A Dream Come True for Young Athens Legion Squad
The Athens Post 4 Legion baseball team, composed mostly of underclassmen, captured the Regional Championship in its inaugural season, finishing 3‑0 at the Fall Creek Regional and securing a berth in the State Class A Tournament in Prairie du Chien.
Pitcher Joe Servi delivered a complete‑game performance in the championship, throwing four strikeouts and allowing just five hits while the offense plated both runs in the opening inning to defeat Osseo 4‑2.
Coach Jim Servi, who revived the program after moving to Athens and discovering the school lacked a Legion team, praised his players’ resilience and highlighted the rarity of fielding a roster that retained all seniors.
The squad features three freshmen, eight sophomores, two juniors and five seniors, giving the team a deep well of emerging talent that will face a more experienced field at the state level.
Athens opens the double‑elimination tournament against Stratford at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 31, before moving on to subsequent matchups through August 4 in Prairie du Chien.
Jim Servi expects tougher competition at the state event, noting that the regional opponents were already strong, but remains confident in his team’s style of play and their ability to rise to the occasion.
For pitcher Joe Servi, the state tournament represents a "dream come true" that has yet to fully sink in, a chance to prove doubters wrong and showcase the program’s rapid ascent.