A gem on the diamond: Tournament earns raves

By John Bassetti

This year’s tournament had an international flavor.

BOARDMAN — P.O.N.Y. might be an acronym for Protect Our Nation’s Youth, but it has also had a positive effect on non-USA teams, too.

Consider that local host families and businessmen who were generous with their resources made a big impact on the players and coaches and chaperones from the Czech Republic (16U) and Russian (18U) teams who participated in the PONY national softball tournament at five area locations.

“It was very positive for the Valley to have the influx of visitors, whether parents or grandparents,” said Tim Kaple, president of Boardman Community Baseball, which was a co-host of the event, along with Thunder Elite Fast Pitch of Vienna.

Thunder’s president is Rob Durig, who also directed the PONY national tournament.

Canada had two entries and a Bahamian team was also among the 197 teams that flooded the area over a two-week period covering four age brackets.

“Not only was it a huge shot from an economic standpoint,” said Kaple, “but it gave our girls a chance to mix with international people and trade customs.”

Because Boardman Community Baseball families housed Czech 14 players and four adults, Kaple was more familiar with the effect of the hospitality.

“They enjoyed our food and they were surprised at how big our schools were,” Kaple said of a visit to Boardman High.

“They’re used to going to smaller schools, so that impressed them.”

Kaple said they also liked Coca Cola.

“It’s really expensive over there so they enjoyed the opportunity to drink over here. They also enjoyed swimming which they don’t do a lot of over there.”

Before they departed Thursday night, the Czech contingent also watched a professional women’s softball game involving the Akron Racers at Akron Firestone Stadium.

The Russians were with families from Lordstown for a second straight year.

One businessman who was very generous was Joe Loree, owner of the Austintown Sandwich Factory.

Loree personally delivered food to members of the Russian group and also took them on a shopping spree at Wal-Mart.

“They had a great time shopping,” said Durig, who also noted that the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau took the Russians out for breakfast when they first arrived.

Of the 14 states represented, many from New England and the Middle Atlantic states, such as Connecticut, New York, Maryland, and several others were from Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Durig was most appreciative of the field crews.

“We had a lot of rain, but we never lost a game,” he said. “That says a lot about the men and women working the fields.”

Durig said the hard work didn’t go unnoticed.

“When teams say they’ll come back because they were impressed we got all our games off with despite such inclement weather, that’s a big draw,” he said.

“It reflects on the Valley that everyone’s buying into this tourney and putting on their ‘A’ game. Without their help, we couldn’t do it.”

Candlelight Knolls (Bazetta), Liberty Twp. Park, Perkins in Warren, McCune in Canfield and Boardman’s Fields of Dreams were the five locations providing 25 fields for the teams.

Some Washington, Pa.-headquartered PONY officials spent the entire two weeks here and PONY president Abe Key was present for the 16U championship Thursday.

This was Durig’s second national and he said it went a lot easier.

“It’s always little easier the second time around, but we had a lot more volunteering,” he said.

As director, Durig’s new four-year contract with PONY’s national tournament is good for another three years.

“The only thing we don’t know is what age groups,” he said. “We won’t know that until the end of November.”

PONY has six age groups, including 8-and-under.

Only the 14U plays annually in North Carolina.

bassetti@vindy.com