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Nick Galasso, 9, and Carmine O’Connor, 6, both of whom have a yearning to play in the AAABA Tournament someday, were among the thousands of spectators who watched the opening game of that tournament Monday night at the Point Stadium.
Nick, who plays in the West Suburban League in the West Hills, said he was having fun being at the game with his mother, Christina, father, Mike, and his brother and sister and uncle.
“I want to play here someday,” Nick said.
Carmine, who was at the game with his grandfather, David White, Johnstown, said it was exciting to be at the game.
Carmine, who plays for the Greater Johnstown Youth League in Lower Yoder Township, kept his baseball glove by his side just in case a foul ball came his way.
Kelly Gregory of Johnstown attended the game not only to cheer for the Johnstown team, the Berkley Hills Renegades, but also to see her cousin, Ashley Grego, Johnstown, one of the AAABA Ambassadors.
“I think the Renegades will win,” she said prior to the start of the game.
Mary Ann Pentrack of Brownstown said she and her husband, Bernie, attend the opening game every year to support the Johnstown team.
“I hope they take the tournament,” she said about the local players.
Tom Glusko Sr. of Seward, who was at the game with his son, Tom Jr., said he enjoys the brand of baseball at the tournament.
Jim Miller of Summerhill said he was continuing his family’s tradition of attending the tournament each year.
“I think Johnstown will win,” he said before the game started. “Dr. (Richard) Kastelic is my doctor and that’s his team, so he has to win.”
Kastelic is the sponsor of the Berkley Hills Renegades.
The tournament brings people from different states together, he said.
“This is what is great about America,” he said.
Jim Daniels of East Conemaugh, who was at the game with his girlfriend, Robyn Custer, and his neighbors, said he has been attending the tournament since a child.
“I love baseball,” he said, adding that there always is good baseball during the tournament.
Artie Lightfoot of Johnstown, who was at the game with his son, Doug, said the tournament is part of Johnstown’s heritage.
“This is America’s pastime,” he said. “I came to support the Johnstown team.”
The tournament also is good for Johnstown in that it’s a positive event and brings revenue to the area, he said.
Dave Rosenbaum of Johnstown, who was at the stadium with his wife, Cathy, daughter, Melissa Mortimer, and granddaughter, Nicole Taylor, to watch not only the game, but also another granddaughter, Lauren Taylor, one of the AAABA ambassadors.
“We come every year,” he said, adding that there is always great baseball.
“The food is good too,” he said. “I had an excellent hot sausage sandwich.”
Rick Edsall of Davidsville, whose brother, Woody, played for the Johnstown entry, Wheeler Cadillac, in the 1984 tournament, said it’s nice to see Johnstown sport competitive teams in the tournament.
“I hope Johnstown wins,” he said in an interview prior to the game.
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