Legion baseball wraps up

Brooklawn, NJ runner Pat Kane slides in safe at home past Bellevue, WA catcher James Sinatro to score the winning run in the 10th inning of game eight at the American Legion World Series in Shelby on Sunday August 19, 2012.

Here's a few of my best photos from the last few weeks of American Legion baseball playoffs.

I don't consider shooting baseball to be one of my strengths as a photographer, but looking over all the high school, Gastonia Grizzlies and American Legion baseball I shot this summer is boosting my confidence a bit. I think for the first time in my four-year career I can say without hesitation that I'm proud of the work I did.

I can't take all the credit, of course. No matter how good you are as a sports photographer, you're always at the mercy of what's actually happening on the field. With baseball that is often extreme boredom and monotony punctuated by moments of dramatic and decisive action, such as the play-at-the-plate above.

All things considered, this year I felt like there was simply more action, and I can't complain about that.

Hickory Post 29 left fielder Tanner Dillard reaches over the fence to rob a Gaston Braves batter of a home run during game four of the American Legion playoffs series at South Point High in Belmont on Thursday July 19, 2012.

Cherryville Post 100 second baseman Brett Huff knocks off Gastonia Post 23 runner Trevor Bridges' helmet after forcing him out at second and winding up to throw to first for the double play during the American Legion playoffs game at Sims Legion Park on Wednesday July 4, 2012.

Your Out!

Queen City Mustangs catcher James Snover tags out Gastonia Post 23's Garrett Lowery at home in the first inning of the game at Sims Legion Park on Sunday June 17, 2012.

Sudden Impact

South Point baserunner Mitchell Painter, left, collides with Cherryville first baseman Alston Mosteller as Mosteller attempts to field a ground ball on the first base line during the Gaston County Baseball Tournament semi-final match at Sims Park on Wednesday April 11, 2012. 

South Point right fielder Mitchell Painter comes up short of catching a fly ball during the game against Cherryville.

Rainout

I almost enjoy rainout pictures more than shooting baseball itself. Dark clouds get me excited.

Thumbs Up!

Noah Conner, 4, gives a thumbs up as his mom Sara Conner takes pictures of him strapped into a UH-72 Lakota helicopter that landed outside Keeter Stadium during the American Legion Baseball World Series in Shelby on Sunday August 14, 2011.

More Horseshoes?

Cherryville Post 100 pitcher Adam Benfield poses with his lucky horseshoe in the dugout at Buck Fraley Field in Cherryville on Sunday July 31, 2011. Benfield found the horseshoe and now brings it to games and keeps in the bull pen for good luck.

Kevin Millwood

Kevin Millwood pitches for the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre Yankees during the game against the Charlotte Knights on Thursday April 28, 2011 in Fort Mill, SC.

As if baseball isn't boring enough, I spent the better part of two work days just to get a few shots of this guy.

Not that I'm complaining, I get paid to go out and take pictures every day and I don't care all that much what it is. The next day I got to go rock climbing to take pictures, so life is in balance.

3.2.1...Contact

Belmont Abbey infielder Joey Frabasile makes contact with the ball during the first game of the double-header against Mount Olive at the Abbey on Saturday April 2, 2011. The ball was caught for a out in center field.

This isn't an overly spectacular sports shot, but catching the ball contacting the bat at the collegiate level is something I only do a couple of times a season.

It sure is nice, though to shoot baseball during the day every once in a while when you can use a shutter speed fast enough to freeze those ephemeral moments that can't be seen with the naked eye.

Baseball Action

Helms makes the throw to first for the double play as Kinston Post 43's C.J. Bradshaw slides in to the bag.

Post 67's Stephen McKinney throws the ball to home as he runs down Post 58's Mike Smith on July 19. Smith was tagged out at home.