Ten teams begin on May 27

There will again be two divisions for players 18 years of age and under.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Not much has changed in the Youngstown Class B League for 2006, but why should it?
With a few exceptions, the organization's situation is status quo and ready to go for another summer.
"Everything is running smoothly," said Youngstown Class "B" Baseball president Tony Gorvet.
The league for players ages 18-and-under starts May 27.
Again, there will be 10 teams in two divisions -- Cene and Goldstone -- vying for six postseason playoff spots.
"Six is a way to keep more teams involved and keep more interest," Gorvet said of the expanded playoffs which began last summer.
27-game format
The regular season schedule, however, has returned to a 27-game format for each team.
"Last year, we tried 22 [games," Gorvet said of the experiment to squeeze in games between a prolonged high school season and the "B" playoffs.
"Having 22 was cheating kids who don't make tournaments," he said. "Guys put in a lot of time in the off-season, so we try to play as many as we can. We're here for all kids, so it's back to 27 games. Hopefully, we'll have a dry summer like last year and it'll work well."
True to its roots, the Class B League has taken a staunch stance against transient talent.
"One thing about our league," Gorvet said, "is that it's mostly based in Youngstown and bordering counties and some western Pennsylvania communities. We don't cater to that travel stuff. We're here for local kids to give them a place to play and not going out of town and getting players. Those days are over."
All games at Cene Park
Of each team's 27 games, every one is at Cene Park in Struthers.
"That's the only place they have to worry about," Gorvet said. "They're the nicest fields in the state or country at this level. With tarps for all three infields, it has to be pretty miserable weather for us not to get a game in."
Returning sponsors this season are Astro Falcons, Livi Steel, Rondinelli Tuxedo, Wharmby's Sports, Mink Financial, R & amp; J Trucking, Dave Sugar Excavating, Youngstown Express and Roth Brothers.
Newell Sporting Goods is new, replacing Line Drive.
Each team has a corresponding Little B team, except for Roth, whose Little B mate is Echo Builders. The Little B for players 15-16 starts next Sunday.
A slightly new twist for 2006 is Class B's postseason tournament picture.
In addition to its long-standing affiliation with the American Amateur Baseball Congress and the National Amateur Baseball Federation, the league is now chartered by Babe Ruth.
Tournament schedule
The tournament lineup starts with the state Mickey Mantle (16-under) starting July 8, followed by the state Connie Mack (16-18 year-olds) beginning July 15.
On July 20, the NABF 16-under regional returns. A day later, the 18-under NABF regional begins.
For the first time since the early 1980s, Class B Baseball is sanctioned to send a Babe Ruth 18-year-old team to the state tournament in Cincinnati.
A regional (Ohio Valley) for strictly 16-year-old Babe Ruth teams has also been sanctioned here starting July 27, when eight of 10 teams will be from out of state.
Gorvet explained that being a regional host serves a twofold purpose: it increases exposure and minimizes expense.
Although it seems that "B" officials are spreading themselves thin by running tournaments back-to-back with some even overlapping, Gorvet is confident that it can be handled.
"July is crammed with everybody running a tournament. You don't want to overbook and then get rain and have headaches. It's close, but we make it work. The fact that it gets more kids exposure in more tournaments is what counts."
Babe Ruth experience
Gorvet's affinity for Babe Ruth comes from his role as manager of the Youngstown all-star team that won the 15-year-old World Series in Houma, La. in 1990 and, in 2004, a similar involvement with Youngstown's 15-year-old team that finished third in the 15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Longview, Wash.
"We were guests of George H. Bush in the Rose Garden along with the Cincinnati Reds who were also world champs that year," Gorvet said. "Babe Ruth has grown since 1990."
Gorvet estimates that the 18-under and 15-16 age divisions, if rosters are full, have 440-450 players.
Bob Burke is vice-president of the Class B League, Greg Krieger is secretary, Scott Ruark is treasurer and Ken Quinn is the player agent.
Games are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays, while makeups are Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The league's kickoff dinner is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Youngstown Sports Grille on South Ave.
bassetti@vindy.com