Inner City League could become extinct

YOUNGSTOWN — “Established slow pitch softball league desperately seeks teams.”

The Inner City League isn’t ready to post that notice yet, but the time may be near.

After playing Sunday doubleheaders in Mill Creek Park for about 35 years, the league has fallen upon tough times and is nearly defunct, said league director Ronnie “Sly” Jones.

At its peak, there were 66 men’s teams playing weekend doubleheaders but by 2007 the circuit had shrunk to eight clubs.

Last year there was no league due to a lack of teams and if Jones can’t find some teams this summer, the Inner City League is likely extinct.

Currently just Jones’s team and two more have shown any interest in playing in the Mill Creek Park-based league.

“It’s not looking good,” said Jones. “Everybody’s going out to the Austintown league.”

He said the attraction of the Austintown league is the small fields and short fences.

“Some of the smallest guys hit it out there,” Jones said. “The attraction is the little fences; it’s just 260 feet.”

In contrast, the Inner City League is played on open fields with no home run fences.

“With the new balls and bats, the ball comes off the bats at about 100 miles-per-hour.” Jones said.

The Austintown league plays its games at Cullinan Fields and has about 50 teams competing in four divisions, Jones said.

“With the short fences, your team is never out of it,” Jones said.

To enter a team in the Inner City League, call (330) 782-2987 or (330) 502-3768.