STRUTHERS Another summer at Cene: Little b, Big B set to begin

Little b starts Monday, while Big B begins May 29.
STRUTHERS -- The 2005 summer season is ready to kick off for Class little b (ages 15-16) and Big B (17-18).
This season will see some changes for the two leagues. A move to divisional play, more teams in the playoffs, and the addition of two tournaments will keep the lights on at Bob Cene Park long into the summer nights.
The little b season opens play Monday, while Big B starts May 29.
Divisional play
The leagues have been historically played as a 10-team league, with the top four teams making the league playoffs. This year the leagues will split into two five-team divisions. Teams will play the other four teams in their division three times, and the five teams in the other division twice for a 22-game regular season.
The two division winners, along with the four teams that have the best record, regardless of division, will make the postseason. In the playoffs the two division winners will have a first-round bye, while the other four teams play best-of-3 series.
The next round will also be best-of-3 with the championship series best-of-5.
Astro Falcons won the Big B championship last year and Livi Steel won the little b championship.
"We made this change to try to spice up the league by getting more teams involved in the playoffs, which will make teams play harder down the stretch," said league president Tony Gorvet.
"Also, by going to two divisions we can place three teams in the NABF Regional instead of just two."
Division names
The divisions will be named for four men who have been instrumental in the success of the league over the last 30 years. In Little b the divisions will be called Livi and Hernandez, while in the Big B they will be called Cene and Goldstone.
Don Livi, the sponsor of Livi Steel, while Dr. Raul Hernandez's teams played under the Ohio Carpet, W. W. Heating, and Youngstown Propane banners.
Mike Goldstone sponsored the Fabulous Goldsteins teams and Bob Cene was the sponsor of the Astro Falcons. Both Goldstone and Cene also worked to attempt to obtain scholarships for players throughout the league.
"It was a no-brainer for us as to who we would name the divisions after," said Gorvet. "These four men are the cornerstone of this league."
Fields
All the regular season games for the Big B season will take place at Cene Park. The little b league will play at Cene on weekends, and will use Joe Koch Field in Austintown, Springfield High School, Boardman High School and Wilder Field in Niles during the week.
The tournament season will open with the first Bob Cene Wooden Bat Tournament June 15-17.
"We will have a 10-team field for this tournament," said Scott Ruark, the director of baseball operations for Cene Park. "The out-of-town teams will be Andy's 9ers, Stark County Stars, GlenOak Eagles and Mountaineer (W. Va.) Hitmen."
Six Class B teams will also participate.
The Mickey Mantle (15-16) state tournament will return on July 9. The double elimination event will feature six teams from the little b league in the field. Teams will qualify to regional competition in Cincinnati.
Following the Mantle is the Connie Mack (17-18) state tournament. The event will kick off with a banquet at Mr. Anthony's on July 15. The annual fireworks are July 16.
"The city of Struthers will be making this the Connie Mack Weekend as they will be a sponsor of the tournament and the fireworks," said Ruark. "They are planing a parade to help to get more people to come down and see the ball parks."
Following the Mack will be two National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) Regional tournaments. The Senior (17-18) division has been held here for years, with the team that has won the regional here the last two years from the Pittsburgh area winning the NABF World Series.
New to the area will be a Junior (15-16) NABF Regional.
"We keep adding tournaments here to help keep the expenses down, both for our sponsors and the parents," said Gorvet.
"Bob Cene loved the Connie Mack Tournament," he added. "We have the best state tournament anywhere."
Ruark said improvements to Cene Park are ongoing.
"With the commitment of Bob Cene Jr., Paul Cene, and Jim DiBacco to the ball park along with new sponsorships we should have a long time here at the park."