A Westmoreland County league champion in two of the last three years, Bushy Run is eager to start the summer baseball season.
There is one slight problem: The team does not have a home field — yet.
“We play in about a little more than week, so it’s tough,” manager Scott Peyman said. “We want to be able to get some practices in.”
Normally, Bushy Run plays at the Penn-Trafford High School field, but that venue is in the process of getting a new artificial turf infield and replanted natural grass in the outfield. It has not been cleared for use by the district.
Schools are awaiting clearance from the PIAA to open facilities. Other league teams also are awaiting for the go-ahead to use high school fields.
The field at Sunrise Elementary was another option for Bushy Run, but that space also is owned by the district.
Peyman was making arrangements to possibly use the municipal fields in Harrison City for practice to get ready for the new-look Westmoreland County Baseball League, which will not be affiliated with the American Legion this summer.
District 31 will return in name next season.
Bushy Run isn’t scheduled to play at home until July 3. Its season opener is June 17 at Young Township.
Legion canceled its activities following the coronavirus outbreak, so Latrobe coach and Region 7 Director Jason Bush mapped out a plan to have an abbreviated, nine-team season in the county as restrictions began to loosen.
“Jason did a fantastic job getting this together,” Peyman said. “I can’t imagine how much time he put into this.”
Safety guidelines will be in place once the league resumes June 13. Among them, the home plate umpire will try calling balls and strikes from behind the pitcher to distance himself from the catcher and batter.
Teams and players will not share water coolers or bottles, and social distancing will be encouraged in dugouts. Sunflower seeds will not be permitted, and players are asked to refrain from spitting.
Many teams will be inheriting high school players who did not play a spring season, so rust is expected. Pitchers will be seeing live hitting for the first time in months.
“I think it’s going to be a more laid-back season,” Peyman said. “More of a development year. Teams aren’t going to be as concerned about where they finish in the standings.”
Bushy Run won District 31 last season and in 2017, and captured a region title in between, in ‘18.
“(Last year) was one of the greatest playoff runs I have ever seen,” Peyman said. “We haven’t given up a run in District 31 in six games.”
Key returnees include outfielder Brett Andreani, pitcher Bobby Kuzinsky, and infielders Mario Disso and Connor Banias. All will play college baseball. Disso, a Pitt-Johnstown commit, is one of the league’s top shortstops.
“We might have the best infield defense we have ever had,” Peyman said. “We’ll have new guys in the outfield. Our pitching should be better than I originally thought. Last year, we had the best pitching we’ve had here. We should be balanced.”
Newcomer Anthony Sherwin, a Bucknell commit, also should lift the lineup. Ryan Seice and Brady Adamson are third-year players in the program.
Because neither the American Legion patch nor post names and numbers will not be used, teams had to either get new uniforms, or remove or cover their patches. Bushy Run will wear t-shirts with its game pants.
The team also have the number and initials of the late Maclean Maund stitched into the back of their caps. Maund, a former Penn-Trafford and Bushy Run ace pitcher, died in a car accident in January.
He would have been a freshman at Seton Hill.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill by email at bbeckner@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Categories: Other Local | Sports
"ball" - Google News
June 06, 2020 at 05:22AM
https://ift.tt/2XzxPwO
Bushy Run eager to play ball again but still looking for home field - TribLIVE
"ball" - Google News
https://ift.tt/39CKzGV
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment