Northbridge Legion streaks toward the top; Demagian guides Post 343.

Byline: Steve Farley

NORTHBRIDGE - Like the stock market, the 18-team American Legion Zone 4 standings fluctuate daily, but if the Northbridge Legion Post 343 baseball team were an investment, its stock would be a hot commodity right now.

After starting 1-2, streaking Northbridge won its ninth straight by beating Framingham Legion Post 74 on Sunday to maintain a lofty position in the standings.

"It gets you prepared to play a college schedule," said Northbridge Legion manager John Demagian, who has been guiding the club for 10 years. "The schedule was pretty tough right away, but we've got a lot of good, young players. We've got some good pitchers. I think this team is going to do well. I think we have a good chance of making the playoffs."

Demagian said Post 343 has qualified for the postseason four or five times in the last 10 years, but is still searching for its first appearance in the American Legion State Tournament since 1998.

"There's always a couple of games every year if you win, you get (into the postseason)," Demagian said. "We always have goals to make the playoffs. Right now, expectations are high. We'll take it one game at a time, but things are looking good right now."

On June 23, Northbridge Legion picked up its biggest win of the summer when it defeated then unbeaten East Side, 4-3.

Merrimack College-bound right-hander Joe Mantoni of Northbridge hurled a complete-game win for Post 343. Catcher Ben Richards, a soon-to-be senior at Northbridge High School, rapped what turned out to be the game-winning hit to snap the 3-3 tie in the fifth inning.

Richards, who is finally healing after tearing his ACL in a football game against Shepherd Hill last Oct. 3, missed most of the baseball season for the Rams.

Northbridge Legion's only two losses were to Wachusett and rival Milford Legion, in eight innings.

"I don't know if it'll continue, but so far, so good," Demagian said. "We really haven't started hitting the ball, but we're getting good pitching. We haven't gotten into the meat of the season yet. It all depends on who you're playing, I guess. We played some tough teams early on."

What Northbridge has lacked in recent years is depth, but Demagian made it a priority to fill the 2009 roster with multi-talented, versatile athletes.

Leading the outfield contingent is speedy center fielder Tyler Bennett, who will be a sophomore at UConn this fall.

"Tyler's Tyler," Demagian said of the former Northbridge High School football and...