Liberty officials support 1 youth baseball league

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, 1:56a.m. Updated 15 hours ago

Liberty officials say there's room for only one youth baseball league in their borough.

Councilors arrived at that position during Monday's meeting when resident Don Rudberg asked if he could use local fields for an alternate baseball league he hopes to form this spring.

Rudberg said he has about a dozen children interested in playing for the South Allegheny Baseball League he is forming.

The borough already supports the long-standing youth league Liberty Borough Athletic Association. Liberty officials said they would continue that support.

Rudberg said he was involved with that league for years, but he wants to form an alternate league because the former has lost too many players to neighboring leagues over the years.

I want my kids to play in Liberty borough, he said.

Rudberg, who asked for access to borough fields and permission to hold registration events at the borough building, said he believes he could offer a cheaper, better alternative to the current youth baseball program.

Liberty Borough Athletic Association members attending the meeting were opposed to the formation of a second local league. Association president Eric Uziel acknowledged enrollment numbers have decreased, but said that is a trend for most youth leagues in the area.

Everybody's numbers are down, said Uziel, noting that sports have to compete with plenty of other activities when it comes to holding the interest of children.

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Liberty officials support 1 youth baseball league