International component of Freeport baseball event back with presence of French team

The Freeport International Baseball Invitational is back this week, and dozens of games over the next five days are scheduled on fields throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley.

A highlight of the 28th annual event is a team from France, which will play a series of games as part of a tour of America that will see it head to New York City on Saturday.

Because of its early departure, the French team opened play Monday evening, a day earlier than normal, against a team from Freeport at the FIBI hub, James E. Swartz Memorial Field in Freeport Borough.

The rest of France’s schedule has it playing games at 2 and 5 p.m. Tuesday at Springdale High School; at 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesday at Armstrong High School and Swartz Field, respectively; at 2 p.m. Thursday at Armstrong; and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday at Swartz Field.

The annual USA vs. International game, normally played Saturday at 8 p.m. will be Friday this year so the French players will be able to play, FIBI president Chuck Sarver said.

France is the first international team to play at the Freeport International since 2019.

Sarver said close to two dozen teams from throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley, Pittsburgh region and Erie are set to join the French team for games this week at six area locations. In addition to Swartz Field, games are set for Freeport Community Park; a pair of fields at Northmoreland Park; and at Highlands, Armstrong and Springdale high schools.

The coaches for the participating teams met Monday before the France-Freeport game to hammer out the final few scheduling details.

Sarver said excitement had been building over the final couple of weeks of preparation as discussions continued with teams about joining what he called an already impressive field of teams from throughout the region.

Sarver noted there will be a “high-profile” game Saturday evening at 8 to be followed by the fireworks display at 10.

As part of the logistics in place to host the fireworks display, FIBI officials said the boat dock on First Street in Freeport will be closed from 12 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Sunday.

The traditional Sunny Westerman Old Timers Game returns Thursday at 8 p.m. at Swartz Field and is expected to draw another big crowd.

For more information on the week’s festivities at the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, visit freeportinternationals.com, facebook.com/FreeportInternationalBaseballInvitationalFibi, and mobile.twitter.com/fibi2018.

Tuesday’s schedule

At Kiski

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. Freeport, 5 p.m.

At Springdale

Springdale vs. France, 2 p.m.

France vs. NWO, 5 p.m.

At Armstrong

BCB vs. AIA 15U, 2 p.m.

BCB vs. Lake Erie Warhawks, 5 p.m.

At Highlands

Highlands JV vs. Millcreek, 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Kiski, 8 p.m.

At Freeport Park

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. Kiski, 2 p.m.

Freeport 14U vs. AIA 14U, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Boro

Millcreek vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 2 p.m.

Mercyhurst PAL vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 5 p.m.

Mercyhurst Colt vs. Saxonburg, 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s schedule

At Kiski

Kiski vs. Mercyhurst PAL, 2 p.m.

KIski U14 vs. Burrell U14, 5 p.m.

At Springdale

Mashing Pumpkins vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 2 p.m.

Springdale vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 5 p.m.

At Armstrong

France vs. AIA 15U, 2 p.m.

AIA U14 vs. Saxonburg, 5 p.m.

At Highlands

Highlands JV vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Mercyhurst PAL, 8 p.m.

At Freeport Park

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. NWO, 2 p.m.

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. Lake Erie Warhawks, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Boro

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. BCB, 2 p.m.

BCB vs. Kiski, 5 p.m.

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. France, 8 p.m.

Thursday’s schedule

At Kiski

Kiski U14 vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 5 p.m.

At Springdale

Springdale vs. Millcreek, 2 p.m.

Millcreek vs. NWO, 5 p.m.

At Armstrong

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. France, 1 p.m.

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. AIA 15U, 5 p.m.

At Highlands

Highlands Varsity vs. BCB, 5 p.m.

Highlands JV vs. BCB, 8 p.m.

At Freeport Park

Mercyhurst PAL vs. Freeport Summer Jackets, 2 p.m.

Mercyhurst Colt vs. Freeport Summer Jackets, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Boro

Saxonburg vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 2 p.m.

Kiski vs. Mercyhurst PAL, 5 p.m.

Old timers game, 8 p.m.

Friday’s schedule

At Kiski

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. Kiski, 2 p.m.

Kiski U154 vs. Saxonburg, 5 p.m.

At Springdale

Springdale vs. BCB, 5 p.m.

At Armstrong

AIA 14U vs. Burrell 14U, 2 p.m.

AIA 14U vs. Freeport 14U, 5 p.m.

At Highlands

Mercyhurst PAL vs. BCB, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Park

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 2 p.m.

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. Kiski, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Boro

Mercyhurst Colt vs. France, 11 a.m.

France vs. NWO, 2 p.m.

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. TBA, 5 p.m.

International vs. U.S., 8 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule

At Kiski

Kiski vs. BCB, 11 a.m.

Kiski U14 vs. Saxonburg, 2 p.m.

At Springdale

Springdale vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 2 p.m.

NWO vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 5 p.m.

At Armstrong

AIA 15U vs. NWO, 2 p.m.

AIA 14U vs. Burrell 14U, 5 p.m.

At Highlands

Highlands JV vs. Saxonburg, 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Lake Erie Warhawks, 8 p.m.

At Freeport Park

Millcreek vs. Freeport 14U, 2 p.m.

Freeport Summer Jackets vs. Springdale, 5 p.m.

At Freeport Boro

Freeport U14 vs. Burrell U14, 11 a.m.

Lake Erie Warhawks vs. Mercyhurst PAL, 2 p.m.

Millcreek vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 5 p.m.

BCB vs. Freeport Summer Jackets, 8 p.m.