CLEARFIELD – The Potter Baseball Tour, a celebration of youth baseball for a team of players 15-and-under from Pennsylvania and Maryland, visits the Lawrence Township Recreation Park Field Tuesday and Wednesday for 5:30 p.m. games against the Clearfield Babe Ruth League All-Stars and the Punxsutawney Teener League All-Stars.
Kurtis Krise of Bigler and Damon Matson of Brockway are on the PBT team that, starting July 1, was booked for 24 games in as many days at 13 venues.
Krise was a freshman pitcher on the 2010 Clearfield Area High School team.
The aim of the tour organizers is to expose the young players to the baseball history of many different towns and surrounding areas and, for a day or two, bring the people of the community together, just like it was “back in the day.”
On Tuesday, players and coaches for both teams will conduct a Little League Clinic for youths eight through 13 years of age. A clinic t-shirt is included in the $10 fee.
At 11:45, William “Keno” Beezer of Philipsburg and the Major League Scouting Bureau will discus what Major League scouts are looking for in prospects.
After the lunch break, a home run derby for youths in three age groups – 8-and-9, 10-and-11 and 12-and-13 – will get under way at 1 p.m.
The registration fee is $5, with proceeds going to the “Make-a-Wish” Foundation.
Pre-game ceremonies, to be emceed by longtime Clearfield area radio disk jockey, newscaster and sportscaster Bob E. Day, will begin at five o’clock both days with the introduction of Jeff Potter, tour founder and author of “Whatever Happened to Baseball?”
Players for the respective teams also will be introduced, and Clearfield Mayor Jim Schell will throw out the first pitch Tuesday.
Games will be nine innings and include singing of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch.
After the final out, participants will shake hands and exchange gifts.
Adult admission will be $2 for each game.
Potter will be available for book signing both days.
To pre-register for the clinic or derby, or for more information, call Sid Lansberry at 765-5449 or
