photo by: Joselyn King

Beast of the East baseball tournament director Bo McConnaughy addresses Ohio County commissioners this week.

Beast of the East baseball tournament director Bo McConnaughy wants to rebuild the dwindling tournament, and this week he went to bat seeking financial help from Ohio County commissioners.

In the end, his pitch resulted in a $3,000 donation to the tournament.

McConnaughy told commissioners this year’s tournament will mark the 37th year for Beast of the East.

“I would like to thank the commission for the last 36 years that you have donated for this cause,” he said. “You truly helped make the Beast of the East one of the best baseball tournaments in the country.”

The tournament’s biggest expenses are “fields, baseballs and umpires,” according to McConnaughy.

“The amount of money you’ve given us over the years helps defray costs — mainly for baseballs and the stuff we use for the fields,” he said.

Over the years, the tournament attracted as many as 162 teams for competition, McConnaughy continued. Most years, there were 125 to 150 teams participating.

“But ever since COVID came about, that all died,” he explained. “There are several other factors resulting in us not getting the number of teams we used to have.

“Most of the teams used to have sponsors, and now they have to raise their own money. Two, everyone copied our tournament all over the country, and those now don’t have to travel far to get to a good tournament.”

McConnaughy said registrations are ahead of last year’s at this time, and that so far 15 teams have signed up to participate. The goal this year is to have 35 to 50 teams in the tournament.

Another issue facing the tournament are growing costs associated with using local fields. It used to be that the tournament was invited to use the venues at little to no cost, according to McConnaughy. Providers of the field would keep the money generated at the concession stands.

“Since then, we’re using mostly high school baseball fields now, and we really have to give them something,” he told commissioners. “That’s another big expense.”

County Solicitor Don Tennant, also president of the American Legion Athletic Club, agreed the tournament has been “boomeranged” with field expenses in recent years.

“I think he will get 30 teams, I think last year he had 32,” Tennant said. “The fields used to be free. Now there are field costs.”

And many other tournaments have turf fields, he continued.

“When you’re bringing a whole team down to stay for four or five nights, you want a guarantee that you’re going to play,” Tennant said. “When you are using a dirt field, if you get significant rain you might not play for two days.

“With the turf fields, you can play while it’s raining. But you have to pay for them now. Groups with turfed fields have to raise money for their programs.”

Tennant said the cost to participate in Beast of the East is $1,100 per team, and at that rate “he (McConnaughy) might break even.”

Tennant suspects if the tournament continues to be run efficiently, it will be built back to an event that attracts at least 50 teams a year.