BY JEFF FALK
Over the years, Lebanon County has enjoyed phenomenal success on the baseball diamond. That success can be directly traced to our junior legion/teener baseball program.
On Saturday, the Lebanon County Youth Legion Baseball League – one of three such organizations operating within the boundaries of Lebanon County – opened its 60th season with a doubleheader at Earl Wenger Memorial Field in Fredericksburg. Newmanstown defeated Myerstown and Fredericksburg downed Jonestown.
Jonestown is the circuit’s reigning league champion. The fifth member of the Lebanon County Youth Legion Baseball League is the Tulpehocken Trojans.
Youth Legion Baseball is the largest baseball organization for the 13-16 age group in the state of Pennsylvania, with 174 teams in 35 and 17 leagues. The organization’s philosophy places emphasis on town teams with very distinct geographic boundaries. Its postseason features league champions and not all-star teams.
Local managers this season include: Tim Schaeffer of Fredericksburg, Kerry McQuate of Jonestown, George Miller of Myerstown, Roger Hehnly of Newmanstown and Scott Thomas of Tulpehocken.
With 16 titles, Jonestown has won the most Lebanon County Youth Legion Baseball League championships, while Myerstown has captured 14 and Fredericksburg ten.
The circuit is officiated by the Lebanon Valley Umpires Association, which is headed by coordinator Bruce Kilmoyer.
The competition is keen and the league is always looking for new franchises from Lebanon County and beyond. For further information or inquiries, please contact President Ed Spittle of Jonestown (865-5117) or Vice-President Skip Wolf of Lebanon (272-8844).