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NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Hello everyone! My name is Joe Lunger and I'll be taking over for Mike Hayes as the President of our Coaches Association. As you can see in this newsletter a lot has happened since our last meeting or communication. I have a tough act to follow. Mike Hayes has done a tremendous job as our first President. Mike was instrumental in getting the organization off the ground, from out by-laws to our first membership drive. I also need to thank Mike for two successful Pa. vs. Ohio Senior All-Star Games. Mike was also responsible for our alliances with Klawog-Klawon, Worth Baseball and Pro-Line Cap Co. I hope he isn't done yet, I need his help!
While I'm on the subject, I want to remind everybody about our working relationships with Worth and Pro-Line. Please use Worth baseballs and Pro-Line Baseball caps, by using these two manufactures, it benefits our associa tion greatly. Now for our future goals. First, we need to grow in membership. If we are ever going to have a real voice in anything that happens with the P.I.A.A. we need to grow as an association. This is very important if we are ever going to attain our main objective of getting twenty-four games and three scrimmages, like most of our surrounding states. This year a proposal was made to the P.I.A.A. for our baseball teams to be permitted to play twenty-two games. It was shot down be the committee. This is one of our main priorities, and we need a stronger voice to make this happen!
Second, we would like to have some input on our play-off structure and once again, this is directly related to our membership members, whether we are taken seriously or not.
Third, we want to begin a coaches poll for state rankings and players to watch. This can only enhance the baseball program for our kids, and get them the respect they deserve. Also we will be playing our third Pa. vs. Ohio All-Star Game in Erie this year. Remember, if you are not a member of our association, your kids can not participate in this game. It is truly a shame if you have a
player or players that deserve to be in this game and can not pl ay! It is tough to explain when they ask why!
Finally, we need to start to plan what we are going to do at the B.C.A. National Convention which is going to be held in Pittsburgh this year. We need to have a strong showing for this event. If we ever want to see the convention come back to Pennsylvania we have to make this a convention to remember!
I am looking forward to meeting all of you at our next meeting! I know that if we all work together we can make things happen!
2000 Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee a Huge Success
Pittsburgh Next Stop For BCAThe 2000 BCA clinic was held in Knoxville, Tennessee. Friday, December 1st, the clinic kicked off with University of Tennessee head Coach, Rod Delmonico. Next speaker was Ron Davini from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona. Mack Hawks, from Oakland (TN) High School was the next to present followed by Coach Paul Belo from William Fremd (IL) High School. John Pawlowski from the College of Charleston finished up the evening clinic sessions however the fun was just getting under way. A smoker sponsored by the Ohio Coaches Association went into the wee hours of the night. Baseball, chicken wings and beverages, it doesn't get any better.
Ron Polk from the University of Georgia started Saturday's sessions. Doug Schreiber from Purdue University was next followed by Steve Peter son from Middle Tennessee State. Three High School Coaches, Tony Abbatine from Frozen Ropes (NY), Romy Cucjen, Evangel Christian (LA) Academy and Sammy Dunn from Vestavia Hills (AL), gave great presentations about their prospective programs.
A tour of the University of Tennessee's athletic complex was scheduled for Sunday along with speakers Ron Bradley, Claremore (OK) High School, and David Ewing from Otterbein (OH) College.
Pennsylvania Coaches Association Past President, Mike Hayes, and Secretary/Treasure elect, Brian Fuller, picked up many nuggets of information to add to their coaching notebooks.
Pittsburgh will host the 2001 BCA clinic. More information will be given as the Pittsburgh clinic approaches. The coaches in Knoxville are excited about coming to Pittsburgh. With the new stadium tour tentatively on the schedule it should be an exciting weekend.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE NEWSLETTER?
We are looking for coaches to contribute articles to the newsletter. These articles could relate to any number of things. Your program, special drills, tournaments in your area, player profiles, etc. are some examples of what we are looking for. To contribute, please send your articles to:
McDowell Intermediate H.S.
C/O Brian Fuller
3320 Caughey Road
Erie, PA 16506
PICTURE YOURSELF IN "HOT CORNER"
This newsletter will be published three times a year, Fall, Winter, Spring. Send your articles with a Head & Shoulders photo to:
Brian Fuller
McDowell Intermediate HS
3320 Caughey Road
Erie, PA 16506 PHSBCA
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The first ever state-wide preseason coaches poll will take place this year. With your application, (if you are a new member) list the top schools in your district. You can vote for three schools in each classi fication. Please be unbiased during your voting, this poll will go to the national association which will submit it to the USA Today poll. If you are a current member you can submit your votes to my E-mail: mhayes@trojan.mtsd.org
Three for AAA
Three for AA
Three for A
PHSBCA WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING
Thanks to Todd Duncan for all the hard work in the getting the state association website created. Log onto <http://phsbca.freeservers.com> to get the latest updates involving the association. You will find a corkboard to post questions or comments that can be answered by fellow association members. We are hoping to have player profiles, team profiles, and state rankings listed on the site. If you have any questions or suggestions on how to improve the website leave a posting on the corkboard and it will be addressed.
PIAA WILL CHOOSE NEW BASEBALL IN 2002
The PIAA is in the process of taking bids for an official baseball. The Wilson baseball contract is up after 2001. For those coaches who used the BCA WORTH Baseball this past year you know the quality of baseball it is and when purchasing this ball it really helps our association. Contact your PIAA District Chairman and let them know that the BCA WORTH is a quality Baseball at a lower price then its competitors.
Respectfully,
Joe Lunger
Past President Mike Hayes McDowell High School President Joe Lunger Villa Maria High School 1st Vice President Harry Miller Franklin High School 2nd Vice President Tim McQuenney Harbor Creek High School Secretary Treasurer Dick Sembower Northwestern High School Secretary Treasurer Elect Brian Fuller McDowell High School