FIBI organizers optimistic tournament will take place

Chuck Sarver’s voice rang out with optimism and hope.

The president of the Freeport International Baseball Invitational said Monday that plans are going forward to host games this year, provided national or state regulations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic give them the green light.

“The bottom line and goal is that we want to get kids playing baseball,” Sarver said. “We want to give them that opportunity if everything that is going on at the time allows us to do it. We would follow social-distancing guidelines as much as possible. I and our board think it is very doable, and I think the people would welcome it.”

This year’s internationals is STILL ON. We hope everyone is staying safe during this time. #FIBI2020

— FIBI (@FIBI2018) May 3, 2020

The event is slated for July 21-25.

The social-distance practices, Sarver stressed, would extend to aspects of the event such as fans in attendance, players, coaches, umpires and concessions.

“We would consider scattering the fans,” Sarver said. “We don’t get thousands of fans. If it’s a family, and they are comfortable sitting together, we would have to let that up to their judgment.”

Sarver said five fields — 18th Street Field in New Kensington, Arnold and Springdale high schools, Freeport Community Park and the FIBI hub at James E. Schwartz Memorial Field in Freeport Borough — are expected to host multiple games involving teams of scholastic-age players who had spring seasons canceled.

Younger college players, Sarver said, could come back and join teams, and he strongly encourages players not involved with scholastic teams to join in on the festivities.

Sarver said he’s received correspondence from Springdale baseball coach Brett Burger again expressing interest in helping make the tournament a reality.

Freeport coach Ed Carr has reached out to coaches in the WPIAL and beyond about the availability of players in their varsity, junior varsity and junior high programs.

“From what Chuck asked me to do, he said it would be nice if we could get a lot of teams, indirectly and not affiliated with any of the schools, but maybe take the shape and form of the high school teams because they didn’t have their seasons,” Carr said.

“I know a lot of the high school guys, plus we all communicate throughout the season. I was able to use my resources to contact them and let them know what we’re doing. They can form a team that looks like their high school team or their junior varsity team or a combination of both. They can also work it out through their (community) associations. We encourage them to come and play some games in a relaxed format. It will take the same form as in the past where it doesn’t focus on a tournament winner or anything like that.”

Carr said he received several positive responses in the first couple of hours since reaching out, and he hopes for more in the coming days.

With the possibility of limited travel capabilities, Sarver said he understands the likelihood of international players not being able to attend.

He also noted communication between FIBI and the Puerto Rican contingent concerning its return to Freeport for the week.

“They had indicated they were planning to return, but I haven’t gotten a final reading from them,” he said. “I don’t know if they are still thinking about it or if they are allowed. That still is not out of the realm of possibility. I was trying to raise some funds to help pay for their hotel expenses when this all hit the fan.”

Sarver said he hopes a staple of the annual Freeport International, the fireworks display from New Castle-based Pyrotecnico FX on the final night of the event, will continue.

For more information on how to become involved with this year’s Freeport International event, email chucks@weleski.com, FIBIpresident@gmail.com or call 724-448-2580.

FIBI is on Twitter @FIBI2018 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/FreeportInternationalBaseballInvitationalFibi.

It also is online at fortheloveofthegame.org.