American Legion baseball brings Michael brothers together

    For most of their baseball-playing career, Johnny and Georgie Michael have been just a little too far apart in age to be on the same team.

    It happened twice while they played in Milford Little League, once in the Major League division and once in the Senior League division. And this summer it has happened again, as they are both on the American Legion Post 3 Red Sox, based in Milford.

    “It’s an experience,” Georgie said. “We don’t get along (all the time), but when it counts we are there for each other.”

    “We don’t spend a lot of time together,” Johnny said. “But when we are both there we try to help each other out.”

    Johnny, 17, is a rising senior at Milford High School, while Georgie, 15, will be a freshman this fall. Johnny is in his third American Legion season, while Georgie is in his first.

    “It’s for experience mainly,” said Georgie of joining the American Legion team. “I wanted to face harder pitchers. I knew it would be a challenge.”

    “It’s more ball for me,” Johnny said. “They are more competitive people. It’s like playing for school, except it’s another team.”

    When they were younger, Georgie was called up early to the Major and Senior teams, and got to play with his older brother for one year each time. Both of those times, Johnny said he didn’t really want to have his little brother on the team.

    “But it’s definitely easier nowadays,” Johnny said.
    Both players are considered utility players, meaning they play infield and outfield. Both are also pitchers, and Johnny is also a catcher. That allowed Georgie to pitch to Johnny in the Majors and Seniors.

    “He has tried to catch for me at home,” Johnny said. “But it hasn’t worked too well.”

    While they play similar positions, the similarities between the two end on defense. At the plate, Johnny is left-handed and is a power hitter, while Georgie is right-handed and is a contact hitter, someone who doesn’t strike out often.

    So far this season, the brothers haven’t had a chance to be in the game together, and Georgie has yet to pitch to Johnny.

    But Georgie is enjoying his opportunity and feels like he fits in pretty well among players who have all played at least a year of high school baseball.

    “They all help me out, give me tips and stuff,” Georgie said.

    Next year Georgie will be looking to his older brother for some support. Johnny will be one of a few seniors on the varsity baseball team, and since he will also be driving Georgie to school every day, he will have a lot of time to talk baseball with his little brother.

    “Being one of the seniors on the team, I’m going to try to help everyone,” Johnny said. “Especially Georgie.”

    And Georgie will be looking to make the leap from middle school baseball to varsity baseball, something only a few athletes have been able to do. When he takes his shot, he said, he will look toward his older brother.

    “I’m going to try it on my own for a little, but I’ll eventually have to go to him,” Georgie said.

    And whether or not they get to play together again in the future, the brothers know who to thank for getting them this far, their father David.

    “We owe everything to our dad, who raised us with the baseball mentality,” Johnny said. “And he never had us hit off a tee, he always tossed the ball to us.”