The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McMinn Baseball League recognized
Mentor-on-the-Lake officials recognize efforts to improve park, community
Mentor-on-the-Lake officials have named McMinn Baseball League its organization of the year.
McMinn Baseball League has been around for more than 30 years, and Mentoron-the-Lake resident Bob Lonchor has been involved for many of them.
He started out as an assistant coach 14 years ago when his 4-year-old son began to play and is now entering his eighth season as president.
During his time at the helm, he has watched the program swell to 245 children, ages 4 through 18, on about 20 teams.
“We’ve had growth every year since probably the last 10 years,” Lonchor said. “We’ve branched out to some travel teams. They’re called the Diamond Dogs, and we had probably 35 extra kids for those three teams.”
He accepted an award from Mentor-on-the-Lake officials this week on behalf of the league, which was chosen Organization of the Year for 2019.
The growth has come in the face of other surging sports, such as soccer and lacrosse.
“I don’t know, I just like to go about my business,” he said, when asked the secret to their success. “(It’s) the parents and the fact that we do have people that believe in the league and continually come back, keeping kids playing baseball as long as they can and continuing to play as an adult.”
Mayor David Eva listed some of the organization’s contributions to the city.
“Over the last several years, the league has resurfaced all of the fields in Mentor-on-the-Lake and added dugouts to all fields,” he said. “This year, we are talking with them about a pavilion at McMinn Park, paid for by the league.
“They have been helpful with sharing the expense of maintaining the baseball fields in the city.”
Lonchor called the award humbling.
“It’s nice to know that your efforts are appreciated by the city,” he said.
He estimates spending about 20 hours a week on league efforts during baseball season.
“You’re constantly doing stuff year-round,” he noted.
But he is far from alone with an estimated 50 to 60 volunteers, including coaching staff and board members. Jason Gilbert is vice president and Lonchor’s girlfriend, Jodie Meister, is board secretary.
One difference from some other leagues is the coaches start children with coachpitch ball versus tee ball.
“Then we’ve implemented, over the years, four innings of kid-pitch at the 7- and 8-year-old level,” he said, adding that coaches take over at that point.
The pavilion project involves building a 54-foot by 24-foot structure between fields one and two at John
R. McMinn Memorial Park, 6202-6982 Marine Parkway.
It will serve for holding league functions as well as offer a refuge from the elements.
“Each year, we try to tackle a new project,” he said.
Construction is anticipated for mid-May.
Lonchor juggles league duties with his full-time job as an outside sales manager for Gia Russa products.
When asked what’s kept him going for so many years, he said he is simply filling a void.
“I guess there’s a need for someone to do it in the area,” he said. “And our mission is to keep every kid playing ball, (to) give them an outlet and give them some structure, and make them young men and women . ...
“Part of our goal is to hope every player falls in love with the game of baseball.”