The father-son relationship between Doug and Gage Booten is cemented for life, but the coach-player one was running out of time.
And so coming into a summer season in which Gage Booten had one year of American Senior Legion baseball eligibility left as a freshman in college, it was one final opportunity to play baseball, and do so with his dad Doug taking over the Alton Post 126 program.
But when Illinois followed suit with many states throughout the country in canceling their respective legion seasons due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it put that final season that father and son and coach and player who would make lasting memories in flames.
However, when a league put together in Missouri by Washington (Mo.) Post 218 manager Kent Getsee gave teams a chance to play again, it not only lifted the spirits of the Bootens but allowed them the opportunity to create memories.
That’s because Gage Booten, a graduate of East Alton-Wood River High School who was a freshman at Lewis and Clark Community College this past year, did not play college baseball.
“It’s awesome,” said Gage Booten. “I’m just glad that we were able to play, whether it’s in the legion league or any league, really.
“After legion was canceled, I kind of assumed that most states would follow, but obviously that wasn’t the case. I was excited to hear that we were going to be able to play.”
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