Mar 20, 2016 3 min read

The opportunity to allow Charleroi Youth Baseball Association players to showcase their talents under the lights was enough motivation.

The ability to potentially bring baseball and softball fans into the borough and have them patronize local restaurants and shops could be an important impact.

Recently, the board guiding Charleroi Community Park had lights erected at the Pony Field in downtown Charleroi.

The plan is to highlight Charleroi High School girls softball games, along with Pinto, Mustang, Bronco and Pony League games for the Charleroi Youth Baseball teams.

The board and its trustees received grants from Washington County Tourism, Pittsburgh Pirates Charities and First Energy Corp., according to Mark Alterice, chairman of the board; and Sam Pager, president of CYB and a member of the board of trustees.

The men said Washington County Tourism provided a $35,000 matching grant, Pirates Charities chipped in $5,200 and First Energy gave $1,000 toward the project. CYB also provided financial support through fundraising efforts.

In addition to the lights at the Pony field, CYB upgraded the backstop there and at Veterans Memorial Field, which is home to the Charleroi High School baseball team and CYB’s Colt League team.

“We’re trying to accommodate as many kids as we can with this,” Pager said. “It has absolutely created excitement and opportunities for us to raise more money through both open and possible Pony-sanctioned tournaments. You can never raise too much money if you are helping kids.

“We think this will help the community. We think tournaments will bring people to the town and if they are coming in for baseball, we think they will eat and shop here as well.”

Alterice said the $125,000 project, includes six light poles, a portable pitcher’s mound and tons of enthusiasm.

“It’s something that needed to be done,” Alterice said. “It’s our responsibility to improve recreation in the Charleroi community. Honestly, this has been a two- to two-and-a-half-year project, but it is something that’s been talked about for 10 years. With CYB willing to make a commitment, it was something we all wanted to get done.”

CYB is part of the Vesta Youth Baseball League and becomes the second member community to have the ability to play night games. Monessen previously was the lone community in Vesta with the ability to play games under the lights with Pinto, Mustang and Bronco games at Columbus Park field and Pony games at City Park.

Lorie Rogers Celaschi, a mother of a youth baseball player, said the lights have created an excitement for the season and an enthusiasm to get the games started.

“It’s what the kids are talking about,” she said. “It should be fun for them.”

Alterice added that there might be an opportunity for CYB and the Pony field to host an area Pitch, Hit and Run competition that is operated by Major League Baseball. He said a decision on that might come in April or May.

“The lights certainly will allow there to be much more activity there,” Alterice said. “The more activity, the better for the community.”

Pager said the plan is to have the field in operation from 4-10 p.m. and the hope is the concession stand will provide money for CYB’s future projects.

“This is all positive,” Pager said. “We’re hoping to bring revenue into the community. It will give us the chance to play games under the lights. We’re hoping this will help everybody.”