Sandlot tournament honors Cene’s legacy
Cene Park will host inaugural Bob Cene Memorial Tournament
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
To the many that knew Bob Cene, Sr., he was a caring, generous man who loved baseball and kids and wanted to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Owner of Astro Shapes Aluminum Extrusion in Struthers, Cene entered the local sandlot circuit in the late 1970s with his Astro Falcons, hoping to make a difference, not only on the field but in the league as well.
Almost immediately he began to implement his vision of a state-of-the-art complex — a central location at which diamond hopefuls could hone their skills and where scouts could watch a multitude of games without ever leaving the premises.
The local Class B and AA circuits have a storied history. Over the years, they’ve played at Pemberton Park, Oakland Field, Roosevelt Park, North Side Field, Bailey Park, Victory Field and Ipe Field, among others.
Cene passed away on Dec. 11, 1999, but not before leading a core group of prominent local baseball enthusiasts with the same vision as they upgraded both Pemberton Park and Oakland Field, and then watched as his vision became reality when Cene Park’s first field was dedicated in 1995.
That vision turned 20 years old this summer and in honor of its founder’s baseball legacy, the initial Bob Cene Memorial Tournament will take place Thursday through Sunday at the park.
The inaugural tournament features 24 teams, including six from the Valley.
“Dad’s goal was to provide opportunities and scholarships for players that played in the league. He also wanted to provide a platform for scouts to watch those players; not just during the regular season but at tournament time as well,” Bob Cene, Jr. said. “His dream was always to build three fields and a year after we dedicated the first diamond, the second one was dedicated. I’m an architect by trade and I had to overhear people in the stands telling me about that third field, which was then built with play beginning in 2000.”
The complex also has a state-of-the-art press box, paved parking areas and even an area in which they grow their own sod when either location requires a replacement.
“Hopefully, people understand what Bob has done and what he has meant to local amateur baseball,” Class B president Scott Ruark added. “We’ve established two scholarships that are awarded each year and continue to fund tournaments that we host.”
Conservatively, 13,600 games have been played since the park opened with 900-plus games currently scheduled and completed each spring and summer.
This week’s pool-play tournament, which guarantees four games to all entries, will attract Ohio teams from as far away as Chillicothe with three Pennsylvania squads also committed.
Local teams include host Astro Falcons, Creekside, Roth Brothers and Dura-Edge with the Ohio Glaciers, Southside Recycling, Baird Brothers and Rudzik Excavating fighting for the final two slots.
League representative Ken Quinn helped coordinate this year’s charter event.
“For years we talked about hosting our own tournament, but had other tournament obligations. This year, everything worked out just right and while I started planning this back in October, we’ve now planted the seed for 2016 with the hope that teams that could not make it this year will be able to fit us into their schedules next summer,” Quinn said. “One thing to add about Mr. Cene was that when teams struggled financially, he was always there to help keep them afloat and to make sure the league would continue. He would be really pleased with this tournament named in his honor.”
The complex currently plays host to three Class B groups: 14-U, which plays a 24-game schedule and 16-U and 18-U, which each play a 27-game schedule.
To better celebrate field’s 20th anniversary, an upgrade to all three fields provided by Grant McKnight and Dura-Edge was performed upon completion of play last season.
Soil samples were taken and then analyzed with a custom soil mix provided in order for water to drain easily. That has minimized the overall games lost due to weather.
“We actually play damp, not dry, because you have to water the field an hour before game time,” Quinn added.
Tournaments hosted by the complex include the NABF, ABC Connie Mack, CABA (Continental Amateur Baseball Association), Colt Regional, Palomino Regional, National Triple Crown and OHSAA district (all divisions).
On Friday at 5:30 p.m., the Class B founders will be honored along with a new sign that will be unveiled in their honor on the main field’s outfield fence.
Those being honored include Cene, Dr. Raul A. “Doc” Hernandez, Bobby Jones, Jim Devlin, Rudy Granito, Mike Goldstone and Angelo Mosco.