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I think it’s great that The Villager is highlighting local North Pocono-based baseball over the past weeks by publishing articles concerning the Moscow American Legion baseball program.
Each and every player who is playing for that program deserves acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication of purpose in the face of stiff competition.
Thanks to the Villager, those players have received that recognition beyond individual game scores and won-lost records. Kudos to each and every one of them.
What I don’t understand is how the management and coaches associated with the Moscow Legion program continue to hoodwink the public with their statements published in your paper.
Numerous quotes of Moscow Legion coaches — Mr. Gaetano and Mr. Hughes — published in prior editions of The Villager can be attributed to keeping spirits up on the Moscow Legion teams during what are, at best, difficult back-to-back seasons.
However, the quote in your July 7 edition crossed the line. I am referring to a quotation of the Moscow Jr. Legion Coach Hughes looking forward to the playoffs, when he and Mr. Gaetano fully knew that the Jr. Legion team had forfeited a playoff position.
His sentiment about being undermanned turned out to be right on the money as a Moscow Legion team could not be fielded for a playoff game this year, resulting in a forfeit this year and disqualification for next year.
This situation raises several questions:
• How can the program expect to recruit players for coming seasons knowing that they cannot participate in American Legion District playoffs?
• Does the management of the program really think they are doing a service to their players and the NP public by these actions?
• How can The Villager continue to publish articles written by newspaper staff without proper research and verification?
The continued practice of “blowing smoke” by the Moscow Legion managers, to date aided by The Villager, is hurting, not helping, the Moscow Legion program. The NP area has no shortage of young men and women who are interested in recreational baseball.
In addition to the Moscow Legion rosters, the NP area boasts 100+ players in the age group 13 - 18. The NP High School varsity squad made a run in the AAA playoffs this year. The NP Jr. League team went to the PA State Championship game last year. The NP Jr. High team was the champion of the Lackawanna League in their inaugural year.
I think it’s great that The Villager is highlighting local North Pocono-based baseball over the past weeks by publishing articles concerning the Moscow American Legion baseball program.
Each and every player who is playing for that program deserves acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication of purpose in the face of stiff competition.
Thanks to the Villager, those players have received that recognition beyond individual game scores and won-lost records. Kudos to each and every one of them.
What I don’t understand is how the management and coaches associated with the Moscow Legion program continue to hoodwink the public with their statements published in your paper.
Numerous quotes of Moscow Legion coaches — Mr. Gaetano and Mr. Hughes — published in prior editions of The Villager can be attributed to keeping spirits up on the Moscow Legion teams during what are, at best, difficult back-to-back seasons.
However, the quote in your July 7 edition crossed the line. I am referring to a quotation of the Moscow Jr. Legion Coach Hughes looking forward to the playoffs, when he and Mr. Gaetano fully knew that the Jr. Legion team had forfeited a playoff position.
His sentiment about being undermanned turned out to be right on the money as a Moscow Legion team could not be fielded for a playoff game this year, resulting in a forfeit this year and disqualification for next year.
This situation raises several questions:
• How can the program expect to recruit players for coming seasons knowing that they cannot participate in American Legion District playoffs?
• Does the management of the program really think they are doing a service to their players and the NP public by these actions?
• How can The Villager continue to publish articles written by newspaper staff without proper research and verification?
The continued practice of “blowing smoke” by the Moscow Legion managers, to date aided by The Villager, is hurting, not helping, the Moscow Legion program. The NP area has no shortage of young men and women who are interested in recreational baseball.
In addition to the Moscow Legion rosters, the NP area boasts 100+ players in the age group 13 - 18. The NP High School varsity squad made a run in the AAA playoffs this year. The NP Jr. League team went to the PA State Championship game last year. The NP Jr. High team was the champion of the Lackawanna League in their inaugural year.
These can be counted among the many recent NP baseball success stories. However, the Moscow Legion program struggles with participation as all members of the NP High School varsity baseball team decided not to participate in the Moscow Legion baseball program.
Members of the NP Jr. and Sr. Leagues (ages 13 through 16) and the NP team playing in NEPA Big League (ages 16 through 18), all American Legion league age eligible, also declined participation.
One has to ask the question: Why?
I hope an individual associated with American Legion Baseball will see the situation for what it is and remedy the issues, whatever they may be, with the Moscow program, enabling yet another NP program to flourish and succeed.
With the number, character, and talent levels of the current NP youth baseball crop, the Moscow Legion baseball program and those associated with it should share in the successes of the other NP programs.
Sincerely,
Ray Grapsy
Gouldsboro
