2025 American Legion Recap

When players arrived in late May for American Legion tryouts, the coaching staff knew they had an issue.

Over 40 kids turned out, meaning there were more players than roster spots. The coaches had to make some decisions and make them quickly: cut kids (limit opportunities) or look for a way to keep them all (expand opportunities).

The solution, on very short notice, was to add a third team. The Gauchos (A) and Vaqueros (B) would be joined by the Charros (AA). It gave the program a presence at the top level of American Legion baseball in Idaho, and it ensured no one would be cut. Coaches needed to be found, a schedule needed to be created, and rosters needed to be balanced. However, many people worked together to make it happen.

“AA” Charros

As it turns out, the last team added wound up being the last team playing. The Charros, playing at the highest level of Legion competition in Idaho, qualified for the AA State Tournament in Nampa and – even though two key players (Paul Williams and Marcos Gonzalez) were injured – won their tourney opener over a team from Idaho Falls.

Kaleb Wilson and Dan Kling took the reins of the Charro squad, which was comprised of players from Parma, Weiser, Marsing, and Vision Charter.

Due to the late start, the Charros' schedule was a non-stop work in progress, including a last-minute entry into a club-level wood bat tournament. The team picked up a win over the 18U team from 6A Rocky Mountain as pitcher KJ LaChapelle went the distance and let his defense do the work behind him. The team also played stride for stride with one of the top programs from Oregon, Scappoose, a team that won 25 games during the school season.

Younger Panther players like Silas Kling and Ethan Obenchain were among the players who got to test themselves against the top level of legion (and area club) teams.

“A” Gauchos

The Gauchos were coached by Parma High School varsity coaches Pete and Kyle Powers. With the addition of the AA team, the Gauchos found themselves playing teams largely comprised of returning varsity players, while its roster was built with players who had not yet found varsity-level roles.

“This was important for us because we graduated a lot of solid, veteran varsity players this past spring,” Powers said. “The opportunity for a number of these kids to play varsity-level competition this summer, to see what it’s going to take to succeed, was critical for our program.”

Incoming sophomore Hunter Mitchell saw varsity time as a freshman but is one of the players who has a chance to earn a significant role on the PHS school team. Incoming senior Nahome Krohn and incoming juniors Rommie Lewis and Gabe Mullins were also allowed to show what they could do against solid competition. A group of players from Weiser High School (Lance Hart, Dustin Clark, Lance Albertson, and Eric Ramirez) also seized the day to compete for the Gauchos, sharpening their tools for their school program as well.

“The collaborative nature of this allowed more Parma kids to be able to play baseball this summer because it allowed us to field a third team,” Powers said. “The kids from Weiser, Middleton, Marsing, and Vision Charter who competed alongside us this summer blended very well with our kids. We really couldn’t have done this without their commitment.”

“B” Vaqueros

The Junior-B Vaqueros, coached by Will Hoenike and Shawn Pelton, were once again one of the youngest teams in the league, featuring eight players who are still in middle school this year.

“Of course, the goal is to win,” said Hoenike. “But, an even larger goal is to see the kids grow as players, whether it is taking on a bigger role, maybe learning a new position, and, for some kids, just getting more innings and at-bats.”

Among the players to show that growth – incoming freshman Ben Collord and incoming

8^th grader Chris Pelton, each of whom was asked to become a primary pitcher for the Vaqueros

after being a secondary pitcher for previous teams. The pair also led the team in plate

appearances on offense and were among the team’s top batters in terms of hits, runs, and RBI.

“The high school program is going to have a nice group of incoming freshmen,” Hoenike concluded. “Ben, KC (Cook), Sean (Collins), and Scott (Wilhite) all did good things this summer. It’s a talented group of kids.”

Looking Forward

Powers would like to field all three teams again next summer and hopes a full fall, winter, and spring of preparation and planning will allow for more communication and clarity.

“We learned a lot this summer,” Powers said. “That includes the coaches. We learned what it takes to compete at all three levels. We’ll take what we learned, see what needs to be done, and get ready to compete again next spring and summer.”

Parma is one of just two programs in the Boise area to field teams at all three levels of American Legion play in Idaho, along with Nampa.