Published: August 11, 2008 07:11 am      

AAABA Tournament: Youngstown receives the ‘ultimate draw’

The wait is over for Delweld.

The Johnstown franchise found out Sunday night that it will open play in the 64th annual AAABA Tournament against the Metros of Youngstown, Ohio.

“I told our guys we couldn’t control who we got. The big thing is I’m just trying to keep them focused on the game,” Johnstown manager Rick Roberts said. “They need to be ready for a big crowd and stay focused and not lose their concentration.”

The official opener between the two squads is set for 7:30 p.m. at Point Stadium.

“That’s the ultimate draw of course,” Youngstown manager Bob Mingo said. “I’m just glad for the boys. Most of them haven’t been here before, so what a way to come and get the feature game and play in front of all the people.”

The other seven games, all set for noon, are spread throughout the Greater Johnstown area.

Also in the lower bracket, Altoona takes on Lansing (Mich.) at Lilly, Cleveland faces Zanesville (Ohio) at the Johnstown Middle School and Schenectady (N.Y.) battles Maryland State at Franklin.

In the upper bracket, defending champion Baltimore plays Livonia (Mich.) at Revloc and New York will play Washington D.C. at Pitt-Johnstown. Johnstown regional champ New Orleans plays Philadelphia at Roxbury and Brooklyn (N.Y.) will face Buffalo (N.Y.) at Portage.

The Metros have played more than 70 games this summer.

“We’ve played a lot of games because we play in two leagues back home, a college league and in the Youngstown AAABA League, of course,” Mingo said. “They stick together. When they play that many games, six days a week, doubleheaders, they need to be loose and enjoy the game which this group definitely does. Playing as a team is probably our strength.”

Sunday night, Mingo had not yet decided who his starting pitcher would be against Johnstown. Left-hander Jake Rougeaux has earned the start for Delweld.

“This is his first year in the AAABA League, but Jake pitched two playoff games and he didn’t seem to be bothered at all,” Roberts said. “He’s been pretty consistent all year. He stays focused. He’s a workhorse.

“I learned a lot from my experience as a 17-year-old kid when I went in (as the starting pitcher in the 1996 tournament),” Roberts said. “I was not focused, too pumped up and not prepared. The big thing is, when you get in front of a crowd like that on opening night, it’s who makes the fewest mistakes and stays focused. That’s the biggest thing.”