Lebanon B and Lebanon C have merged to form one single team at Lebanon Presbyterian in Lackawannock Township. This move was made to cut rising costs from fielding two or three teams over the duration of this current decade. With this news, it got me thinking that their coaching staff would have to weed out a bunch of players who played on the Lebanon B and C teams last season. That is just one reason why we claimed Tyler Allen off waivers from Lebanon because I might be speculating that Lebanon, to put it biblically, had no room for him in the inn.
Also, defending champion New Life has decided to field a second team consisting of all new players. This news got me thinking that New Life will follow Grace Chapel's lead and distinguish their two teams by the color of their uniforms just like Grace Chapel does. You will recall last year that Grace Chapel cut down from three teams to two to cut costs of fielding three teams. Grace Chapel Black disbanded, and Geri Truog, the best female pitcher that the league has to offer, was claimed by First Assembly in the dispersal draft, while Tom Dobos and Mike Wilson were claimed by New Life. Some of the other players went to Grace Chapel Blue.
Prior to practice tonight, we discussed some of the rules with the rookies and also talked about changing our uniforms. A black jersey was discussed, but Tay Robinson was concerned that they might fade in the hot sun. I was concerned that they would clash with the black jerseys worn by First Assembly. I feel that we should continue to wear red jerseys.
There is one minor change in the list of sponsors for this season. Vector Security will no longer sponsor the top of the second inning, because we have not been living up to their expectations. Thus, the top of the second inning will now be sponsored by ADT Security.
Our weather forecasts will be sponsored by State College-based Accuweather.
Also, the date of the league tournament will be on July 15 at the C.O.G. Softball Complex in West Middlesex, with a rain make up date of July 22.
I might consider calling my mentor Lanny Frattare before the week is out to let him know that spring training has started for the 2017 campaign. If you do not know who he is, allow me to tell you about him.
Lanny Frattare is the former voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started out with the team as the number three to the legendary Bob Prince and Nellie King. When both Prince and King were terminated, Frattare became the number two to Milo Hamilton. When Hamilton left, Frattare was ready to take over the play-by-play duties. He gave his voice to the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates team that eventually won the World Series at the expense of the Baltimore Orioles. He was also the man who lent his voice to the 1997 "Freak Show" Pirates team that hovered around first place in a mediocre National League Central Division for much of the season. Frattare called more than 5000 Pirates games over a career that spanned more than 30 years before he retired at the end of the 2008 season. Today, he is the public relations director as well as a lecturer in broadcasting at Waynesburg University. In 2014, he wrote the foreward to the book of the 100 things that Pittsburgh Pirates fans should know and do before they die (a list in which he is a part of). Every January, he makes an annual pilgrimage up here to Mercer County where he serves as the master of ceremonies for the annual Mercer County Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Park Inn by Radisson. I am hoping that in January 2018, I will be able to attend the ceremony so that I can actually meet him in person for the first time.
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