Sandlot season will start Sunday

By Paul Trgovac

The Big B and the little b baseball teams will begin play at Cene Park.

STRUTHERS — When the Memorial Day weekend comes, there are a few things to look forward to. One is the Indy 500, another is the start of the Class B baseball season.

Sunday the season begins for both the little b (16 and under) and Big B (18 and under) leagues at Cene Park.

“We are so excited for the start of this season.” said Class B president Tony Gorvet. “We are going 100 percent with wood bats in the Big B, and will use the wood in the second and third rounds in little b.”

Last season, the first with the return of the wood bats, the Big B division played two rounds with wooden bats and the little b one round, plus both used wood in their playoffs.

“I am a big advocate of the wood bats,” said Gorvet. “It will take the kids a while to get used to using them, but they will get the hang of swinging them.

“It [wood bats] changes the game. You have to manage more, play more ‘small’ ball where you have to bunt, steal bases, and play for one run at a time. The wood bats equalize the game for the pitchers. You don’t see balls hit off the handle of a wood bat bloop into the outfield for a hit like you do with an aluminum bat.”

Both age divisions have 10 teams, divided into two divisions in each age group.

“We have 10 solid sponsors,” said Gorvet. “The league is in great shape. Most of the managers are back in Big B, while we usually have some new faces in little b.

“We again will have six teams make the playoffs in each group, with the division winners having a bye in the first round.”

Most of the games will be played at Cene Park, although little b will play games also at Niles Wilder Park, Koch Field in Austintown, and Springfield and Boardman high school fields

“One of our long time sponsors, Don Livi, helped to get the field in Niles for us and he asked if we could also play some Big B games there so every team will play one game there against his team,” said Gorvet.

Besides the regular season the summer will see plenty of tournament play.

“We will have the 46th annual Connie Mack state tournament, along with a Colt [16 and under] regional, since there is no Mickey Mantle state tournament this season,” said Gorvet. “Three of our little b teams will qualify for the Mickey Mantle regional in Cincinnati. Then we will have both a junior [16 and under] and senior [18 and under] NABF Regional tournament that will use the wood bats.

“We also will send a team to the Palomino [18 and under] regional for the first time. Finally, we are hosting a CABA 18 and under World Series starting on July 27 which will have teams and players from all over the country coming to play,” he added.

Gorvet is in his eighth year as president and has seen the league continue to thrive and prosper.

“We have a lot of tournaments here which helps to keep the expenses of our sponsors down with travel costs, but you have to have good people and fields to do it,” said Gorvet. “Scott Ruark, along with Bob Burke, do a lot for the league, and then you can not say enough about our home, Bob Cene Park. From Don Christian and his grounds crew, to the voice of Cene Park, Red Baker, there is not another facility in the country that can boast of three major league quality lighted fields, with tarps, like we have to play on.

“Bob [Cene] built this place, and his sons Bob Jr, and Paul, along with Jim DiBacco, thank God for them. Their commitment to the league, and to the kids in the area is no secret. They added the third field and want this to be here forever.”