HitMen will offer own brand of thunder

The indoor football team will play at the ThunderPlex and hopes to sign Maurice Clarett.
By ZACH STIPE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Professional indoor football has never had a presence in the Mahoning Valley, but that has changed with two indoor squads preparing to throw on helmets and pads and bring the hard-hitting game to the area in 2007.
In addition to the Mahoning Valley Thunder of the Arena2 Football League, the Valley will be host to the Mahoning Valley HitMen of the up-start Eastern Indoor Football League.
The HitMen announced a partnership with the ThunderPlex in Vienna on Monday at a press conference at the Golden Corral Buffet and Grill in Boardman.
The ThunderPlex will serve as owners of the new franchise and as the HitMen's home. The team was previously in negotiations with The Ice Zone in Boardman, but negotiations fell through.
The ThunderPlex is known for mostly for softball and baseball.
Another sport
Owner Dave Anderson said that the complex has been trying to bring affordable sports to the area.
"We thought this would be a nice twist," Anderson said.
Anderson plans on putting up walls and rolling out artificial turf for the team, which will begin play in late January. He added that the ThunderPlex will be home to the HitMen for at least three years.
"We wanted to make sure this isn't a flash in the pan," he said.
Head coach and general manager Jim Terry announced the signing of former South High standout Ray Marrow and former East High and Youngstown State running back P.J. Mays. Marrow has professional indoor football experience with teams from Steel Valley, Huntington, W. Va. and Steubenville.
Clarett is target
The HitMen also are hoping to sign former Warren G. Harding and Ohio State star Maurice Clarett.
Terry held up a number 13 HitMen jersey with "CLARETT" scrawled across the back, while announcing an open invitation for the controversial running back to join the HitMen.
"I want Maurice Clarett on my team," Terry said.
The former professional indoor football kicker did not shy away from stirring the pot with his team's Arena2 rivals, the Thunder.
"Our prices will blow out that of any team in the area," Terry said, declaring that the highest-priced ticket will be $12.
"Our players will make twice as much as AF2 players," he added.
Terry issued a challenge to the Thunder. The 1995 Cardinal Mooney graduate said that the HitMen will make a home game free to the public at the ThunderPlex on the same night that the Thunder open their season at home in the Chevrolet Centre. The Thunder begin play in April.
Semi-pro connection
Terry also introduced Steel Valley HardHats owner and coach Mark Greene who will serve as a chief recruiter and assistant coach for the HitMen. The HardHats are an area semi-pro football team.
The EIFL has two other teams on board for the 2007 season, the Bay Shore Brawlers and the Three Rivers Rats. Terry said that the league plans on having between six and eight teams in its inaugural season.
Terry also said that the EIFL is considering adding a penalty box for players that fight, giving teams the opportunity to have football "power-plays."
Tryouts will be the first Saturday of August, Terry said.
The team will play six home games and four away games.
Before ending the press conference, Terry made one last dig at the Thunder, who recently hired Adam Tokash, a former NCAA Division I volleyball player, as their general manager.
Terry said that the HitMen want football players, "not volleyball coaches."