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12/27/2015 11:00 PMMadison returned to the American Legion baseball circuit after not fielding a program in 2014. Following a 12-16 regular season mark for fifth place in Zone 3, skipper Pat Talbot’s Junior Legion squad won two games in the double elimination State Tournament, including a 9-8 victory versus Niantic that proved the club’s finest hour. Post 79 also benefited from an American Legion rule in the State Tournament. It appeared Madison’s season was over following a 6-4 loss to Tolland on July 19 and a 3-2 defeat against South Windsor three days later. However, for the South Windsor contest (a game that was resumed and completed the next day due to rain), Post 79 won by forfeit when South Windsor put a pitcher into the game who exceeded the innings-pitched limit for consecutive days. From there, Madison dispatched Niantic before concluding its year with a 13-7 loss to Tolland on July 25 to finish at 14-18. Standout leaders for Post 79 this season included shortstop/pitcher Will Levis, pitcher/outfielder Chris Hartmann (3-1, 3.45 earned-run average), infielder/pitcher Michael Elias (.330 batting average), catcher/pitcher/outfielder Will Reiner (hitting .340), and infielder/pitcher Michael Scoopo.
With first-year Head Coach and program alum Jeff Buck, the Post 79 Seniors played to a 6-18 mark and finished eighth in Zone 3. Ten of Post 79’s 18 losses in 2015 came by three runs or less. Madison also swept the season series 3-0 from rival Guilford with 7-6 and 2-1 victories on June 7 before a 9-0 home shutout on July 6. Post 79’s remaining victories came against East Haddam (3-1 on June 28 as part of a doubleheader), Shoreline (3-1 on July 8), and Meriden (7-2 in the season finale on July 16).