French team brings international flair back to annual Freeport baseball tournament

For the first time in several years, an international team will join the fun for the 28th annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational.

FIBI president Chuck Sarver and vice president Dave Brestensky said the arrival of a team from France will add to the excitement and anticipation of what should be another fun week of baseball in and around Freeport Borough from July 26-30.

“We really stayed in touch with them the past couple of months,” Brestensky said. “You always wonder when you send that initial email will you get an email back. It was terrific when we found out they were interested in coming over. It’s just an incredible feeling to have them back.”

France, Sarver said, is the first international team to play at the tournament since 2019. Twenty-three total team members, including 17 players, are in the French contingent.

Sarver said while housing arrangements have been made for most of the group members, the FIBI committee still is looking for those who would be willing to host some of the players for the week.

“They want the kids to live in the American culture as much as possible for the time they are here, and living with host families is a great way to experience that,” Sarver said.

Heidi Powell, a realtor in Freeport and a sponsor with the Freeport International, is hosting several of the players.

“She is a very giving, generous, community-oriented person,” Sarver said. “Fred and Karen Savage housed French players when they were here before, and they are doing that again. There are so many people like them who help in so many ways.”

The Brestensky family, with Dave as the committee point person with the French team, also will house a couple of the players.

The French team’s Freeport stop is part of a larger American tour. The group will be leaving for New York City on Saturday morning, the Freeport International’s final day, so the annual USA vs. International game, which normally wraps up the week of games and other events Saturday, will be moved to 8 p.m. Friday.

“We can’t have them here and not have them be a part of that game,” Sarver said. “It will be the French team against players from all of the other teams. It should be a lot of fun, like it always is.”

Sarver said there will be a “high-profile” game on Saturday evening to be followed by the signature fireworks display at 10.

Sarver said that players from Puerto Rico, as well as a couple of international teams, were in negotiations with the FIBI planning committee to be a part of this year’s event.

“Israel was coming,” Sarver said. “They had everything planned, and it kind of fell apart. I had gotten an email saying that there were too many hurdles. Hopefully, they can come next year.

“Slovakia was ready to come, but the coach wasn’t going to be vaccinated, so it didn’t end up working out with them. We had offered to coach the players if they would come over.”

Despite those turn of events, close to two dozen teams from throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley, Pittsburgh region and Erie are set to join the French team for games over five days at six area locations: James E. Swartz Memorial Field, the epicenter for the International in Freeport Borough; Freeport Community Park; a pair of fields at Northmoreland Park; and Highlands, Armstrong and Springdale high schools.

The schedule, Sarver said, continues to take shape, and teams still are able to get in on the action. With the potential addition of teams and other changes, the final schedule, Sarver said, most likely won’t be released until Monday, July 25, the day before the games are to begin.

“It’s growing day by day, even at this point with a week or two to go,” Sarver said. “We just got a new team from the Mars/Pine-Richland area (Tuesday). Mercyhurst Prep is again bringing two teams, and we have a new team from Erie — Mill Creek. It’s a pretty nice mix of teams. We’re looking forward to some great competition.”

The traditional Sunny Westerman Old Timers Game returns Thursday, July 28, at Swartz Field.

For more information on the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, visit freeportinternationals.com or facebook.com/FreeportInternationalBaseballInvitationalFibi.