A Local Home Run

WHEN A T-BALL PLAYER stepsup to the plate and hits the ball for the first time, it’s a thrill for the child, the parents and the coach. This type of scenario, along with the excitement of home runs and strikeouts, can be seen at Lookout Park and the Sol Feinstone fields starting in spring.

Every year, more than 200 kids ranging from 4-year-olds to teenagers can be seen playing this national pastime as part of the Upper Makefield Youth Baseball and Softball League. What started with just four T-ball teams in 1977 has grown to 20 baseball and softball recreational teams and four travel teams.

Upper Makefield resident George Strachan was on the league’s board for 25 years starting in 1980 and served as a past chairman of the board of Parks and Recreation. He says the league initially only had an open piece of ground behind the elementary school for kids to play, and over the years he worked with other volunteers, along with the township, to add all the current fields.

As the initial crew of players got older, travel teams were added. Nicknamed the Mavs (based off the movie “Top Gun”), it’s still the name used today. Strachan says that since its inception, the league has maintained an important mission.

“Our league tried to establish standards and goals for everyone who played or coached,” he says. “We wanted to teach them that if you’re a good teammate and part of a group effort, success was possible. And those lessons could be taken into other parts of life, whether it’s school or a career.”

CAMARADERIE AT THE CORE

The organization is completely volunteer-run and self-funded. The league oversees and pays for field and facility maintenance, and any monetary upgrades to them. The board members also handle registration, uniforms, equipment, rosters, scheduling, fundraising and finding sponsors.

The current board of directors consists of David Murdza (president), Michael Castello (vice president), Melissa Paparone (secretary) and Ray Myslinski (treasurer). Murdza says the entire board works well together because members all share the goal of providing kids an opportunity to learn about a fun sport and make friends.

“Whether it’s the recreational teams or the travel teams, it’s all about the camaraderie,” Murdza says. “You see these kids form friendships and enjoy being around each other. We hear them in the dugout between drills, and they genuinely enjoy being with each other.”

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

The Upper Makefield teams are part of the River League, which includes towns along the river in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Castello grew up playing baseball in Upper Makefield and now coaches his children here.

“The league was always so focused on making sure every kid got a chance to play,” he says. “It wasn’t about winning, it was more about learning the right way to play and the right way to have fun. And even now, we still focus on the kids trying their best [and] teaching them skills, teamwork and being respectful.”

Many board members coach multiple teams, and they all say the hard work is worth it. “My favorite part is being out there with the kids and getting them to appreciate the game they are playing,” says Myslinski. “It’s great getting to know them. It’s fun to watch their personalities come out over time and see them progress.”

Paparone played softball for 30 years and decided to become a coach for her daughters when she saw there were no other women coaches. She says it was important to sign up for this position to show her kids and teammates that women can lead teams, too. There are now four female coaches.

“The reward for me is wonderful memories with the kids, but also seeing little girls go from being afraid of the softball to being able to run and throw and catch in the course of a season,” she says. “And when they make contact with the ball and hit it, it’s so fun to watch.”

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY

Upper Makefield Youth Baseball and Softball League is about more than just the games; it’s an organization that brings the community together on many levels.

The support it receives ranges from Sol Feinstone Elementary School principal John Harlan throwing out the first pitch at opening day to local small businesses sponsoring teams. Also, on May 17, the league will host the third annual Battle of the Badges between the Upper Makefield Township Police Department and the Upper Makefield Volunteer Fire Company, which is a free event for everyone.

“I like the fact that we still have a small-town feel, and we have the opportunity to have small community baseball and softball teams like we do; it feels more personal,” Castello says. “That’s why I liked coming back to Upper Makefield.”

The league has had a lasting impact on Strachan and his family. Strachan’s son George was an avid baseball player, but sadly, in 1989 at 12 years old, he passed away from cancer. Members decided to dedicate their best field to him the following season. It was rebuilt and renamed the George L. Strachan IV Memorial Field, also known as George’s Field. Since the dedication, countless kids have played there, including Strachan’s grandson.

“People come through the league over the years, and they find out more about George because we have a monument and his story is on the website,” Strachan says. “We as a league take great pride in that field, and it’s a great place to play,”

A GRAND-SLAM FUTURE

As players age out of the league, many try out for their middle school and high school teams. A few have even been recruited for colleges and drafted by the major leagues.

The success of the Upper Makefield Youth Baseball and Softball League is attributed to its continued support from volunteers and the community for almost five decades.

“My hope is that we can grow our organization and keep it sustainable for a long time,” Murdza says. “I think introducing it at a younger age [means] those are the kids who are going to fall in love with the game and hopefully stay in the league for five to seven years. At the end of the day, we are giving kids a place to learn the skills of the sport, become good citizens and build something great for the community."

BY DARI KOTZKER