PLAY BALL! Local players set to hit the field

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Two months after the spring baseball and summer American Legion seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of local schools will return to the diamond as part of a newly formed summer league. 

Teams from Belle Vernon Area, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Ringgold and Thomas Jefferson will be among the 20-plus teams that will compete in the Western Pennsylvania Baseball League beginning Wednesday. 

“It’s not about wins and losses,” said league co-organizer and umpire assigner Geno Sedlak, a Mon Valley native. “This league is all about the kids playing and having fun.” 

The participating teams will be separated into three divisions. 

Belle Vernon Area, Frazier, Ringgold and Thomas Jefferson will play in a six-team division with Albert Gallatin. TJ will have two teams.

Elizabeth Forward will be joined in a five-team division by Baldwin, Bethel Park, South Park and Upper St. Clair. The third division will consist of Franklin Regional, two teams from Gateway, Highlands, Jeannette, Kiski Area, two teams from Norwin, Plum and Valley. 

On Thursday afternoon, Indiana was announced as a team scheduled to join the league as well. 

“As a team, we are really excited. We all love the game of baseball so much and we were all so disappointed that we lost our season in the spring,” said Ringgold coach Don Roberts. “Plus as coaches, we love having fun and spending time with our kids. They are a hard-working group of players, so they deserve this last chance.” 

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