Woodbury VFW baseball: Meyer helps squad gain steam

After a slow start to the season, the Woodbury VFW team has stepped on the gas with playoffs looming.

With a record of 2-6 at one point, Woodbury ran off a string of wins that left them with an 11-9 record after last weekend’s action, where the team lost in the championship game in the Eagan VFW Tournament.

“We still make mistakes, but the kids have shown me that they have an understanding of what it takes to play hard,” VFW coach Kevin McDermott said of the players, all of whom were sophomores in the 2011-12 school year.

Woodbury fell 7-3 Sunday, July 8, to Minnetonka in the Eagan tournament. McDermott said Woodbury nearly pulled out a win, but couldn’t push across runners in the seventh inning with the bases loaded.

“We were right there to the end,” he said.

McDermott, who coaches Woodbury High School’s varsity baseball team, said he’s seeing a few players emerge with the potential to play varsity ball next year.

That includes standout VFW player Ben Meyer, who leads the team in most offensive and pitching categories.

Meyer, who was the lone sophomore invited to travel with the varsity team this spring to a trip in Florida, “exudes confidence.”

Named MVP of the Eagan tournament, Meyer leads the team in hitting with a .380 average, 23 RBI, eight doubles, 18 runs, a triple and a home run. On the mound, Meyer has posted a 1.11 ERA.

Nick Yan, a shortstop who also pitches, also has varsity potential, McDermott said.

“He’s a very solid player,” he said of Yan, who is hitting .327 to go with 18 runs, a triple and a home run.

Nick Yochum, a right fielder, and third baseman Nick Kropidloski also are batting above .300.

Pitchers Dillon Waugh and Nick Bentley join Meyer with sub-3.00 ERAs.

Woodbury VFW finishes out the week with games against players from Cretin-Derham Hall and Roseville before beginning playoffs next week.

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