The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
KID-FOCUSED OPTIMISM
Youth baseball getting ready, organizers say
Young pitchers, batters and fielders are getting ready to play ball, said city officials and league organizers scheduling the 2020 season in Lorain.
International City Baseball and city officials are working out plans for the league to field teams at P.C. Campana Park, 2840 Meister Road.
That park is home to the 1,300-seat Pipe Yard stadium and a number of other baseball diamonds used for youth teams of varying ages.
The league coordinators still are arranging the lineups — for teams, coaches, staff and fields — but everyone involved expressed confidence youths age 4 to 18 will be on the ball diamonds this spring and summer.
On Feb. 17, Lorain City Council approved a plan for the city administration to advertise for proposals to use Campana park for a baseball program this year.
The proposals were due March 6.
International City Baseball responded with a program to update and continue the league that was Lorain Youth Baseball.
League President Walter Klamer and Vice President Pedro Natal met when their children played ball in Lorain.
They said they have spoken to Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley and Public Property Manager Lori Garcia about the league.
They hope to sit down again with Garcia and Safety-Service Director Max Upton, possibly as early as this week, to work out details on summer baseball in Lorain.
Their vision is for a revitalized park that becomes a sports complex where people can gather for a variety of activities.
“What we want to do there, it’s not just baseball,” Natal said. “We want to make it more like a community park.”
Baseball signups
As of March 11, the league so far had signed up an estimated 150 to 200 players. They hope to grow it. Last year, International City Baseball had about 450 players, enough for 31 teams.
Years ago, Lorain Youth Baseball would attract 1,000 players.
The numbers have dwindled for various reasons, not least the growth of travel teams, the organizers said.
But some of those players return to International City Baseball if the commitment of time, money and travel is not a good fit for them and their families.
Along with player signups, Natal, Klamer and their helpers are rounding up sponsorships.
They have assembled a roster of local businesses and civic groups to contribute.
Additional money comes from fundraisers and league fees.
“A lot of people are stepping up,” Natal said.
International City Baseball last year spent about $50,000 on its programs.
That figure likely will go up this year due to needed repairs, uniforms, equipment and some field upgrades such as pitchers’ mounds on the high school fields.
International City Baseball
has a March 23 registration deadline and a tryout scheduled for March 29.
Anyone interested in more information should check out www.intcitybaseball.com.
The league still is looking for sponsorships and directors for the season.
Full time parks director
Youth baseball and other sports could get a full time helper this year.
Bradley will ask City Council to consider hiring a full time recreation/parks superintendent.
On March 16, Council’s Finance Committee will consider legislation that will pay for the director.
“We feel that a park director would really help us in maintaining our parks, maintaining our ball fields and making sure that we have safe areas for young people to play,” Bradley said.
A director will be responsible for expanding programming and creating community partnerships that will increase offerings for Lorain youths, Upton said.
Bradley also is pushing for a youth summer work program and a new park director could supervise workers daily.
Then parents would know children could visit the parks and find a safe, fun environment, he said.
“Our goal is to make the parks like they used to be in Lorain, where a parent could have their child go to the park early in the morning and be involved in activities almost the entire day,” Bradley said.
That includes having young people actually having jobs supervising activities at the parks, he said.
“A lot of people are stepping up.” — Vice President Pedro Natal