Annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational set to begin

Chuck Sarver pored over the schedule Friday morning, checking on the nearly two dozen teams that will descend on Freeport and its surrounding communities this week for the annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational.

The FIBI president said the schedule — which includes the return of the Aussie Drop Bears organization from Australia — has been full of fluid changes throughout this past week and probably will continue to change right up to the coaches’ meeting Monday evening at James E. Swartz Sr. Memorial Field in Freeport Borough.

“We will get some calls and emails about when a team can play or can’t play and how many games they can play,” Sarver said. “A lot of it all gets finalized on Monday when the coaches have a chance to talk to each other and with (game scheduler) Matt (Fryer).

“It all gets worked out, and we are looking forward to a great week of baseball at fields all over. We want it to be a fun time for everyone. There are so many people who work so hard all year to make this week the best possible.”

The Aussie Drop Bears 16U team arrives in Pittsburgh on Saturday, and the group of 12 players, manager Shane Dodd and the rest of the coaching staff and nearly 20 parents will make their way to Freeport on Sunday.

The players will take in Sunday’s Pirates game before meeting their host families Sunday evening.

An ad on a billboard at the Tarentum Bridge proclaims the Aussie Drop Bears’ return to Freeport.

The Drop Bears will play the Freeport Stingers on Monday evening at 7:30 at Swartz Field.

“It is a nice game to kick off the week,” Sarver said. “It will give the Aussie Drop Bears another game under the lights. It’s the only game Monday.”

Sarver said a hoagie sale to help defray some of the costs incurred by the host families raised nearly $1,500. The Freeport Eagles, Sarver added, chipped in another $300 in gift cards for them to use.

“If more money is needed, we’re there,” he said. “The host parents have been so gracious. You have two or three kids of your own, and then you’re bringing in two more for the week. That is a lot.”

Full play starts Tuesday morning at six fields throughout the region, and Sarver said he is grateful to have each field as host sites. More than 50 games are expected to be contested through Saturday afternoon.

“We are always ready to work with everybody at all the fields to make things go as smooth as possible,” Sarver said.

In addition to the home base at Swartz Field, games again will be at Freeport Community Park, Northmoreland Park and on the fields at Springdale, Highlands and Armstrong high schools.

“We have a nice mix of returning teams (NWO, Hardball Academy) and some new local teams and others from farther away (Stark County, Ohio),” said Sarver, who is excited to have a local flair with junior high or high school-age teams featuring players from Freeport, Burrell, Springdale, Highlands and Knoch.

“Matt, bless his soul, he’s been working on a lot of the schedule since Sunday. We want to be as accommodating as possible.”

In addition to the games from Monday through Saturday, several FIBI staples return to bolster the week of activities.

The Sonny Westerman Old Timers Game will be at 8 p.m. Thursday at Swartz Field. A special ceremony before the game will honor and celebrate the dedication to the Freeport International of Marilyn Westerman, the wife of the late Sonny Westerman who died last August. She was 95.

“She was an amazing lady,” Sarver said.

The John “Cossy” Costantino 5K/10K race will be Saturday morning in and around Freeport Borough.

The week-ending all-star game and fireworks will be Saturday evening at 8 at Swartz Field. Before the game, Darren King, who brought the first team from Australia to Freeport; and Greg Penfornis, the manager for the French team that played in Freeport two years ago, will be presented plaques to recognize them as honorary FIBI board members.

Sarver said Australia Night, with several Australian delicacies sold at the concession stand at Swartz Field and proceeds going to the Freeport International, will be Friday, starting around 5 p.m.

The Aussie Drop Bears’ game against the team of Freeport high school players will be at 8.

“King has been such an ambassador for us ever since he brought the first (Australian) team over,” Sarver said. “Last year, he, his wife and his daughter made all of these food items, and they funded it all. We sold out of everything in 45 minutes. We want to make that an annual tradition whether they have a team here or not just so we can represent them.”

Sarver said those hoping to sign up to volunteer in any way during the week are asked to email fibisecretary@gmail.com.

For more information on the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, visit freeportinternationals.com. On the main page are links to the FIBI’s X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram pages.