Scrappers take part in security
NILES -- Baseball is America's Pastime, and appropriately it provides a forum in which messages can be sent to a wide group of people.
"The fan base reaches everybody -- families, adults, kids, white collar, blue collar," Mahoning Valley Scrappers general manager Dave Smith said. "That's what our demographics are in minor league baseball. You reach a large number of people."
That's why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Minor League Baseball have partnered to send the ultimate message.
"With security being a national issue and of national concern, it's been tied in with national sports," Smith said. "It's baseball and Americana."
Defining day
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 left a lasting imprint in our minds and forced a change in our lives.
"Right after 9-11, you couldn't go anywhere without being searched -- at airports or playoff games," Smith said. "It was unbelievable trying to get into a stadium."
Although a sense of normalcy has returned, there remains a silent caution in knowing that we're not as protected as we once thought. Terrorists, we've been warned, are working to strike again.
With that in mind, Mike Moore, president of Minor League Baseball, has urged teams to partner with Homeland Security for the benefit of public safety. This season, 52 clubs, more than double the number that participated last year, have committed to the promotion.
Simply enough, the promotion is geared toward "handing out brochures, getting information into people's hands and preparing yourself for crisis management," Smith said.
Minor league teams also have been urged to involve their local Boy Scout organizations, which the Scrappers have done.
"We've had a great relationship with the local Scout groups," Smith said, "and they were more than ecstatic to come out and help."
The Scrappers' promotion will be held in August, Smith said. Other Cleveland Indians affiliates, such as Akron, Kinston and Lake County, also are involved in spreading the word.
Some of the same information fans will receive at the ballparks this season is available on the web site www.ready.gov, which is run by Homeland Security.
The site details various types of attacks, such as biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological, and steps to counter such an attack.
Much of the information presented is based on common sense, but in today's unsettled times, creating an awareness and preparedness of any type can be useful in the face of terrorism.
Team report
The Scrappers began their season last weekend, drawing 7,200 fans for the opener Friday night at Eastwood Field and 14,600 for the three-game series against Auburn. Smith said that was an increase of 3,000 fans through three games last season.
"We couldn't ask for anything more from the opening weekend," he said. "We got out of the gate pretty strong, but with 38 [home] games, you figure you'll hit a couple of speed bumps somewhere along the way."
Prep awards
The Mahoning Valley Professional Baseball Association recently awarded scholarships for $1,000 each to Chad Baker (Canfield High), Joshua Shaffer (LaBrae), Tara Morgan (Girard) and Bridget Van Huffel (Warren John F. Kennedy).
Nominees were selected by their high school coaches, guidance counselors and/or principals.
The Vindicator also selected Baker, who will play at the University of Pittsburgh, as its baseball Player of the Year and will feature him as part of an upcoming spring sports series.
"Not only was he an emotional leader on and off the field, the kids really looked up to him and responded well to him," Canfield coach Tony Ross said. "He's a better kid than a baseball player. He's a tremendous young man with a bright future."
XBrian Richesson is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.