St. Bart’s begins its 46thSeason The St. Bart’s Old-timers Softball League held its annual player draft on April 5. In a tradition dating back to the formation of the league, captains selected players from a hat. This format makes it easy to meet players from other teams, in what sometimes seems more like a fraternity than a softball league. Several players, eager to hear of their new teams and reconnect with friends after a long winter, attended this very exciting event. Teams, captains, and sponsors are listed below: St. Anthony – Captain Bob Comisa Sponsor Sideline Sports St. George – Captain Jeff Friedlander Sponsor Friedlander Associates, Inc.
St. Francis – Ben LoBrace – Sponsor Franklin LoBrace St. Justin – Captain Mike Cunningham Sponsor Family Investors St. Vincent – Captain Keith Karyczak Sponsor Rosenfarb Acupuncture St. Wolfgang – Captain Rich Polhamus Sponsor Rossi Funeral Home St. Ignatius – Captain Bob McGuiness Sponsor TNJ Farms St. Sebastian – Captain Wells Pikaart Sponsor WIT Screen Printing & Promos “Commish” Jim Killeen bid farewell, but not goodbye, to longtime league veterans Larry “Jeans” Szenyi and Joe Tilocca who are both hanging up their cleats after several summers roaming the bases at Brookside Park. The first round started with the pitchers’ pool and saw Pete Chemidlin selected by St. Justin with the top overall pick.
The draft continued to snake through all the positions until the rosters were filled. After sizing up the teams, league pundits have identified St. Wolfgang as the odds-on favorite to bring home the trophy on Labor Day. This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, awarded to the last player selected in the draft, goes to St. Justin’s Nate Mangiris.
Opening day is May 2 at Brookside Park. Attendance is free for the first 100 spectators! For more information about the league, please visit https://www.stbartssoftball.com
