Roanoke Post 3 Commander Douglas Heptinstall (from left), Dept. of Virginia Commander Isaac Kelley, Hayden Smith and Dept. of Virginia Baseball Chairman Robert Netherland. Photo courtesy of Douglas Heptinstall

Hayden Smith of Roanoke Post 3 was announced recently as the winner of the American Legion Department of Virginia Baseball Scholarship. Smith was a 2012 graduate of Hidden Valley, and is now a freshman student athlete at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. He was selected from more than 75 American Legion baseball teams in Virginia on the basis of academic and athletic achievement and community service. The announcement was made at the Virginia State Tournament where his Roanoke Post 3 team was competing after winning their District title with a 15-1 record this season. Smith is a three year member of the Post 3 senior team. As the Virginia winner, Smith was nominated for the Diamond Sports American Legion All-Academic Team, selected from all 50 state winners.

– Submitted by Doug Heptinstall, Commander, Roanoke Post 3