In sports as in life, everything comes to an end.
Games. Seasons. Careers. Brothers and best friends wearing the same uniform.
When the Festus Post 253 senior (AAA) team played its last American Legion baseball game this summer in a wild 15-12 loss to the Jackson Tribe in the Zone 1 tournament Monday night, it also was the end of the line for Devin and Dylan Black of Herculaneum. Post 253 held off elimination Sunday with a 1-0 shutout of Ste. Genevieve Post 150 and with a 2-1 victory over Kirkwood Post 156 in its first game Monday.
Not only have the Blacks played together for Festus, but they were teammates and battery mates at Herculaneum High until Dylan graduated in 2023. Devin graduated this spring. Devin usually starts in center field for Post 253, but when Dylan’s on the mound, he moves behind the plate.
“It’s so cool to have the one who you’re most comfortable with catching you,” Dylan said. “Being the battery the last few years has been really fun because it’s always us, because we’ll flip, where he’ll come in relief and I’ll be the catcher. I feel really confident when he replaces me. In addition to that, you’ve got your best friend there with you on the field.”
“It’s been awesome to be back there and have confidence in him,” Devin said. “Throwing with your best friend is a fun thing every single day. I’m a lot more comfortable with him on the mound. I’ve caught Dylan more than anyone else.”
Dylan attended McKendree University in Lebanon (Ill.) in 2023-2024 and was on the baseball team, but he’s since transferred to Jefferson College to play for Zac Bone, the former head coach at Herculaneum and longtime former manager for Post 253. Zac would have coached Dylan his freshman year of 2019-2020, but the prep season was wiped out because of COVID. Bone left Herculaneum after 2020 to take the Vikings job.
“There were too many players on the McKendree roster to (get) any sort of playing time in the future,” Dylan said. “Jefferson College is close, it’s (affordable) and I really love Coach Bone. Then I’ll be able to be a coach with his knowledge after that.”
Devin said he’s pursuing a job as a carpenter. He nailed two Kirkwood runners trying to reach third base in a 3-0 loss to Post 156 Saturday in the zone tournament in Ste. Genevieve. Dylan pitched all six innings, striking out six. Kirkwood got just enough offense through seven hits and three walks.
The brothers have a battery chemistry that helps them stay in sync from pitch to pitch.
“It’s pretty much down to a science now,” Devin said, adding that he enjoys shedding the catching gear and reversing roles.
“After you’ve been catching, you’re loose and stretched out so you feel good on the mound,” he said.
In Post 253’s previous game against Ste. Genevieve for the District 13 championship, Devin led off, got two hits, pitched 1 2/3 innings and played center field.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty solid out there,” he said. “Dylan has improved behind the plate and it’s been great to see him do that.”
Building rosters for American Legion teams gets harder every summer, so when talented and versatile brothers like the Blacks come along, it strengthens the entire program.
Jeremy Partney filled in for Alec Kisena as manager for Festus against Kirkwood.
“They’re two very intelligent kids,” Partney said. “They pitch to each other and they really know what they’re doing. They’re two of the smarter kids on the team, honestly. Devin is the unquestioned leader on the team. That was not the issue (against Kirkwood) at all.”
The brothers have another sporting interest besides baseball: golf.
“Devin loves to have that on me that he’s a better golfer,” Dylan said. “When this is over, we’ll have to find something new to do together.”
Dylan said after the final game is played, his parents will take the brunt of it emotionally.
“I think we’ll wait and play our last game a few weeks from now, so that’ll be nice,” Dylan said before Monday about advancing to the Legion state tournament at the Hidden Valley Sports Complex in Blue Springs July 28 through Aug. 1.
Of all the games the brothers have played together, Devin said one stands out.
“The best moment was when (Dylan) broke our school (Herculaneum) career strikeout record. That was a super-fun moment,” he said.