30th anniversary Freeport International Baseball Invitational put smiles on faces
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Chuck Sarver woke up Sunday morning, the day after this year’s Freeport International Baseball Invitational had concluded with the annual all-star game and fireworks celebration, and couldn’t help but smile.
The FIBI president was grateful the 30th anniversary week of activities, which included more than 50 youth baseball games at several fields throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley, was full of success.
Rain that canceled the first scheduled game last Monday at Freeport Borough’s James E. Swartz Memorial Field stayed away for the remainder of the week, and more than two dozen teams got into the swing of things.
No trophies or prizes were on the line. Instead, the competition upheld the Freeport International’s motto, “For the Love of the Game.”
“I was so happy that we were blessed with such good weather,” Sarver said. “That is the No. 1 issue with the fields we use. I think about the combination of everything from Australia coming to town and playing the whole week and all of the games. This couldn’t happen each year without so many dedicated people, from the volunteers, the coaches, the kids that play, to the host families. Everybody came together to make this week so special.”
Australia was the lone international team, but the Aussie Drop Bears made an impact, playing nine games and bringing fun, solid baseball and much of their culture to Freeport.
The team plans to depart Wednesday morning with some players heading home and others joining family members on continued ventures within the U.S.
Darren King, who came to Sarver after last year’s International with the prospect of having Australia come to Freeport, was at the field Saturday night with his family. King was the coach of the first Australian team to play in Freeport.
“Darren’s daughter, when they got ready to go after the fireworks, was crying. She didn’t want to leave,” Sarver said. “His wife was crying, but she wanted to get home to see their son who is soon going into the air force. It was the first time his wife and daughter were here during the International week.
“I told Matt Cavill, who initiated a lot of this through Darren, that this is different than any other tournament you will go to because it is for the love of the game. There’s no pressure to have to win a game.”
Players from the Cleveland contingent teamed with the Australian players to form one side of Saturday’s all-star game against a group representing the A-K Valley and Pittsburgh-area teams.
“It was such a good time,” Sarver said. “It was so upbeat.”
The Australian contingent, Sarver said, hopes to come back next year and bring as many as three teams.
“I told them they are invited every year,” Sarver said.
Sarver said planning and throwing out ideas for next year’s International already have begun. It’s always a time to think about other international teams making the trip to Freeport to play.
“I’ve been negotiating with a guy from Freeport who has connections in Poland,” Sarver said. “It’s important that the process starts now. There is so much that goes into bringing an international team here.”
The Freeport International honored the memory of two of Freeport’s own before games Friday and Saturday at Swartz Field.
Corey Comperatore, the Freeport man shot and killed while protecting his family in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump two weeks ago, was recognized with a moment of silence before Friday’s 8 p.m. game.
Dylan Tarbi, the young Freeport student struck and killed while riding his bike in May, was remembered Saturday before the USA/International all-star game.
A raffle for Tarbi’s No. 88 Freeport baseball jersey collected more than $300 to benefit the Dylan Tarbi Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Thursday’s old-timers game brought more than 30 players, both newcomers and others with several years of experience in the event, together for an evening of relaxed baseball in front of a large crowd that enjoyed the festive atmosphere in perfect weather conditions.
And, like last year, this year’s game went down to the wire with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh.
Sarver said the Freeport International staff and committee, as well as anyone else who wishes to attend, will meet Sept. 11 to take stock of the past week and look ahead to the 2025 International next July.
“You have to have your heart into it,” Sarver said. “You can’t say, ‘Let’s start in June and figure this all out.’ We’re rolling right now.”