Chase George finding his home with Post 13

The next week, George got the start against Fairmont Post 17. He finished the day with three strikeouts and held a no-hitter through three innings.

“This is just my second game with the team,” George said after a win over Fairmont Post 17. “I’m getting used to the guys, but, man, they’re all a great group and they’re very welcoming to me in my first game. It’s all about building trust with people.”

George is coming off his freshman season at Salem University. The University grad originally didn’t have plans for playing in the offseason.

“At first, I wasn’t going to play baseball this summer,” George said. “I was just going to lift and do some work with my pitching coach in Morgantown, but I just missed playing on the field. I came down, contacted coach, and the transition has been nice. I’ve got a good group of guys, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

The game against Fairmont Post 17 was George’s first matchup at Post 13’s home — Frank Loria Memorial Field in Nutter Fort. George knows the field well.

They’re on a first-name basis.

“It is great to be back on the Frank,” George said with a smile. “It’s one of the prettiest fields in West Virginia. I’m happy to call it home here with Post 13 and with Salem.”

George looked comfortable in his first home start for Post 13. It’s probably because it’s the place, and a mound, that he’s familiar with.

“It felt good to come out on the mound and shove,” George said of getting the start at Frank Loria Field for Post 13. “I practice here every day with Salem, so it felt nice to see that hard work pay off.”

George held a redshirt in his first season at Salem. It’s giving him time to work on his game.

In his senior season at the high school level, George was the Hawks’ leader in saves. He recorded 16 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched.

Now, in his final year of eligibility for Post 13, the Legion season has given him a chance to find focal points to sharpen with game reps as his collegiate career continues.

“My main focus — I have a few,” George said. “I want to be more efficient. I walked a lot of guys in the fall, so they gave me a redshirt year.”

George, a pitcher who primarily works in the submarine pitching style, has a unique delivery that you could say has a signature touch.

As his back knee tends to hit the mound, his hat also tends to fly off of his head.

His powerful delivery tends to break the mold, a low delivery point that makes batters have trouble finding hits.

“I’m also working on a few mechanical things,” George continued. “Mainly, just filling up the zone. I want to be effective and make an impact for Salem next year.”

George has succeeded at that mission so far for Post 13. In his matchup with Post 17, George threw strikes for nearly 60% of his pitches.

And he’s still got the rest of the Legion season.

Post 13 sits with a record of 8-4 this season and looks toward a matchup with Elkins Post 29 on Thursday.