STATE COLLEGE – Speculation swirled around the Central Penn League before, during and after the recently-completed season that 2008 possibly would be the last year for one of Pennsylvania\’s oldest scholastic baseball loops because charter members Philipsburg-Osceola, Bald Eagle Area and Bellefonte as well as Central Mountain and Lewistown were making a commitment to the Mountain League, a multi-sports conference for Class AAA and Class AA schools in the eastern region of District 6.
Officially, the CPL will operate in 2009 and beyond.
That was confirmed at the annual post-season dinner meeting of athletic directors, coaches, first-team all-stars and guests in Hoss\’s Steak and Sea House Wednesday night by Clearfield athletic director Jon Mikesell, who has taken on the duties as CPL secretary-treasurer.
Continuing the Central Penn Baseball League with a new look and organizing a Central Penn Softball League were the main items on the agenda for a late May meeting of athletic directors of the remaining seven schools – Clearfield, DuBois and Punxsutawney from District 9, State College, Altoona, Hollidaysburg from District 6 and Williamsport from District 4.
State College is the lone remaining charter member of the league that was formed by the five Centre County high schools in 1957 and evolved into one of the toughest in the state.
Penns Valley, which dropped out several years ago, was the fifth charter member.
Mikesell was hoping action would be taken at the meeting on the addition of softball to the CPL by-laws as well as an application from St. Marys Area High School to join the league during Wednesday\’s meeting.
However, the lack of a quorum of athletic directors forced postponement of those motions until the fall meeting, though Mikesell believes approval of both just will be a formality then.
Also in the works for Clearfield\’s baseball and softball teams next spring is a District 9 League involving DuBois, Brookville, Punxsutawney, St. Marys and Bradford, according to Mikesell.
The Mountain League will have 10 teams in two divisions.
Philipsburg-Osceola, Bald Eagle Area, Penns Valley, Tyrone and Central will comprise the small-school division.
Bellefonte, Central Mountain, Lewistown, Indian Valley and Huntingdon will be in the large-school division.
