Eager to play
Connellsville Legion on top of league standings but looking for games
Jonathan Guth | TikTok成人版
Connellsville Legion won four games since a 12-2 victory over second-place Belle Vernon on June 23, but it wasn’t the way head coach Brian Sankovich wanted his team to get them.
Connellsville sits with a record of 12-0, but its wins against Colonial 3 and Smithfield-Fairchance were by forfeit, as both squads have had to fold due to lack of players, which has become an issue in not only the Fayette American League, but Legion baseball in general.
“We had four games that we lost out due to forfeits,” Sankovich said. “You never want to win like that. It goes beyond just playing the game. Our kids need to get live in-game reps, and it does not happen if we aren’t playing. We are looking at scheduling exhibition games with other leagues, but you need interest from both teams.”
Ever the student of the game, Sankovich does his best to schedule practice time and have his players take some swings in the batting cage, but it doesn’t beat the real thing.
The Connellsville Area High School graduate is concerned with the lack of interest in Legion baseball.
“It is a bad look for the league when kids aren’t interested in playing,” Sankovich said. “I understand that kids play in other leagues, and we have guys on our team that do that, too, but you want to see kids committed to their hometown team. Most of our kids have grown up playing together, and they look forward to helping each other win.”
Sankovich’s squad will step back onto the field this evening when Uniontown comes to Thomas E. Sankovich Field on the campus of Connellsville Area High School at 6.
Connellsville rallied to win the first game, 12-9. Uniontown comes in with a record of 12-6-1.
Belle Vernon, who will host the Region 6 tournament July 18-23 at John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township, is second in the Fayette County League at 10-2. Belle Vernon’s two setbacks this season are to Connellsville.
Belle Vernon defeated Connellsville last season to win the regional tournament at Blackhawk.
The Fayette County League should have three teams qualify for the Region 6 tournament, but if teams from Allegheny and Beaver County can’t qualify, another Fayette squad could sneak in.
“Our goal is to win the region tournament and qualify for states,” Sankovich said. “If you receive a bye, that makes the path to the finals much easier, and we were told the team with the best record gets a bye. A bye in a double-elimination tournament is huge.”