Baseball is back in Tyrone!
Saturday, May 15 signaled the beginning of another season of local baseball at the Tyrone Area Youth Baseball Association field. After the field was devastated by flooding caused by last fall’s hurricanes, the Fall Baseball league had to be moved to other fields in the area. Now, with the help, donations, support and hard work of many volunteers, the field is ready and baseball is being played by Tyrone youth once again.
Sponsors and volunteers have worked many hours and given freely of their services and along with local businesses have given a measure of love to Tyrone youth to get the field up to speed and ready for play once again in what considering the obstacles that had to be overcome, was a remarkably short time.
The Tyrone Area Youth Baseball Association (TAYBA) would like to thank Scott Cowfer Construction, Rick Day Construction, Eric Dasher, Don Miller, Terry Eaken Contracting, New Pig and Jerry Shetler, Pepsi for a $2,500 donation, the Tyrone Borough which donated bleachers, fence and parking strips, The Daily Herald, Jim Friday, Jeff Shaffer, Jim McNeil, Deb Soellner, the Blair County Commissioners, who made it possible for a $5,000 grant for equipment and sod, Bill Marlett for maintenance, and many others who assisted in rebuilding the facility.
The Association received money from FEMA that according to Tyrone Youth Baseball president John Molnar took care of the outfield fence, replacement of bleachers, and diamond-tex on the infield.
“However, sod, and any of the grass or top soil was not covered by FEMA money,” acknowledged Molnar. “We went to Blair County (Commissioners) and received funds for that. We also lost equipment that was not covered, as well as other materials and food-they would not cover any of the food or consumable goods we lost due to the flooding. That was where the money came for, from donations, plus the treasury that we had built up. We had some money ourselves, we spent $23,000 of league money, but we didn’t have nearly enough.”
“The majority of the work came from these contractors and volunteers, at least 75-80 percent of it.”
Prior to the beginning of the first game, Tyrone Area Youth Baseball Association board members were introduced along with Minor and Major League (TAYBA) players, several Tyrone High School baseball players, 2004 league champs Elks and their coaches and players, Will Jones, pastor of Greater Grace Fellowship, Bill Marlett, head of maintenance for the league, Pete Dutrow, who acknowledged the Blair County Commissioners grant and Harry Sickler and Ben Gummo, who threw out ceremonial first pitches.
The T-Ball field, which was also destroyed by the flooding is still in need of a lot of work, but is being reconstructed and will be ready at a later date.
If anyone is interested in helping out, either with donations or work, please contact league president John Molnar, or any of the Association board members.
