Sunday nights 10-0 win over Kokomo, Post 254 never let down in winning its ninth straight game in state  tournament play. Rockport was a perfect 5-0 in winning the 2015 state title.

Brenden Lewis and Caleb Helms continued the outstanding pitching performances that Rockport has seen all season as the pair combined on a three-hit shutout.

Lewis (5-0) worked the first five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks in his stint on the mound. Helms tossed the last four frames, allowing one hit while striking out two in picking up his second save of the season.

The shutout marked the 10th time in 27 games that Post 254 pitching has blanked an opponent.

​Trever Zink had three hits and three RBI to pace Rockport at the plate. Hunter Rowe, Gant Miller and Matthew Embry chipped in with two hits each. Embry drove in two and  scored twice as well.

Chad Meyer had a bases-clearing double in the third that expanded Rockport’s lead to 4-0. Meyer scored later in the inning on Embry’s fielders choice to expand the lead to 5-0 after three.

The win enabled Jenkins Post to enter Tuesday’s championship game against Kokomo Post 6, a 4-2 winner over Newburgh earlier in the afternoon, as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

By Darrell Stephens.

Hunter Rowe twirled a masterpiece that will be logged among the classics in Post 254 annals as Rockport beat host Kokomo 10-0 in the final winner’s bracket game of the 2016 American Legion baseball state finals.

Rowe, now 8-0, allowed only two harmless singles, struck out five and walked three in going the distance for the win. Rowe retired the side in order in four of the eight innings he worked and did'nt allow a Kokomo runner beyond second base in the game.

Rockport got the only run it would need in the first when Kobe Stephens walked, advanced to second on Andrew Hayden’s ground out and then scored when the Kokomo catcher threw the ball into left field as Stephens stole third.

Post 254 added three runs in the third. Zach Hopewell doubled with one out, Hayden coaxed an eight-pitch walk with two out to set the table.

Spenser Deom singled to right center to score Hopewell and Jakob Shuler blasted a monstrous double to left center to score Hayden and Deom.

After adding a  single run in the seventh, Rockport ended the game on the mercy rule with five runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Trever Zink had three hits for Rockport with Stephens and Deom chipping in two each. Shuler had four runs batted in on only one hit, a bases-loaded walk and a fielder’s choice ground out that drove in Rockport’s 10th run.

Rockport (25-1) will play Terre Haute (23-10) at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) today (Monday). Newburgh (23-8-1) will play Kokomo (31-7) at 3:00 p.m.(CDT).
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Regardless of today’s outcomes Post 254 is assured of playing for the state championship on Tuesday. Either someone will have to beat Rockport twice, or if Jenkins Post loses tonight, it could receive a bye into the championship game.

Francis Neidlinger Post 79 in Zionsville, Ind., is planning to host a Police Appreciation Day for the Zionsville Police Department. The day will include a mission presentation by police, a meet and greet with police officers, a remembrance memorial and a cookout. Proceeds benefit the Legion and the Zionsville Police Department.

​Remembering Our Fallen Display coming to Byron Cox Post 72, Crawfordsville, Ind., Aug. 12-16. The display includes Indiana's fallen in the Post 9/11 wars  including images and write-ups provided by their families.

"Remembering Our Fallen" was created in November 2010 by Bill and Evonne Williams of Omaha. Their eternal hope is to honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to provide comfort to friends and family of the fallen, and to remind others of the tremendous cost paid by some. Its legacy will be that these men and women will never be forgotten and that their names will be remembered and spoken.

​​The inspiration for this project came after reading a story in the Omaha World-Herald in September, 2010, about a father whose pain and grief were even greater four years after his son, Joshua, had died in Iraq. Why?

Because he felt that his son had been forgotten…and the war was not even over yet.

To learn more about the wall:

​Historic Fort Benjamin Harrison Post 510 has garnered the attention of the National Organization for its unparalleled achievement in membership this year. As we closed the books June 5,

​National Membership Director Billy Johnson advised the department that Post 510 had achieved the highest percentage of increase over its 2015 close of books figure of all traditional American Legion posts in the nation.
 
Even more significant is the Post’s sustained growth of 409 percent since the close of the 2014 membership year two years ago. 
 
"I can only echo the comments of Information Technology Deputy Director Joe Gallagher, who ran the analytics and forwarded the results to Post 510 commander Tom Winters," said Hugh Dagley, Department Adjutant. “'Absolutely fantastic … Bravo Zulu … Way to go DUDE!'”
 
The Post has developed a five-year membership strategy, established and trained a dedicated membership recruitment team, and partnered with key players in membership at every level of the organization. Your post can do the same. If you want more information on how to duplicate Post 510’s success at your own post, contact Paul Norton by email at paulenorton3@gmail.com.

There are a few Legionnaires who go beyond what is expected. In membership, these Legionnaires take the extra step by asking everyone they meet to join our great organization. By doing so, they earn the distinction of being members of the “Silver Brigade” and the "Gold Brigade."

​Each year Legionnaires spend countless hours talking and visiting with their fellow veterans, telling them about the benefits of belonging to The American Legion. 
 
The National Organization established the Silver and Gold Brigades as a way to honor successful Legion recruiters who are working their way to the top.
 
Silver Brigade
This category requires members to recruit 25 to 49 members by May 19 of the membership year.
 
Gold Brigade
To qualify for this elite group, a Legionnaire must recruit at least 50 new members into The American Legion before May 19th of the membership year.

​Department Cmdr. Larry Lowry presents the Distinguished Service Award to Paula Motsinger who accepted the award on behalf of her father, the late Richard M. Motsinger, at The American Legion, Department of Indiana 98th Annual Convention in Indianapolis July 8, 2016.

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Legionnaire. It is designed to recognize those Legionnaires who have contributed significantly to the organization through their service to The American Legion and the State of Indiana.

Richard Motsinger was a 39 year member of The American Legion. He earned his eligibility through service in Vietnam. Today he serves at Post Everlasting. Richard served in many offices at Post 502, South Haven, Indiana in the 2nd District. He was a six-time post commander there. Post 502 truly prospered under his leadership. Richard was responsible for many of the programs there, and many of those are still going strong today.  

Indianapolis – The American Legion, Department of Indiana recognized our Hoosier legislators with the Distinguished Public Service Award for their support of Indiana veterans at the 98th Annual State Convention, Saturday, July 9, in Indianapolis.
 
Since their inception, these awards have become among the most highly prized Legion honors. The following state legislators went above and beyond to work with The American Legion to improve the quality of life for veterans in Indiana.
 
The combined efforts of The American Legion, Hoosier veterans and their families saw great progress in veteran specific legislation during the 2016 Indiana General Assembly legislative session. We are privileged to honor our local legislators for their efforts and very proud of the work they have done and continue to do for Hoosier veterans.  
 
The American Legion, Department of Indiana, State Commander Larry Lowry said, “We’ve made great strides this year for our Hoosier veterans. Our success was largely due to the cooperation between our state’s four largest veterans’ service organizations, the Legion, the VFW, DAV and AMVETS, respectively. Our four organizations have partnered this past year to align priorities and focus efforts to improve the quality of life for veterans in Indiana.”
 
“But, our work is never done. Our combined efforts, and the willingness by our state legislature to work to impact our veterans set a precedent for next year. Let’s continue to build and strengthen our great relationships between the veterans’ service organizations and the state legislature, and let’s continue to change lives for our Hoosier veterans.”
 
The Awards read:
 
“The American Legion Department of Indiana Distinguished Public Service Award”
 
“…In recognition of distinguished and honorable service as a Statesman, a proven leader in the Indiana General Assembly, a proponent of classical values, and an unwavering advocate for Hoosier Veterans and their families …”