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Puerto Rican baseball team coming to FIBI

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Jason Bridge | Tribune-Review
The International team takes the field as they play the United States in the final game to end the Freeport Invitational at James Swartz Field in Freeport on Saturday, July 30, 2016.

When the 24th annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational gets underway Tuesday, it will again have a full team from outside the continental United States.

After not being able to secure an overseas presence last year, the FIBI will welcome back a team from Puerto Rico run by Eddy and Jeannie Arroyo.

The Arroyos have brought teams to the FIBI in the past, last coming in 2015. This time there were challenges, namely the devastation caused to Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria last year.

“I called Jeannie a few months ago, and they weren’t sure if they could make it with all of the things going on down there after the hurricane last year,” FIBI president Chuck Sarver said. “They were hesitant, but we are paying for their travel expenses to help them get up here. She said the kids are excited to get out of the town for a little while.”

Games will be played at Freeport
Community Park, James Swartz Memorial Field, Springdale Junior-Senior High School, Armstrong High School and Ford City.

Seventeen teams are participating.

Aside from the Puerto Rican team, the other international flavor at the event will come from the Tri-Con Roos. A trio of players from Japan and Australia and FIBI regular Nick Leahy will be part of the Tri-Con.

A couple of players from Texas are also on Tri-Con, and local players will fill out the roster.

There is a full out-of-state team coming to the event for the first time in several years in Crab U of Maryland.

The FIBI will honor its late founder Sonny Westerman with a ceremony an hour before the annual Old-Timers game, set for 8 p.m. Thursday at Swartz Field. Westerman died a few weeks before last year’s event.

Several of Westerman’s former Legion players are expected to attend. Rob Sanders of Kentucky is scheduled to speak at the memorial. Sanders wrote a detailed thank you letter to Westerman after the first FIBI that can be viewed on the event’s website, Fortheloveofthegame.org. Sarver said there will be several testimonials read from international teams that have participated in the past.

Tom McGough, a former Cleveland Indians pitcher and longtime friend of Westerman, will emcee the event.

“We thought about doing something for Sonny each night, but his wife Marilyn couldn’t come every night, so we decided to consolidate it into one big event,” Sarver said. “I think it’ll be a good turnout. If anyone wants to say something in between innings of the Old-Timers game, then we’ll let them do that.”

Fernando Gonzalez, who had a six-year major league career, including four years with the Pirates in the early 1970s, is expected to play in the Old Timers game. Gonzalez is coming with the Puerto Rican team.

The FIBI is bringing back a futures tournament for players 9-12 after a several-year hiatus.

Darren King, who brought the first Australian team to the FIBI, is bringing his son to play in the futures tournament for a team called Tri-Con Valley.

Six teams are scheduled to play. Games will be Friday and Saturday at Lampus Field at Springdale.

“We’ve done it in the past, and it’s something we’re happy to have back,” Sarver said. “We’re going to have them come down to the (Swartz field) on Saturday and recognize them.”

The week will finish with the annual USA vs. the World game 8 p.m. Saturday at Swartz Field. A postgame fireworks display will follow at 10 p.m., capping off the event.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.