JOHNSTOWN —
Delweld is the first Johnstown franchise to make four consecutive AAABA Tournament appearances.
In addition to the prestige that comes with such an historic accomplishment, Delweld also will bring plenty of big-game experience to the 66th annual AAABA Tournament that opens Monday at Point Stadium.
“The strength of this team is experience, especially for this tournament,” said Chris DelSignore, himself a veteran of six tournaments as either a manager (four times including this year), GM (once) or assistant coach (once). “We have a handful of kids that are playing in their third tournament, and you don’t see that too much historically in Johnstown. Opening night will be the 10th tournament game for some of these guys. Some kids never see one.
“Plus, we have a few guys in their second tournament. We have a lot of guys with composure and poise. Opening night and everything that comes with it is not too big for them. They’ve been there and done that.”
Delweld’s three-tournament players include shortstop George Roberts, catcher Matt Cornetti, outfielder Drew Westover, and pitchers Kody Reighard and Matt Skoner. Pitcher Joe Novotny has been on the three tournament teams but has been sidelined by an injury this year.
Delweld finished second in the local AAABA League with a 27-9 regular-season mark, but as has been DelSignore’s trademark, his team was poised for the postseason. Delweld swept through a first-round series against the Berkley Hills Renegades and then swept regular-season champion Martella’s Pharmacy in the final.
“We don’t do anything that really stands out,” DelSignore said. “Our pitchers throw strikes. They’re effective. They do their job. Our defense makes the routine play. We’re just a good all-around baseball team. We can score a bunch of runs or we can win a 2-1 ballgame. You never know what you’re going to get. We’re just a solid, fundamental baseball team.”
Delweld is 33-9 overall. Historically, the franchise has represented Johnstown well, going 16-10 in five previous tournaments while winning three or more games four times. DelSignore is 11-6 as a AAABA Tournament manager, including a 5-2 record in 2003 when Delweld advanced to the championship round before falling to Baltimore.
In addition to DelSignore, who played at Pitt during his college career, the team has an experienced coaching staff. Dan DelSignore is an assistant coach who had a standout career in the local league and at Pitt-Johnstown. Garrett Sidor has college coaching experience and is one of the area’s well-known youth instructors at various camps.
“Dan (DelSignore) had a great career at UPJ and he's really a student of the game,” Chris DelSignore said. “When I was playing at Pitt, I’d come back and work with him and teach him the stuff I was learning because I didn’t have that when I was his age. Garrett Sidor was a coach at the collegiate level, and he brings a lot to the table. This is my sixth tournament, so this isn’t my first day at the rodeo either.
“We love to pass on what we’ve learned over the years. One of the biggest things that I get is seeing these guys playing in this tournament and seeing their eyes after the first pitch on opening night. It’s still a treat for me. It’s an experience like no other.”
Notes: Johnstown franchises to appear in three straight tournaments include Hahn Packing (1959-61), Monte Carlo (1970-72) and Pepsi-Cola (1989-91). ... Ross Kott, the manager of the first Delweld tournament team in 1999, resides in New Orleans, where he attended Delgado Community College and played under former New Orleans AAABA manager Joe Scheuermann. Kott was back in Johnstown on Thursday and will attend the tournament. ... Delweld is 24-5 in the local AAABA League playoffs since 2007, including 6-0 this year.
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Delweld has won the past four AAABA League playoff championships to represent Johnstown in the national tournament. The Tribune-Democrat
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DelSignore’s group brings plenty of experience
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