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WHEELING -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed yet another sports victim.
The Mountaineer Baseball Association leadership voted Sunday night to cancel its summer season due to the ongoing pandemic.
The MBA oversees five leagues. They are Shetland (ages 4-6), Pinto (ages 6-8), Mustang (7-10), Bronco (ages 9-12) and Pony (ages 11-14). The association also sponsors several post-season tournaments.
The MBA officers are Terry Trabert, president; Jon Turak, vice-president; Ryan Storm, secretary; and George Bamberger Jr., treasurer.
Association commissioners are: George Czapp, Shetland League; Turak, Pinto League; Keith Wesley, Mustang League; Storm, Bronco League; and Chris Hartley, Pony League.
"Thirteen organizations make up our association. We have been meeting for the past few weeks and some of the organizations were raising legitimate concerns," Trabert said. "As president, I am not allowed to vote. But I did make the recommendation to suspend play this season. It was a unanimous vote by the organizations to suspend play.
"Masks and social distance regulations really made it tough. We have good officers and good commissioners. They want to make things the best for the kids. This association is all about the kids."
Trabert is deeply and passionately engrained with the MBA. He has been involved with the association since 1985 while serving as president the last 25 years. He also is an umpire for the association.
The Mountaineer Baseball Association is expansive in scope. It includes all of Ohio County and ranges geographically from Glen Dale to Wellsburg. Moreover, Warren Township in Ohio is a member.
All told, some 1,200 players were on deck to play in the MBA this season.
The MBA roots trace back to 1973. Trabert said B.A. Crawford and Ray Bauer Sr. started Mountaineer Baseball travel teams some five decades ago. Those teams subsequently morphed into the Mountaineer Baseball Association.
"Having to suspend the season is a big blow. I had three grandchildren who were going to play in the leagues this summer," Trabert said. "We hold very nice year-end banquets to honor division champions, attracting some 600 people. The only thing I have had to do harder was to call a kid out on a third strike to end a game."