Sugar Valley Baseball Brings Back Experience

By John Lipez

LOGANTON, PA – Sugar Valley baseball coach Charles Walizer is working with a sizeable squad this spring. While getting practice time on the field has been a problem this month, the Phoenix has some key returnees on the squad of 19. They include seven lettermen among the eight back from a year ago. The squad has five freshmen and two members of the National Honor Society among its ranks.

  Coach Walizer said, “I believe our biggest strength is the returning players; the majority of them have played together for a while now.”

  “We are looking to build on our offensive production from last year,  only being shut out one time and averaging five runs a game, coach Walizer told The Record, but behind the plate is a concern: “Filling the void at catcher is a big concern for us, with our starting catcher from last year graduating. In addition to the catching void, regaining a sense of team is fundamental after all the time off. We have a lot of multi-sport athletes which makes off/preseason activities difficult to schedule and plan on full attendance.”

  Sugar Valley will again be part of the Mid-Penn Conference and the coach is pleased with that: “I love the Mid-Penn, we get to play very talented teams led by some great coaches, who do this for the right reasons and the right way. I know some teams got hit pretty hard with graduation last year, some in numbers and some in terms of key positions. I expect a tight conference with a high level of competition.”

  As of a week ago, the Phoenix was still hoping to get on its practice field in Loganton, as it takes a while to dry out. Sugar Valley ‘home’ games will be played at Taggart Field in Lock Haven again, coach Walizer noted, thanks to cooperation from the Keystone Babe Ruth organization and the City of Lock Haven. 

  First up on the schedule is a trip this Saturday to Benton for an 11 a.m. contest, then the ‘home’ opener next Tuesday at Taggart Park in Lock Haven against Muncy, game time 4:30 p.m.