When last year’s Freeport International Baseball Invitational wrapped up, plans already were in the works for this year’s event, the 29th installment of the Alle-Kiski Valley summer tradition.

Meetings, phone calls, emails and other planning sessions over the past 12 months have come down to just a few days left until Monday evening’s opener.

A young team from France will face an area travel squad Monday at 8 p.m. at James E. Swartz Memorial Field in Freeport.

FIBI president Chuck Sarver said the contest with international flair should whet the appetite for local baseball fans eager to have the 24 scheduled teams play on five area fields from Tuesday through Saturday.

“We’re all pumped up for this week,” Sarver said.

“We’re making some final preparations at (Swartz Field). We just had a load of dirt delivered, and we’re doing some other small touch-ups to be ready for Monday. We’re always excited for what we know will be a great weeks of games. Hopefully, we have a great week of weather.”

Games involving the two dozen teams will be at Swartz Field, the centralized hub for all of the Freeport International activities, as well as fields at Northmoreland Park and Freeport Community Park, and at Highlands and Armstrong high schools.

“We’re again blessed to have so many quality fields to host games,” Sarver said.

Sarver said the list of teams and the game schedule were finalized over the past couple of days. He said the schedule always is subject to change in the final days leading up to the first full day of matchups.

The coaches for all of the teams will meet Monday to work out any bugs in the schedule. It is another feel-good moment of the week where camaraderie is on display and the best interests of the players are at heart.

“This is such a year-round effort from everyone,” FIBI vice president Dave Brestensky said. “We do the best we can making contact with a number of international teams. We’re grateful for all of the volunteers who run the concession stand and those who are working hard to get ready for this week. It’s a big undertaking each year, but it’s worth it.”

The French team — the Hawks — is a younger version (ages 13 and 14) of last year’s team from the same league and location: La Guerche de Bretagne, a town of approximately 4,000 about 185 miles west of Paris.

The Hawks arrived in the U.S. a couple of days ago and are in the midst of a series of games in Manhattan through Sunday before they make the drive to Freeport and arrive in the late afternoon Monday.

After a chance to stretch their legs from the drive, the Hawks will prepare for their first game Monday evening against the Backyard Bucs, a travel team with players from communities including Fox Chapel, Natrona Heights, Freeport, Oakmont and Moon Township.

The Hawks are scheduled to play the Freeport Stingers on Tuesday at 8.

They will play every day and also will face teams from Burrell (Tuesday, 2 p.m.) and Armstrong (Saturday, 2 p.m.) during the week of activities.

“They are kind of like us with the fall season. They are getting their kids ready,” Brestensky said. “They also have a couple of girls on the team, and they said there are promising prospects in the organization.”

A number of the Hawks players again will stay with host families.

Other team members who were not able to be placed with a host family will stay at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek in Ford City.

Kayaking, swimming and other activities will be available to the entire team when they are not at the field for a game.

“We were very blessed to find that location,” Sarver said. “We wish we could’ve found housing for all the players, but this is a really nice alternative. It is a lot less money than putting them in a hotel, and it’s a nicer environment for them.”

While most of the teams are from the A-K Valley and the Pittsburgh region, Sarver said he is excited to welcome a trio of teams from the T3 Warhawks organization based in Cleveland as well as Freeport International mainstay Mercyhurst Prep Colt and Palomino teams from Erie.

“(The Warhawks) have three different age groups, and were looking forward to having them come down for some good baseball games,” Sarver said.

A tradition continues Thursday evening with the Sunny Westerman Old Timers Game at 8 p.m.

The week-ending all-star game returns to Saturday evening with fireworks to cap the week of activities.

Earlier in the day Saturday — 7 a.m. — runners of all ages and abilities will take to the streets of Freeport and surrounding areas for the annual John “Cossy” Costantino 5K and 10K races.

Sarver said those who would like to volunteer during the week always are welcome and can do so by emailing fibisecretary@gmail.com.

For more information on the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, visit freeportinternationals.com/. On the main page are links to the FIBI’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Freeport International Baseball Invitational

Schedule

(Subject to change)

James E Swartz Memorial Field, Freeport Borough

Monday

France (Hawks) vs Backyard Bucs, 8 p.m.

Tuesday

St. Joe’s vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 11 a.m.

France (Hawks), 2 p.m.

Valley Players vs. NWO, 5 p.m.

France (Hawks) vs. Freeport Stingers, 8 p.m.

Wednesday

St. Joe’s vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 11 a.m.

Mercyhurst Palomino vs. East Butler, 2 p.m.

Mercyhurst Colt vs. Mixed Nutrition, 5 p.m.

Titans vs. Mixed Nutrition, 8 p.m.

Thursday

Mixed Nutrition vs. Warhawks 18U

France (Hawks) vs. Barnyard Chickens, 2 p.m.

Mashing Pumpkins vs. Valley Players, 5 p.m.

Old-Timers Game 8 p.m.

Friday

Warhawks 18U vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 11 a.m.

East Butler vs. Warhawks 14U, 2 p.m.

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

Mercyhurst Palomino vs. Warhawks 18U

Saturday

Freeport Palomino vs. Mercyhurst Colt, 11 a.m.

Freeport Palomino vs. Mercyhurst Palomino, 2 p.m.

Mashing Pumpkins vs. Titans, 5 p.m.

All-Star Game, 8 p.m.

Freeport Community Park

Wednesday

Freeport Palomino vs. Warhawks 18U, 5 p.m.

Thursday

Freeport Palomino vs. Titans, 5 p.m.

Friday

Freeport Palomino vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 2 p.m.

Highlands High School

Tuesday

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

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

Wednesday

Highlands JV vs. Barnyard Chickens 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Mashing Pumpkins, 8 p.m.

Thursday

Highlands JV vs. Warhawks 14U, 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Titans, 8 p.m.

Friday

Highlands JV vs. France (Hawks), 2 or 5 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. Valley Players, 8 p.m.

Saturday

Highlands JV vs. Titans, 2 p.m.

Highlands Varsity vs. NWO, 5 p.m.

Armstrong

Tuesday

Barnyard Chickens vs. Warhawks 14U, 2 p.m.

AIA 16U vs. Warhawks 13U, 5 p.m.

Wednesday

NWO vs. Barnyard Chickens, 2 p.m.

Armstrong 13U vs. Warhawks 14U

Thursday

Armstrong 15U vs. Saxonburg, 2 p.m.

AIA 16U vs. Saxonburg, 5 p.m.

Friday

Armstrong 15U vs. Barnyard Chickens, 11 a.m.

Barnyard Chickens vs. St. Joe’s, 2 p.m.

AIA 16U vs. NOW, 5 p.m.

Saturday

Armstrong 13U vs. Warhawks 13U, 11 a.m.

Armstrong 13U vs. France (Hawks), 2 p.m.

Armstrong 15U vs. Warhawks 14U, 5 p.m.

Northmoreland Park

Tuesday

Warhawks 13U vs. Armstrong 15U, 2 p.m.

Mixed Nutrition vs. Warhawks 18U, 5 p.m.

Wednesday

France (Hawks) vs. Warhawks 13U, 2 p.m.

Warhawks 13U vs. St. Joe’s, 5 p.m.

Thursday

Mercyhurst Colt vs. St. Joe’s, 2 p.m.

Mercyhurst Palomino vs. NWO, 5 p.m.

Friday

Mixed Nutrition vs. Titans, 2 p.m.

Mixed Nutrition vs. Valley Players, 5 p.m.

Saturday

Valley Players vs. Warhawks 18U, 11 a.m.

NWO vs. East Butler, 2 p.m.

Mixed Nutrition vs. East Butler, 5 p.m.

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