JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Snow remained on the turf at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point, but Prospect League baseball returned to Johnstown Tuesday.
The now 20-team league opened its annual two-day preseason meeting, with the Johnstown Mill Rats serving as host.
Representatives from each franchise attended meetings Tuesday at Holiday Inn Johnstown-Downtown and will resume discussions Wednesday.
Prospect League Commissioner David Brauer and Mill Rats General Manager Sarah Finlay led the gathering of 30 league representatives – owners, general managers, managers – on an afternoon tour of Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.
A dinner at Balance Restaurant on Main Street followed.
“Super-cool to be able to bring everyone here who might not get the chance to see Johnstown,” Finlay said. “We showed off the stadium. We were able to support our sponsors and local businesses. We’re staying at the Holiday Inn and that’s where we’re having our meeting. It’s cool to show off Johnstown a little bit.”
The league will welcome two new Midwest franchises – the Kokomo Creek (Indiana) Chubs and Decatur (Illinois) Baseball.
“If there’s a market that makes sense, you’re always looking to add them to the league and strengthen the league,” Brauer said. “The eastern side of the footprint, it’s no secret that it’s an area of focus.
“Kokomo was a phenomenal market that became available,” the commissioner added. “Having a location like Decatur that really does a great job of shortening a lot of the road trips for teams will cut expenses. We’re trying to keep moving east to shore up that location.”
A sixth-year Prospect League franchise, the Mill Rats once again will play in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
“Coming here – or to any of our teams’ location – is an opportunity to give some exposure to our markets,” Brauer said. “It’s really good to be able to showcase Johnstown at our league meeting. Being on the far east end of the league footprint, not every team gets here during the season, and the directors usually don’t travel with the team.”