County League openers set Sunday
The Fayette County Baseball League embarks on a 28-game schedule with three games on the docket for Sunday, including a rematch of last season’s championship series. Defending champion Carmichaels hosts runner-up Blaney Farms in a 1 p.m. league kick-off game at Carmichaels Legion Field. If that match-up doesn’t ring any bells, perhaps it shouldn’t. Carmichaels actually beat Mario’s in last year’s championship series, but Mario’s is playing under new sponsorship this season and carries the name Blaney Farms.
Other teams with new sponsors this year include Phil’s Tire (formerly Rostraver) and Michael’s (formerly Wanna B Heroes). While some teams sport new names, the nine-team field is virtually the same as last year.
Every team will play each team in its division five times and non-division teams three times.
Other opening day games Sunday show Mill Run visiting Bud Murphy’s and Waynesburg hosting California. Both of those games are set to begin at 5 p.m.
This year’s league features nine teams, broken into three three-team divisions.
The league will pay tribute to the late Jim Kriek for all of his many contributions to the league by forming the Jim Kriek Division, which houses Bud Murphy’s and manager Tom Sankovich, Mill Run and manager Ray Orndorff and Potter’s Clubhouse and manager Dan Kupets.
The John A. Kupets Division, which is named after a former league president, is comprised of Blaney Farms and manager Lou Pasquale, Phil’s Tire and manager Dan Palm and California and manager Ryan Encapera.
The Greene County Division features defending champion Carmichaels and manager Richard Krause, Michaels and manager Alan Smodic and Waynesburg under manager Scott Tedrow.
Sunday is the beginning of a schedule that includes 14 home games and 14 road games for all nine teams. The league’s regular-season finale is set for Thursday, July 26, when Potter’s Clubhouse hosts Phil’s Tire. County League playoffs begin a night later with a pigtail playoff game between the eighth and ninth place teams.
An interleague All-Star game will be played at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 1 at John DiVirgilio Field in Rostraver.