Jan 4, 2007 By Rebekah Sungala 3 min read

POINT MARION – Borough council tentatively agreed to meet with officials from the Smithfield Little League to discuss bringing the league to the borough. During Wednesday’s meeting, council spent more than an hour listening to representatives of the league discuss future plans for youth softball and baseball programs.

Ben Robinson, former league president and current board member, said the league is “looking for a park that wants to grow with our organization” and asked council to consider allowing the league to use the borough’s community park.

The league, originally based in Smithfield Borough, had 360 children on the 2006 roster, according to Robinson.

Robinson said the league would probably see a slight decrease in participation because of relocating, but said he was sure at least 200 children would sign up for the 2007 season.

“I can guarantee we’d have at least 20 teams with 10 kids each,” he said, noting that he’s confident participation will increase.

“We can grow with each other and go from there,” he said, noting that some improvements would need to be made at the community park if Little League games were to be held there.

Robinson said at least one T-ball field is needed and that outfield fences are required if tournaments are to be held there.

The park currently has two baseball fields that are used by Trinity High School and the American Legion adult league.

Robinson said the Little League Baseball playing season would run from May through July and that board members would be willing to work game schedules around the high school and adult league.

Neither Robinson nor any of the board members present for Wednesday’s meeting said why they wanted to move Little League out of Smithfield to Point Marion.

However, league officials and council members from Smithfield Borough have been at odds since a concession stand burned down at the Fox Hollow Road ball field, located on borough property, April 21.

After the concession stand burnt down, Smithfield council asked league officials to ask permission and show plans before they construct any buildings or make improvements to any of the fields, saying the borough owns the land and that any buildings need to be covered by the borough’s insurance.

Smithfield council also had questions in regards to activities occurring at the park that Little League board members had not notified them off.

Nonetheless, Robinson told Point Marion council members that league officials would be willing to work with council and would volunteer at park clean-ups.

Council said they are interested in pursuing the possibility of bringing Little League Baseball to the borough.

Council said they will meet with league officials at a later date to iron out details and that a written agreement must be signed before any games can be played at the park.

Borough council next meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 in the municipal building.