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<p>SWOYERSVILLE &#8212; In spite of heavy rain on Saturday, a welcome home parade and ceremony were held to honor the Swoyersville American Legion team for winning the state championship.</p><p>Fans lined the streets of the borough, as emergency vehicles from Forty Fort, Swoyersville and Kingston escorted the players and coaches to the American Legion Post 644.</p><p>&#8220;These young men gave up their whole summer to play baseball. They should be very proud,&#8221; said John &#8220;Chick&#8221; Romanchick, the post&#8217;s vice commander.</p><p>Mark Baron, who is in his final season with the team, described the season as &#8220;a wild ride&#8221; as he addressed more than 50 people gathered.</p><p>Baron said he was glad he came back for one last year.</p><p>&#8220;We get along,&#8221; he said, laughing. &#8220;Mostly.&#8221;</p><p>Assistant Coach Gary Gavrish said the team had originally been &#8220;a little light&#8221; going into the season, with several players finishing up their high school seasons.</p><p>&#8220;In three years, we&#8217;ve taken states twice,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Before that we hadn&#8217;t won a state championship since 1938.&#8221;</p><p>He credited team spirit among the players and support from the community with energizing the team.</p><p>Gavrish, who coaches alongside his step-son, Sean Toole, said he would be resting up before the team again hits the road on Tuesday heading for the Mid-Atlantic regional competition in Leesburg, Virginia.</p><p>&#8220;If we could get through the Mid-Atlantics, we could make it all the way,&#8221; said team member Justin Montalvo.</p><p>Should the team prevail at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals, they will then move on to the national competition in North Carolina.</p><p>&#8220;Our senior team won states and our junior team is down in Pottstown playing for the junior legion state championship,&#8221; said Gavrish. &#8220;They lost a game this morning, but they are still in it.&#8221;</p><p>Gavrish said the team&#8217;s secret weapon and newest addition, bat boy Langdon James, won over the hearts of players, parents and fans.</p><p>Langdon&#8217;s dad, Don James, thanked the team for embracing his son.</p><p>&#8220;He would come home saying he had a new buddy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You treated my son like a king.&#8221;</p><p>Mayor Chris Concert thanked Councilwoman Patty O&#8217;Donnell with putting the parade together on a moment&#8217;s notice.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re so proud of you,&#8221; Concert told the team. &#8220;Not just friends and family, but the entire town.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Swoyersville Legion Assistant Coach Gary Gavrish holds bat boy Landon James, 5, who he credits with inspiring the team this season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_al2_faa-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Swoyersville Legion Assistant Coach Gary Gavrish holds bat boy Landon James, 5, who he credits with inspiring the team this season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_al3_faa-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">In spite of torrential rain, a parade was held Saturday for Swoyersville&#8217;s the state champion Senior American Legion baseball team. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_al3_faa-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>In spite of torrential rain, a parade was held Saturday for Swoyersville&#8217;s the state champion Senior American Legion baseball team. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_al4_faa-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Swoyersville Senior American Legion state champions. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_al4_faa-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Swoyersville Senior American Legion state champions. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Swoyersville Senior American Legion honor with parade