Summer collegiate leagues adding teams
For those who love the game, more baseball is never a bad thing.
More baseball played locally? Even better.
The North American Baseball Alliance's expansion from eight to 10 teams brings a fourth local squad into the fold.
The Freeport Vikings, who will play their home games at Freeport Community Park, will join the East Butler Bulldogs and Butler BlueSox in the alliance's five-team Rust Belt League. Foes there also include the 3B Barons (New Castle) and the Pittsburgh Mustangs, who were based in Meadville last year.
The Butler Iron Bucks, defending champions, reside in the Tri-State Collegiate League, along with the Creekside Crocodiles (Youngstown), Cumming Motors (Altoona), DuBois Bucks and the newly-formed Pittsburgh Redbirds.
The 10-team alliance is for players either already competing in college or high school graduates committed to a college program.
"Summer collegiate baseball has really expanded in Western Pennsylvania in recent years," said Dan Helgert, general manager of the BlueSox who was instrumental in bringing Freeport and the Pittsburgh Redbirds into play next season. "There's a lot more kids who want to play. Regular-season rosters will max out at 28 and drop to 24 for the playoffs. That means more playing time for everybody."
Freeport will be led by Dennis and Dave Montgomery, twin brothers and 1981 graduates of Freeport High School. They both have extensive coaching experience at various levels of baseball, including 25 years in American Legion play. They were both inducted into the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
"We were looking to get back into the legion game, but it didn't work out," said Dennis Montgomery, who is serving as Freeport's general manager. His brother will be the team's field manager. "Dan contacted us in September about taking over an expansion team. Dave really wanted to coach again, so we agreed to do it. I am taking care of the behind the scene stuff."
Dennis is currently reaching out to eligible players to fill out the team's roster.
"We currently have 10 players and it's been a joy to talk with these kids," he said. "I think they're going to enjoy their time with us next summer."
The Pittsburgh Mustangs will play home games at Plum High School while the Redbirds will play in Ross Township.
The schedules for all 10 teams have not been finalized, but each squad will play between 26 and 30 games beginning in late May.
All 10 teams will make the playoffs. In both leagues the 4th- and 5th-seeded teams will play each other, with the winner moving on to face the top seed while No. 2 and 3 will battle in another single playoff game. The champions of the Rust Belt and Tri-State leagues will meet in a best-of-3 title series. The Iron Bucks topped Meadville for the crown last summer.
Helgert served as field manager for the BlueSox the last five seasons. His assistant that entire time, Mike McNabb, has taken over that responsibility.
Helgert recently took over as Executive Director of Pullman Park, meaning he is responsible for the scheduling of games at the venue, which will again serve as the home field for the BlueSox and Iron Bucks.
"It's a lot of work, but it's baseball," Helgert said. "I love it."
