Uniontown, Hutchinson Field will host East Regional
As Uniontown and Connellsville battle tonight for the Fayette County American Legion baseball crown, both teams know they will be in the East Regional as Hutchinson Field will host the eight-team tournament. According to Uniontown coach Ron Popovich, Hutchinson Field has been seeking the tournament for over two years when they found out at last year’s East Regional at Chippewa Park about their probable chances of hosting the event. “I asked the Pittsburgh Regional Director last year about our bid we had made and whether he felt our chances were good enough of hosting the tournament,” said Popovich.
“We found out that the situation was fortunate enough for us in that a team had decided to drop out of hosting the event this year and that we were in high standing of getting the tournament. A few months later, we got the official word we had been selected.”
To be selected, the proposing team’s field is inspected but because Hutchinson Field had hosted the tournament in 2001 that challenge wasn’t as difficult as it may have been.
“We had hosted the event in 2001,” said Popovich. “They saw the field that year and I believe they knew it was good enough for us to host again in the future.
“The guys were really excited when they found out we were hosting the tournament,” Popvich said. “Early on, some of the guys took it for granted that we were automatically in, but we got down to business and wanted to still try to win the playoff series against a good team like Connellsville.”
Popovich commented on the benefits of playing at home.
“The nice thing about playing at home is it’s just like playing at home in any game,” said Popovich. “Your players might be a little more relaxed and the crowd tends to have more people in your favor. There’s a lot of excitement for the home team in any playoff situation.
“Also, you don’t have to travel. Last year, it took our guys two and a half hours to get to the field from here. Traveling is always exciting but the ability to just play at home in an environment friendlier than you would see on the road makes up for that.”
However, Popovich said the advantage of hosting the tournament might end just there as the process of winning a tournament against teams with the talent necessary to get into the tournament is an arduous task unto itself.
“Home field advantage might last all of one game,” said Popovich. “We’re going up against very good teams who have played extremely hard all season to get here. They know what they have to do to win so any team can’t take home field advantage and think it’s a given you will win.”
When Hutchinson Field hosted the event in 2001, Uniontown went 2-2 with Popovich serving as an assistant.
Besides the benefit of playing at home, the economy in the surrounding area around Hopwood could receive benefits.
“I definitely think it will stimulate the economy of the immediate area,” said Popovich.
“You have six teams coming in from Pittsburgh and Beaver and not all of those teams are going home because they play each day in some cases. I think restaurants and perhaps some hotels could get some business from the tournament.”
Popovich also encouraged the local community to also come out and support the tournament.
“If you like baseball, and I think many people in the area do, this is a chance to see some great teams in action,” said Popovich. Connellsville?s Steve O?Donnell holds his swing for ball one as Uniontown catcher Zach Dascenzo blocks the ball during Game 2 of the Fayette County American Legion championship series Sunday at Thomas E. Sankovich Field in Connellsville Township. Connellsville won 12-10 to force a deciding Game 3 tonight at Hutchinson Field in Hopwood. Regardless of tonight?s outcome, both teams will be playing at Hutchinson Saturday as it will host the East Regional tournament. Dave Rafferty