Bennington Legion Seniors Leave Lasting Legacy With Senior Night Victory

4–5 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

A baseball team posing for a group photo after a game, holding a championship plaque. The team members are wearing white and blue uniforms, with some holding flowers, and there's a mix of men, women, and a child in the image.

For four Bennington Legion Post 266 seniors, last Wednesday marked a celebration for the books.

With family, friends and teammates looking on, Noah Langford, Myles Gifford, Dominic Mendicino and Wyatt Nordmeyer were recognized before taking the field with their team. Noah Langford was also awarded the Larry Wallingford Memorial Scholarship. The evening ended on a high note, as Bennington rallied for a hard-fought 4-3 victory over PrimeTime Westview 18U on Senior Night.

A baseball player in catching gear shakes hands with a teammate while being presented with an award, surrounded by coaches, teammates, and a woman holding flowers.
Noah Langford accepts his scholarship award, shaking hands with Coach Collin McClain.

For Head Coach Collin McClain, the win was a fitting way to celebrate a senior class that has played a pivotal role in the program’s success. The team is quickly approaching post-season and the seniors will soon play their final home game.

“Playing your last game on your home field is never easy,” McClain said. “I just appreciate the time and energy these four seniors, Noah Langford, Myles Gifford, Dominic Mendicino, and Wyatt Nordmeyer have put in over the years. We don’t have the same success without them. Each of them brings a different piece to the puzzle, and we are going to miss them.”

Although each player has carved out a different role on the team, McClain said they all share one characteristic that has helped shape Bennington’s culture.

A group of baseball players standing in a line on the field, facing the outfield, with their hands behind their backs. They are wearing matching teal and white uniforms, under cloudy skies. A child in a smaller uniform stands among them.

“They definitely all bring something different, and that’s what makes it fun,” he said. “The thing they all have in common that helps lead this team is they have fun playing the game of baseball, and that goes a long way.”

That attitude has helped carry the team through the inevitable challenges that come with a long baseball season. McClain said each of the four seniors has faced adversity over the course of the spring and summer, whether through injuries, difficult performances or disappointing losses. What has stood out most, he said, is how they’ve responded.

“Their confidence and ability to handle tough situations,” McClain highlighted. “All four of our seniors have hit bumps in the road at some point over the course of the spring and summer seasons, but they have been able to continue to work through them. Whether it be injury, a rough individual game, or a tough team loss, they have been able to weather the storm and keep the team moving forward.”

As he reflected on the class, McClain pointed to memorable moments from each player’s career. He has enjoyed watching Langford develop into a confident, dominant hitter, seeing Gifford willingly embrace whatever role the team needed, and watching Mendicino and Nordmeyer deliver in key moments on the mound.

A group of three individuals standing on a baseball field. The first person is a man wearing sunglasses and a blue t-shirt with tattoos on his arms. The second is a young man in a baseball uniform with the number 0, and the third is a woman in a light-colored outfit holding flowers, wearing sunglasses, and a sash that reads 'Senior'.
Dominic Mendicino
A woman in white pants and a blue top, holding flowers, stands next to a young man in a baseball uniform with the number 3. Both are smiling on a baseball field, with a man in a blue shirt standing nearby.
Wyatt Nordmeyer
A young male baseball player wearing a team jersey stands on a baseball field alongside two adults holding flowers and wearing sashes, while another adult stands next to them. The setting is a sunny day with a baseball diamond in the background.
Myles Gifford
A group of individuals at a baseball field, including a player in a catcher's gear holding a plaque, accompanied by family and coaches.
Noah Langford

Still, the moments he’ll remember most happened away from the action.

“But honestly, the best moments have been the downtime in the dugout and before or after games and practices, when you truly get to know the players,” McClain said. “The conversations and laughs are what I will remember most.”

Those relationships are part of what makes saying goodbye so difficult. As his first senior class since taking over as head coach prepares to move on, McClain hopes the example they’ve set continues to influence the younger players in the program.

“That showing up and competing everyday matters,” he said. “The time you get to wear a Bennington uniform goes fast, so make the most of it.”

The lessons extend beyond baseball. McClain believes the sport teaches perseverance in a way few others can, and he hopes his seniors carry that mindset with them long after their Legion careers come to an end.

“To be tough and fight through the ups and downs of life. To continue competing even when you don’t feel like you have your best,” he said. “Baseball is a game that will beat you down if you let it. You have to be willing and able to ride the roller coaster of ups and downs. If you can continue doing that in all phases of your life, you’re going to give yourself a good shot at success.”

While Senior Night celebrated the past, Bennington’s season is far from over. The team has four games scheduled over July 10-12 before beginning area and state tournament play, and McClain believes his seniors’ experience will be invaluable as the postseason begins.

A group of baseball players posed together on the field in front of a blue press box featuring the Bennington Legion Baseball logo. The players are wearing white uniforms with light blue accents, displaying team pride.

“My goals are for us to be the best version of ourselves at the end,” he said. “If we can do that, I like our chances of having success. The seniors have been through this part before. The ups and downs of postseason baseball can be tough to handle, but having guys that have been through it will help.”

As the final chapter of their Legion careers draws closer, McClain said he couldn’t have asked for a better group to lead the way.

“They are a fantastic group of young men,” he said. “The way they show up and compete every day is fun to watch, and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone. They are my first group of seniors as a head coach, so I will miss them a whole lot next year. They are going to be a successful group in their next phases of life.”

A young male baseball player in action, swinging a bat at a pitch. The catcher is crouched behind home plate, wearing protective gear. In the background, spectators watch the game, and a blue wooden bench is visible.
A baseball player wearing a white uniform with blue accents is sprinting toward home plate, while a catcher in a blue and orange uniform is positioned behind the plate.
A young baseball player in a white uniform with the number 11 stands near second base on a baseball field. He has a blue helmet and is focused on the game while a teammate in an orange uniform stands nearby.
A baseball player in a white uniform with a blue helmet stands on base, looking toward the pitcher, while another player in a blue uniform with orange accents prepares to pitch.
A youth baseball catcher crouches low, reaching for a pitch while dust kicks up around him. In the background, players watch from the dugout.
A baseball pitcher in a white uniform with blue accents, wearing a cap, is in the windup position on the pitcher's mound. The background shows a baseball field with trees and fencing.
A baseball player in a white jersey with blue accents and the number 5 is sprinting towards first base on a dirt infield, with a teammate standing nearby.
A baseball player sliding into home plate while another player attempts to tag him out. The scene captures the intensity of the game with players in uniforms and a grassy field.
A baseball player sliding into base while another player attempts to tag him, with dust kicked up from the ground.
A baseball player in a blue and orange uniform attempts to field a ground ball while another player in white slides into base.
Baseball players in action during a game; one player is leaping to catch a ball while another runs towards the base.
A baseball coach in a team uniform, showing enthusiasm and encouraging players from the dugout during a game.
A baseball player in a blue uniform and helmet crosses home plate, celebrating after scoring a run, while a catcher in a blue jersey watches.
A baseball pitcher on the mound preparing to throw, with a scoreboard in the background displaying game statistics.
A baseball pitcher in a white uniform is winding up to throw on a dimly lit field during twilight.
A young baseball player in a white uniform makes a catch while another player watches on the field during a night game.
A youth baseball team celebrating with raised fists under stadium lights at night, while one player is lifted onto another's shoulders.

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