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| Damon Arnold (Asst. Coach), Peter Blandino (Mayor) Patrick Brown (General Mgr.) & Mike Hurley (Marketing Agent) |
Story by: STEPHANIE L. KNARR
Photo by: Mark DeCracker
Overwhelming enthusiasm was on display last night at the Newark Pilots Press Conference hosted at Parker's Grille. Area merchants, members of the Newark Chamber of Commerce and local officials were in attendance stirring up the excitement that Newark will once again have a baseball team at Colburn Park.
Patrick Brown, General Manager of the Newark Pilots, who will oversee the day to day operations of the ball team comes to the area with over 25 years of sports experience. Mr. Brown’s past positions as GM have earned various awards that show strength in his organizational skills, marketing techniques, and community involvement.
“Pat is a proven baseball General Manager for baseball operations. The Pilots are excited about hiring a Baseball GM with great experience that will facilitate the inaugural season.”, remarks club owner, Bob Ohmann.
Brown discussed the near future plans of the baseball club and its affiliation with the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). Perfect Game will bring the top college and junior college candidates to Upstate New York's ball fields. They will showcase events at several of the area parks to recruit the best of the best of future ball players.
Improvements to Colburn Park are already underway as local officials work alongside the new owners of the team, Bob and Leslie Ohmann. "We work together because we have a common goal and that's to bring baseball back", says Mayor Peter Blandino of the village's joint efforts.
Baseball is no stranger to the Newark area. Colburn Park, located on the east side of Newark, has hosted professional ball leagues since 1968 beginning with teams known as the Newark Co-Pilots, followed by The Orioles; both part of the short season Class A New York-Penn League, then the Newark Barge Bandits; which was part of a now defunct independent North Atlantic League. The New York Collegiate Baseball League also brought to Colburn Park the Newark Raptors.
The league will open its season with seven other clubs from the upstate New York area. These teams are from Albany, Amsterdam, Cooperstown, Elmira, Glens Falls, Mohawk Valley, and Watertown.
An opening day game is being planned for the second weekend in June.
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Videomark Said,
From the Movie "The Field of Dreams"
Terence Mann: Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.
Posted on Thu Dec 09, 08:22:00 AM EST
Anonymous Said,
Many thanks to Bob Ohmann, Pat Brown, Mike Hurley, Newark Mayor Blandino, Chamber of Commerce President John Tickner, and the Village of Newark residents for this great news.!
Posted on Fri Dec 10, 07:22:00 AM EST
Anonymous Said,
Hopefully your reporter knows that Colburn Park is on the EAST side of Newark...unless they plan on moving it... sloppy
Posted on Sun Dec 19, 11:48:00 AM EST
Anonymous Said,
What about the other teams in Newark, will they be able to use the park bathrooms concession stands and all the facilities at the "new improved" park. Who's paying for lights utilities and maitainence. Are we allowing a buisness to operate in our town with our moneey who is benefiting from this
Posted on Mon May 16, 03:53:00 PM EDT
Anonymous Said,
Excited and a real plus for Newark. Thanks
Posted on Mon May 16, 05:46:00 PM EDT
Anonymous Said,
What major league club are they affiliated??
Posted on Mon May 16, 05:47:00 PM EDT