Published: August 08, 2008 09:47 pm      

Since the start, Delweld GM has been through it all

Delweld will represent Johnstown in the AAABA Tournament for the fourth time since the franchise entered the local league in 1999.

That’s four trips to the national tournament in 10 seasons, including the upcoming 64th AAABA Tournament that officially opens Monday night at Point Stadium.

General Manager Chris DelSignore credits hard work and solid fundamentals for Delweld’s consistency.

DelSignore should know. He has been with the franchise since the outset, first as an assistant coach to manager Ross Kott, then as the manager who led Delweld to the national title game in 2003 and a return trip to the tournament last summer before taking over as GM.

“It started back when (AAABA Hall of Famer) Dee Dee Osborne was general manager and we started the team in 1999,” DelSignore said Thursday. “(Two-time AAABA League MVP) Ross Kott was managing. It brought instant credibility to a new franchise. A lot of those guys on that first team had played for Dee Dee the previous year, and they had won the regular-season championship (with Principle Development).

“That was basically the next step for that group in 1999,” DelSignore said of Delweld’s 3-2 showing in that year’s tournament. “When you win that first league championship, everything gets a little bit easier because you’re looked upon as a ‘real’ team. It gets a little bit easier to recruit.”

In 2003, DelSignore managed Delweld to a 5-2 tournament mark that included a spot in the national title round against perennial power Baltimore.

“We took the same path we’re taking now. We brought in younger guys that year,” DelSignore said. “As they matured, they hit their peak.”

Last year, Delweld went 3-2 in the tournament. Soon after the final game, DelSignore stepped down as manager and was replaced by Rick Roberts, who took a third seed to the playoff championship.

“We’re continuing the tradition. It’s the players,” DelSignore said. “They’re the ones who go out there and win the games.”

Serving as GM has been different for DelSignore.

“I miss hanging around with those guys. I miss the things that go on in the dugout the most,” he said. “Rick and I are a lot alike. I couldn’t have picked anyone better to take over that team this year than Rick. The transition has been seamless.”

DelSignore confirmed that he will manage again next season. An assistant coach at Pitt-Johnstown, Roberts previously had said he would manage one season.

NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from coaching their players in summer leagues.

The same rule forced long-time New Orleans manager Joe Scheuermann to step down last year.

Seven of the players on Delweld’s 20-man tournament roster will play at UPJ for the first time next year.

“It’s not a secret anymore. I will be back to manage next year,” DelSignore said. “But I don’t want that focus to be put on me right now. Rick has done an excellent job. But it’s a NCAA issue. Half of these guys are going to UPJ next year. I’m not going to ask Rick to quit his job as a coach at UPJ so he can manage here. It was his decision.”