Team Pavlik gears up for charity softball tilt

Team Pavlik: Softball Practice

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By JON MOFFETT

Vindicator Staff Writer

POLAND — While most of the area baseball and softball All-Star teams have completed their season, one was still on the field Thursday night.

Along with some children playing soccer, boxer Kelly Pavlik practiced softball at the Poland North Elementary School fields. The middleweight champion and the rest of Team Pavlik were gearing up for their softball showdown Saturday against Team Media.

“Team Pavlik is getting a victory, as always,” the middleweight champion said. “I’m just looking forward to it. We might actually hold back a little bit as the innings go on, just so we don’t embarrass them too bad, because I like a lot of the guys in the media.”

Pavlik and his team will be taking on members of the local media in a charity softball event Saturday at 6 p.m. at Cene Park in Struthers. The event benefits the United Way.

Team Media will consist of television personalties from WFMJ Channels 21, WKBN Channel 27 and WYTV Channel 33, as well as radio station Y-103 (WYFM-FM) and The Vindicator. Tickets for the game will cost $5 at the gate, with all proceeds being donated to the United Way.

Pavlik said local media members are afraid of Team Pavlik.

“I was watching the five o’clock news this morning and [Mike] Case [of WFMJ] said he hopes it rains because I think he’s worried,” Pavlik said. “So our chances are pretty good.”

Team Media coach and captain Todd Franko, editor of The Vindicator, was at Team Pavlik’s practice for “scouting” purposes.

Franko refuted Pavlik’s claim and said Team Pavlik is the team that should be worried.

“I’m comfortable that the media will be victorious,” Franko said. “The biggest concern I have are the fragile egos of Team Pavlik. Hopefully they’ll recover in time for their Oct. 18 fight [against Bernard Hopkins].”

Franko added that a loss to Team Media would only motivate Team Pavlik for the fight.

Though there has been healthy trash talking between the teams, both sides agree that the game is for a good cause.

“It is for a great, great cause in the United Way,” Pavlik said. “I think we’re all going to enjoy it, no matter what. It’s just going to be a fun time, and hopefully there will be a lot of people there to support us and get a lot of donations and sponsors for a great cause.”

Pavlik, who will be playing left-center field for his team, played baseball until he was 18. He did admit, however, that playing outfield was a lot different than playing catcher, his natural position.

When asked if there was a possible career in softball after boxing, Pavlik responded, “Not a chance.”

Pavlik may not have a career in softball, but he looked good at practice. Pavlik made multiple catches on the run, attempted a sliding catch and even tried to rob a teammate of a home run.

Though Pavlik himself wasn’t able to hit one over the fence, he did have a few balls that bounced off the fence. On the other side, Franko got the last laugh by hitting four over the fence.

John Daltorio of Team Pavlik said that come game day, Pavlik will be hitting home runs and will be ready.

Franko said Team Media also will be ready to play and has nothing to fear.

“Todd Franko is afraid of ghosts,” Franko said. “But Todd Franko is not afraid of this ghost.”

Gina Martini of Girard will sing the National Anthem before the game.

jmoffett@vindy.com