Added game wraps up Freeport International Baseball Invitational after another successful week

The Aussie Drop Bears baseball team was in the middle of a game Saturday evening in the closing hours of the Freeport International Baseball Invitational when the rain came and put a halt to the proceedings at James E. Swartz Sr. Memorial Field.

The adverse weather then forced event officials to cancel the week-concluding all-star game in which several of the Drop Bears players were set to participate.

So the Freeport International has been extended a couple of days.

The Aussie Drop Bears contingent of players, coaches and family members already were staying in Freeport through Tuesday, so several parties got together and secured a game Tuesday evening at 8 at Swartz Field between the Drop Bears and the Freeport Stingers under the coaching direction of Nate Good.

“They deserved another game,” FIBI president Chuck Sarver said. “It worked out nicely in the end.”

The Drop Bears, who visited Kennywood on Monday, had hoped to take the FIBI board and host parents out to dinner before departing. But one of the parents, Sarver said, is a chef, so they wanted to take advantage of the cooking availability at the field. A meal of Australian fare will be shared Tuesday before the game.

“I though that was a good idea,” Sarver said.

The Drop Bears, for the second year in a row, were a centerpiece draw for the Freeport International, which celebrated baseball in keeping with the organization’s motto of “For the Love of the Game.”

Twenty-two teams played more than 50 games at seven fields throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley.

“I think it was a great week,” Sarver said. “There were the usual glitches in the schedule with teams wanting to change the date, time or location of a game. That happens every year, so that’s not news. Other than that, the weather was good for the most part, the fields were good, and transportation worked out. We got five and a half good days of weather. We got the (5K/10K) race in Saturday morning. We all were pretty happy.”

And the weather cleared up later Saturday evening, so the fireworks went off as expected.

“We had a nice crowd,” Sarver said. “(The fireworks) went off without a hitch. The crowd there, it was like the game was played, even though it wasn’t.

“One of the cool things was that a number of the kids went out to the outfield during the rain and played rugby.”

Sarver said there is a possibility the Drop Bears could return next summer. The 32nd Freeport International in 2026 will be July 20-25.

He said there also is word that a team from Israel could be a part of the Freeport International, and a team from France could come back after playing at Freeport in 2023.

“(FIBI vice president) Dave Brestensky has been working on (Israel and France),” Sarver said. “We’re talking to them all year. The perfect storm would be all three of them coming.”

Brestensky’s work during this year’s Freeport International was delayed a few days while he awaited the birth of his granddaughter.

Dave’s daughter, Amanda, who is well immersed in all that goes on before, during and after the International week, delivered a daughter, Addie, last Wednesday.

“Mother and daughter are doing fantastic,” Dave said Monday afternoon, his voice mixed with joy and emotion.

“Amanda wishes she could’ve been at the International like she had been every year. She kept asking about how things were going. But she’s just excited that hopefully someday little Addie will get to help out, too.

“It made an already special week that much more special. We were happy to know that my daughter was healthy, the baby was healthy and that dad was healthy. We’re so grateful for the support of everyone at the International.”

In addition to FIBI staples such as the fireworks, the 5K/10, and the steak hoagies, the Sonny Westerman Old-Timers Game brought together young players and those a little bit older for an evening of diamond fun under the lights at Swartz Field.

“It is kind of a self-scheduling event,” Sarver said. “It was a great game. They got in all seven innings. It was a great time. Nobody got hurt, that we know of. I am sure there was some soreness. Most of them played on that field growing up, so it always is nice that they can come back and run around that field again.”

Before the game, Matt Fryer, the main behind-the scenes scheduler of the week’s games involving all two dozen or so teams, was honored for his service to the International with the Mike Westerman Unsung Hero Award.

“It was real fitting for Matt to be recognized,” Sarver said. “Monday night was probably one of the best managers meetings ever in terms of the schedule. There were still a few issues but not many. It made for a pleasant Monday evening. Matt always is a big part of making all of that happen.”

The award is given each year for those who go “above and beyond,” often working in the background, to keep the invitational humming for the past 31 years.

The Mike Westerman family also accepted an award presented to Marilyn Westerman for her dedication to the Freeport International. The wife of FIBI founder Sonny Westerman, Marilyn Westerman died last August at age 95.

“It was probably one of the best years for the Westerman contingent to be there,” Sarver said.

Sarver noted several fundraisers that will start up in the early fall to benefit the Freeport International.

He said it’s never too early to start planning for next year’s week of games, so a wrap-up/look-ahead meeting will be Aug. 6 or 13.

“Like every year, we have things we want to try and fix and hash out,” Sarver said. “We’re always looking to improve the week. We also are always seeking those who wish to volunteer in any capacity during the week.”