Indiana County League Preview....what?????

Yes, this Sunday marks the opening day of the Indiana County League, a hodgepodge of has-beens, never were's, and soon to be baseball players. Their is no age limit to the league, so players of all ages are welcome to join their local team (this never gets old).

Last year Indiana won the league, for the first time, since umm...I think it was the first time they won the league since "Nam". They upset the dynasty known as Creekside, causing a rift in the league, that hasn't been seen since "WaterWorld" was released (one of the worst movies of all time, but a cool idea).

This Sunday marks a fresh start for your local county league teams, and why not have myself do a preview on the league, hell after this year I would have played for three different teams, so I should cover it (wheres Bill Balint when you need him).

COCONUT COVE OR BUST

These are the teams that have no shot of winning the league, honestly, no offense if any members of these teams read this blog (do they have internet service in West Lebanon?)

West Lebanon----- It seemed like yesterday when West Lebanon won the ICL every-year, but those days are long gone. No more Hoff, Prugh, Walk, Yard, and Peterman...those guys are long gone. The switch to Wood bats has also affected them in a negative way, because alot of those guys would come, drop bombs with metal, and got away with it...but not anymore. They do have the Most Valuable Veteran on their team in Gary Wurm...that guy can still flat out play. Poor attendance, along with their coaches having to play, will hurt the West Lebanon team...so much for Freeze Pops and Beer to get guys to come to games...it's gonna take an open tab at the Cove for me to play for them.

Apollo------ If they still have a team in the league, it will be a miracle, they have been scraping teams together for the last few years. They do boast a Division 1 player on their pitching staff in Bob Hartle (crafty lefty played at Duquesne) but their short fence at their field, doesn't bode well for their pitching staff...which means another long year for the Apollo Mudcats.

STREAKERS

These are the teams that boast a few good players, but it's a coin flip on weather they can put it together for a full season.

Ford City----- Somehow, someway, this team always has the largest men, in the history of the Indiana County League. They are at an advantage because everyone in the league has to drive almost an hour to get to their field...and the field sucks anyway. They had some good young live arms last year, but who knows if they'll be playing this year, or fixing cars for the Butler County Demo Derby...you just don't know about these guys.

Blairsville----- The days of the Harsh's are gone, so are the days of the core group of guys that made this team a contender every-year, but the positive is, a core group of younger players has emerged. Blairsville field is probably the most under-rated field in the ICL, with pristine Josephine BlueGrass, and exotic dirt from a Derry Boney Pile...which can play to their advantage. Supposedly last year they had around 15 guys at each game, which means they should win more games this year if that number stays the same...they will be a better team.

TOPLESS BAR IN DERRY (THE NAME ESCAPES ME)

This is for one team, and one team only, they are sleepers, but once you roll into the topless bar in Derry, you don't know if your going to see 10's or a whole lot of 4's.

Homer City-----This team has been on the edge of a winning season for the last few years. Yes, the everyday players are aging but this year, their has been an influx of young talent that will be their for the entire summer, which gives Homer a chance. They did lose "Big Game Bucko Skultety" to Creekside in Free Agency, but who knows. Alot of things have gotten in this teams way the last few years like marriages, kids being born, and a serious effort to get hammered the night before the game. If they can forgot about all that stuff, their going to have a good team, a playoff team.

FILLY CORALE

These are the three best teams in the league, you know what your going to get when you play them, consistency.

Bovard----- This team has the luxury of cherrypicking Westmoreland County, for their best players. They have always had a solid group of credible baseball players to build a team around. Not to mention, it's kind of a drive for most teams to play them, you've got a winning ball club. They save their hardest pitchers for the end of games, because it's impossible to see at Bovard's field...great gameplan. They will be in the hunt till the end, mark my words.

Indiana----- They won the league last year due to war of attrition. They had the most players at every-game, they were young, and didn't care who played over who. Granted none of their players were great, it doesn't matter in County League. Most of the guys on their team came up playing together and that's huge, their Manager did a good job of keeping everyone happy. Rumors are swirling that Joel Martin is pitching professionally, and Chris Sobota may have left and went to Homer City in the off-season, which would be huge losses for the Indiana team, but in the end, they will be near the top.

Creekside---- The Yankees of Indiana County League, that's the comparison you hear all the time (from losers who talk about County League). After losing last year, Creekside's front office went out and signed a ton of new players. Two Ex Professional Pitchers, one washed out ex-professional hitter (hmmm whose that) and a number of ex AAABA players that need a place to play in the summer. Granted some of these guys will only come to a certain amount of games, it doesn't really matter. If Creekside is in the playoffs they will be tough to beat, because everyone comes to playoff games, so if they don't make they playoffs, they can't win right?

Ok...I will explain this for the last time in case anyone cares. I am playing for Creekside this summer...yes...I've turned my back on Homer City. I thank Steve, Ed, Jason, and all the guys for the chance to play with them, but it was time to move on (I sucked when I was their anyway). Basically, me playing in this league is a lose-lose situation anyway...because if I do well, I'm supposed to, if I suck people will say...you didn't belong in proball...so I might as well join a playoff ready team right?

I will only play in probably 15 regular season games, all I am playing for is the playoffs...I have an ICL league Championship to win, then I can retire from baseball forever...so call me a traitor...call me a maverick...call me whatever you want...IT'S COUNTY LEAGUE.

On that note...come on out and support your local team...it's fun to watch old guys think they still have it...isn't it?