School rivals in the Lower Valley are teaming up in yet another sport.
The Allegheny Valley and Riverview school boards approved a cooperative sponsorship agreement that would allow seventh through ninth grade baseball players at Springdale to participate on the Riverview junior high club team.
Springdale and Riverview already operate a co-op for high school wrestling, golf and softball.
Riverview approved the deal in January, and Allegheny Valley voted Tuesday.
Riverview started a junior high club baseball program last year, Superintendent Neil English said.
“We were fortunate to have strong community support for the program, and we were happy to support their efforts in any way we could,” English said. “The program was extremely successful last year.”
Allegheny Valley does not have a team. English said Riverview entered the agreement with Allegheny Valley “in order to create greater sustainability for the program.”
“We have a great partnership with Allegheny Valley, and we will continue to maximize our efforts to create meaningful experiences and opportunities for students at Riverview and Allegheny Valley alike,” English said.
“I applaud the Riverview and Allegheny (Valley) school boards for their relentless advocacy and support for our students. This is just one of many examples of that.”
The co-op will start this spring.
Allegheny Valley parents are responsible for transporting their children to practices and games.
Neither district pays for costs associated with running the program. People running the club sport must raise all the necessary funds, and Allegheny Valley students will contribute to the fundraising.
The club sport is responsible for its own general liability insurance coverage, the agreement said.
The agreement automatically renews each school year unless either school wants to cancel it on or before Aug. 15 preceding that school year.
The districts’ partnership in the other sports are going well, Springdale athletic director Mandi Noel said.
“We just created the golf co-op, and that’s encouraged more students to pursue the idea,” Noel said. “Students have come into my office to ask how they might be able to join the team next year. It’s getting the word out there.”
She hopes the junior high co-op will sustain and grow numbers for the high school programs.
