Post 45 aims to build off Willard’s energy

Ethan Willard has been a key player for Randolph County Post 45 this season. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO — Ethan Willard likes going full speed into everything he does and that has made him a good fit as a source of energy for Randolph County Post 45 in American Legion baseball.

Willard hopes to have that on display some more during this week’s Southeast Regional at McCrary Park.

“I used to play travel baseball, but I like playing a lot of games like this,” he said of the American Legion season. “It gives me a lot of reps, getting ready for college. This is a really good year for me and I’m really excited where I’m at.”

Willard, a shortstop, is a 2025 Trinity graduate headed to play collegiately at Pfeiffer.

He has been a spark atop the Post 45 lineup and a clutch play-maker with his glove and arm in the field.

“I try to work at everything in my game – fielding, running, hitting, throwing,” Willard said. “Anything I can do to boost myself, help my team in any way. It’s doing the little things right over and over and over again.”

Willard’s passion is no surprise to those around him. Post 45 teammate Caleb Coggins played against Willard for rival Wheatmore before they reunited on the same team for the American Legion season.

“He’s definitely got the right mindset about everything,” Coggins said. “It’s fun to watch.”

Coggins and Willard were together in middle school before then ended up at different high schools.

“We became pretty good friends,” Coggins said. “We came out here and built that relationship again.”

Willard, who’s batting around .450 for Post 45, has been a key contributor at the plate, particularly during the postseason.

“I’m having a really hot streak right now and I’m just trying to keep it going,” he said during the Area 3 playoffs.

Willard said he values paying attention to the mental and physical aspects. He said visualization while on deck has been a factor in his success in the batter’s box.

“I try to stay within myself, put a good swing on and go from there,” he said, noting that he made a swing adjustment since last year.  “I’m trying to be relaxed in the box and try to be a little smoother.”

Willard said he embraced baseball by the age of 4 and has always played. He became his focus in athletics.

Now at 5-foot-8, he said he’s looking for ways to make a difference. He saw work in the weight room – something endorsed in the Trinity program – as a way to gain an edge.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be that tall, so I figured that would help out,” he said.

There’s more work ahead for Willard, who wants to continue to make an impact when he goes to Pfeiffer.

“In the offseason, I kind of look back, reflect on the year and see what things I did do well, what I didn’t do well,” he said. “And work on those things.”

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Southeast Regional

The double-elimination tournament begins Wednesday and runs through Sunday at McCrary Park.

Asheville won the North Carolina state tournament last week in Cherryville, defeating Garner Post 232 by 12-6 in the final of the double-elimination event.

Troy Post 70 is the reigning American Legion World Series champion. Richmond County defeated Florence for the South Carolina title, with both teams advancing to Asheboro.

The regional champion qualifies for the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

Here are the teams in the Southeast Regional:

Randolph County Post 45

Asheville Post 70

Richland County (S.C.) Post 6

Florence (S.C.) Post 1

Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9

Troy (Ala.) Post 70

Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316

Puerto Rico