FCBL opens 2014 season Friday
After an unsettling and turbulent 2013 season for the Fayette County Baseball League (the season ended abruptly with no playoffs), the FCBL is back up and running for the 2014 campaign with more organization and passion within the league.
After months of off-season meetings to discuss key league issues and elect new officers for this season, FCBL will consist of seven teams and opening day for the league is Friday with Company G battling Mitch’s Bail Bonds at Veterans Field in Charleroi.
Each team will play 24 games during the regular season, playing each other four times during the year. The roster deadline is June 21 and every team must turn in its full roster or it could face forfeiture of games.
At the end of the regular season, which is tentatively set for July 22, the top four teams will qualify for the postseason. Both the semifinal and championship rounds will be the best-of-five series and are tentatively set to begin the final week of July.
Dan Kupets will once again be the league’s president, while Tom Sankovich Jr. will be the Umpire Commissioner.
The seven teams in the league are Carmichaels (manager Richard Krause), Dunbar (Jeff McWilliams), Mitch’s Bail Bonds (Ryan Encapera), Mill Run (Ray Orndorff), Jake’s Pizza (Tom Seman), Company G (Walt Saxon) and NY Pizza (Steve Kezmarsky).
Carmichaels plays home games at Carmichaels High School, Dunbar at the Breakneck Field,Mitch’s at Veterans Field, Mill Run at the Mill Run field, Jake’s Pizza at Fayette City, Company G at Perryopolis and NY Pizza at Hutchinson.
“We have met almost every month during the off-season and we are building a stronger structure for the league,” Krause said. “Everybody wants this league to thrive and to continue to build, so we got everything out in the open and we have been better organized as a league. Instead of having all of the responsibilities between two people, we have split it up with six people to build a solid foundation for the league.”
As for the abrupt end of the 2013 season, Krause said that the league is trying to build from that on a positive note and sees a bright future for FCBL.
“There has been a lot of discussion and a lot of healthy talk among everybody,” Krause said. “We had several financial issues last year and we have dealt with that as a league. We are forcing stronger roster deadlines and everybody is on the same page. Everyone is this league has a commitment to the league.”
A year ago, the Copperheads went undefeated during the regular season and were the top-seed in the playoffs before they were cancelled.
“There’s some motivation for our guys this year and some unfinished business for us,” Krause said of his team. “Last year felt incomplete for us and a lot of our younger guys took it to heart. Just like last year, we have a nice balance of veterans and young players on our team. We are excited for this year and we can’t get distracted. What happen last year was last year. Right now we have to focus on hitting, pitching and playing defense.”
Carmichaels will kick off its 2014 season on Friday, May 23, at Company G. Other first games show NY Pizza at Mill Run for a 2 p.m. start Sunday, Jake’s Pizza traveling to Company G on Tuesday and Dunbar hosting Company G on Tuesday, May 27. Weekday games will begin at 6 p.m., while Sunday games will begin at 2 or 5 p.m.
“This is a great league with a lot of competitive games,” Krause expressed. “A lot of the leagues in Pittsburgh or throughout the area have shut down. We are still here and are a lot stronger as a league. It’s a wooden bat league and there’s a lot of great pitching. It’s a great place for college kids and high school seniors to get game action and play some tough opponents.”