Preparations underway for 30th annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational

Pitchers and catchers report to the Pittsburgh Pirates training facility in Florida on Feb. 14, and opening day is March 28 in Miami.

College baseball teams, both locally and throughout the country, begin their seasons next week.

High school baseball preseason practices start March 4 with season openers three weeks later.

This year’s Freeport International Baseball Invitational still is five and a half months away, but just as professional, college and high school baseball enthusiasts are energized by the return of games as spring nears — Punxsutawney Phil said such Feb. 2 — FIBI officials are fueled with enthusiasm for what is in store for the 30th anniversary of the annual summer tradition.

“We start to count down the months when we get past Christmas,” FIBI president Chuck Sarver said. “Things are going great. There is so much to do between now and July, but everyone is excited to get things done and get everything ready.

“With it being the 30th anniversary, it’s brought back a lot of memories from when we started to all the great games and moments. So many people who have been involved for many years and some others who have come on board just recently are really excited for this year. We are also putting a special logo together for this year to celebrate the anniversary.”

Sarver said it wasn’t long after the final out of the closing all-star game was recorded and the final firework was set off bringing last year’s week of baseball to a close that he received an email from an official from a baseball organization in Australia expressing interest in bringing teams to compete this year.

“Darren King, who had brought Australian teams here in the past, introduced me to Matt Cavill from Australia,” Sarver said.

“They are hoping to bring two teams and play several games and do other things during the week. They’re coming over to play in Georgia, and then they are going to the Ripken Experience (in Myrtle Beach). Darren told Matt that he has to come up and play small-town baseball in Freeport. The connection has blossomed from there.”

Sarver said everyone is excited to have as big of an international presence as possible for the 30th anniversary week set for July 22-27 on fields throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Sarver said there has been communication with a baseball organization in Poland, and he hopes talks will materialize with officials from Japan about a few players or a full team making the trip to Freeport.

Sarver said Matt Perry, who brought teams (the Warhawks) from Cleveland to last year’s Freeport International, could be a facilitator for an additional international team.

“Matt called me one day and said they had a lead on a team from Ontario,” Sarver said.

“His teams cross the border and play games. He is working hard on getting this team to sign up. We haven’t had a Canadian team in I don’t know how long.”

Sarver said Gregory Penfornis, the coach of the youth team from France at last year’s Freeport International, hopes to send his daughter back to the states to get additional pitching training.

“We hope it works out to where it’s the week of the international so she could be a part of it again,” Sarver said.

“We could let her play on some of these 13- to 15-year-old teams. She pitched and played very well. That also keeps the door open for France moving forward, maybe next year. You have to do all you can to keep the lines of communication open. Greg is a great ambassador for baseball. That is what makes this all worthwhile.”

The five fields used for games last year, led by James Swartz Memorial Field in Freeport Borough, and also Freeport Community Park, Northmoreland Park and Highlands and Armstrong high schools, Sarver said, are expected to host games again this year.

Traditional events such as the Sonny Westerman Old Timers Game on Thursday, the John “Cossy” Costantino Annual 5K/10K race in Freeport Borough, and the all-star game and fireworks on Saturday will return.

A couple of games Monday will kick off a week of matchups featuring local, regional and international teams.

“We always welcome volunteers for many things throughout the week,” Sarver said.

Freeport International officials are seeking those in Freeport Borough and other communities throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley interested in hosting one or more of the international players during the week of games and events.

Things to expect and be responsible for with housing the players would be breakfast, a packed lunch and three to four dinners; washing uniforms each night, transportation to and from the Freeport field each day; and availability to accompany the player to group activities.

An email will be sent to the host families with information about the players including their name, where they are coming from and contact information.

If anyone is interested in hosting a player or two for the week, they are asked to contact Heidi Powell at 412-629-0200

For more information about this year’s Freeport International, visit Freeport Internationals.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/Freeport InternationalBaseball InvitationalFibi/ and X (formerly Twitter) at twitter.com/FreeportIntl.