RECENT SUSQUEHANNA LEAGUE PLAYOFF CHAMPS

2006: YORK TOWNSHIP def. Hallam

TOWNSHIP TAKES TITLE!!!
York Township needed its final at-bat to win the Susquehanna League playoffs.

The bonus is that he'll get to do it back on the East Coast with regular stops close to family and friends in York County.

Hendrickson, who played with York Township in the Susquehanna League, agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Wednesday with the Florida Marlins. The 6-foot-9 left-hander was 4-8 with a 5.21 ERA last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers and fell out of the starting rotation. 

He was only 3-7 with a 6.13 ERA in 15 starts. He was successful, though, as a starter in a previous stint with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Marlins staff “said they're going to hand me the ball every fifth day,” said Hendrickson, 33. “That's the opportunity I wanted ... I wanted to get a situation where I could get back to starting full-time and show what I can do.

“I've always viewed myself as a starter,” he said. “With the way things went in L.A., there are question marks with regard to that.”

Hendrickson is 43-55 with a 5.01 in 179 major league games, which includes 135 starts, with Toronto (2002-03), Tampa Bay (2004-06) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-07).

“Mark gives us another quality left-handed arm in our rotation, and his experience and veteran leadership should benefit our clubhouse,” Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Associated Press.

Hendrickson can make $50,000 in incentives if he starts 20 games this season and another $50,000 if he starts 22 times. He will earn $100,000 more for each additional pair of starts he makes up to 30.

The contract is “a little bit less money” than the Dodgers' offer, “but I felt like I had to take a step back this year with hopes of making up for it after this year in the free agent market.”

Not only will Hendrickson be counted on to be a leader on a young staff, he will get to do it close enough for family and friends to drive and watch him. The Marlins make regular trips to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

He also won't be too far away from his second home in St. Petersburg.

Hendrickson could be the third left-hander in the Marlins' rotation, joining Scott Olsen and Andrew Miller. He will be tutored by former Baltimore Orioles' pitching coach Mark Wiley.

A Major League Baseball pitcher is in a doctor's office for laser eye surgery.

He has 20-200 vision in his left eye.

The doctor: “You must be relieved to never have to wear glasses or contact lenses again.”

The pitcher: “You don't understand, I didn't wear a thing.”

The stunned doctor: “Boy, you were fooling some people.”

It only sounds like a joke.

Somehow, York County's Mark Hendrickson has pitched in the majors the past five seasons with terrible vision in one eye and only mediocre vision in the other.

Apparently, the kid who spent summers and holidays around family in York County always had eye problems. He fought wearing glasses and contacts growing up and simply adjusted without them.

Who could fault the results?

He could see well enough to become a star basketball player at Washington State and play parts of four seasons in the NBA.

He also was a dominating pitcher and hitter for York Township in the Susquehanna League before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays and getting called up in 2002.

He hit the first home run by a pitcher in Jays' history. The 6-foot-9 left-hander went on to become a solid starting pitcher with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Then he pitched well in relief for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2006 playoffs.

But his eyes were getting worse.

The deciding moments came last summer when he couldn't see the ball clearly while hitting. He was 1-for-27 at the plate with 10 strikeouts.

“I'm not saying I'm a .300 hitter . . . but I was embarrassing myself.”

Who's to say how his eye problems affected his pitching? He struggled last season but still showed flashes.

No matter, he had laser eye surgery a couple of weeks ago. He signed with a new team, the Florida Marlins, last week.

And he feels like he has a new lease on his baseball life.

“It just got to the point where I'm going into my free agent year, and I'm pulling out all the stops. I don't want to ever look back and say, 'I could have done this, I could have done that.'”

He's doing whatever he can while spending the winter in York with his girlfriend. He throws regularly on an indoor field in Lancaster and is working out with a personal trainer.

He's also wiser, having learned from two rocky seasons with the Dodgers.

“Every situation a pitcher could be put in I was put in,” Hendrickson said. “Going through it and remaining healthy taught me a lot as far as being able to deal with different situations.”

And now he has a new team that has promised him a spot in the starting rotation.

He also has new eyes, in a way.

His vision is now 20-15. Better than most. He couldn't believe streetlights and neon signs were always this bright.

He couldn't believe, at 33, he finally has his best chance for success.

That's why the season can't come soon enough.

• Dave Woltman (York Township) Player, League President, Vice President, Treasurer -- 25+ years of service
• Kim McCullough (Glen Rock -- Susquehanna Baseball League)
• Don Grove (Windsor)
• Marlyn Bacon (Conrads)
• Sam Jamison (Loganville, Jacobus)

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The 18-year-old kid dying of cancer gets his wish, a chance to swing a bat maybe one last time in a real baseball game.

He hasn't played in a few years, but he's called on to pinch-hit. His eyes light up at the first pitch and he puts all of his 5-foot-5, 93-pound frame into one mighty swing, making contact and sending a line drive into right field for a single -- if he can reach first base. The cancer he's been battling for almost two years has spread to his pelvis, making running nearly impossible.

The kid worries about falling as he hustles down the first-base line. When he gets to the base, he lets out with a yell. "I did it! I did it!"

Safe at first with a hit and an RBI, the kid is hugged by a crying first-base coach. The opposing pitcher takes off his glove, starts applauding and his teammates follow suit. The kid's teammates run onto the field to celebrate.

It sounds like the climax to a heart-tugger movie. But there was no producer or film crew at the game between Freedom and Aliquippa high schools two weeks ago. The scene was as real as the tumors in John Challis' liver and lungs.

John is a kid with cancer, a senior at Freedom in Beaver County who was told a few weeks ago by doctors that cancer was winning and it was close to the end. The disease that started in his liver was now taking over his lungs.

"They said it could be only two months," he said, fighting back tears.

He paused before his seemingly never-ending optimism came through again.

"I told my mom I still think I can get two more years."

But his story isn't about dying. It's about inspiring.

His story, words, actions, beliefs and courage have become known around Freedom and surrounding areas in Beaver County, bringing people together from other communities and other schools.

Three weeks ago, Freedom baseball coach Steve Wetzel organized "Walk For A Champion" on Freedom High's school grounds. The purpose of the walk-a-thon was to raise money for one of John's wishes -- a last vacation with his mom, dad and 14-year-old sister, Alexis.

More than 500 people took part, including baseball teams from eight Beaver County high schools and members of Center High School's football team. John also used to play football at Freedom.

Mr. Wetzel, who calls the teen his hero, hoped to raise $6,000. That total was easily surpassed "and people are still calling with donations," he said.

The family has booked a cruise for June.

A Beaver County church had planned a fundraiser, but John and his family asked the church instead to conduct the event and give the money to a fifth-grade boy in Beaver County who has a brain tumor.

"His family can use it more than we can," John said. "That's just common sense. Someone does something good for you, then you help someone else."

Actions and statements like those are what has inspired so many others. All of Aliquippa's baseball players wear John's jersey number "11" on their hats. At the walk-a-thon, Aliquippa star athlete Jonathan Baldwin, a Pitt football recruit, presented him with a ball signed by Pitt players.

After the walk, John addressed the crowd.

"He spoke from his heart," Mr. Wetzel, the coach, said. "He said, 'I've got two options. I know I'm going to die, so I can either sit at home and feel sorry, or I could spread my message to everybody to live life to the fullest and help those in need.' After hearing that, I don't know if there were many people not crying."

Last Thursday, Beaver pitcher Manny Cutlip tossed a three-hitter against Freedom as John watched in street clothes. After the game, every Beaver player came up to him and shook his hand. Some hugged him and some said they were praying for him. Manny Cutlip asked Mr. Wetzel if he could go to lunch some time with John. It happened the next day.

"I don't know what to say. I just wanted to get to know him better and see if I could learn anything from him to help me in my life," said the young pitcher, an imposing 6-foot-3, 225-pound standout athlete who will play football at IUP.

At lunch, he gave John a new football with a handwritten personal message on it. Part of the message read, "You have touched my heart and I will always look up to you as my role model."

Talk to John and you'll laugh at his sense of humor when he says things such as, "You can't let girls know that you know how to text message because they won't leave you alone."

But listen to his mature views on life and his philosophies ... and you might cry.

"I used to be afraid, but I'm not afraid of dying now, if that's what you want to know," he said. "Because life ain't about how many breaths you take. It's what you do with those breaths."

It's been almost two years since John found out about his cancer. He knows the date like a birthday -- June 23, 2006.

He discovered only recently that doctors didn't expect him to last through that first summer. "To me, that's already an accomplishment," he said.

In the first few months after the cancer discovery, John's father, Scott, would get up in the middle of the night, peek into his son's bedroom and see him wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

"He would just be thinking," the elder Challis said. "He's always been one who had to try and find an answer for everything. He wants to figure things out."

Through his own thoughts and through his deep Catholic beliefs, John believes he has "figured it out." He answers questions with maturity, courage and dignity, traits that have become his trademarks.

John requested that his mother, Regina, not be interviewed for this story because it will be too hard for her. He talks to his father about what to do after he dies.

"I sit up with him at night until 1 or 2 in the morning," Scott Challis said. "He'll tell me, 'Dad, when I'm gone, you have to do this or that. You have to watch your weight.' He's worried about my weight. He tells me I have to take care of mom.

"When the doctors told him a few weeks ago about how the cancer was winning, he had a lot of questions about what it was going to be like and about being comfortable. Later on, he broke down with me and you know what he did? He apologized. He was upset because he felt like he was letting everyone down who had been praying for him."

Scott Challis has found talking about his son makes the situation easier to deal with. But many people like to talk about John. Shawn Lehocky is a senior and one of Freedom's top athletes. For every football and baseball game, he wears a red wrist band with John's No. 11 on it.

"It seems like everyone in this community knows who he is now and he really has brought so many people together," Shawn said. "He's always on my mind. To see him and what he's going through, I don't know if I could act like that. He said some pretty strong words at that walk-a-thon that you don't hear 17- or 18-year-olds say every day."

John fought back tears a few times during last week's interview.

"Sometimes I cry, but people cry for all different kinds of reasons," he said. "Sometimes I just want to know why, but I think I figured that out. God wanted me to get sick because he knew I was strong enough to handle it. I'm spreading His word and my message. By doing that, I'm doing what God put me here to do.

"It took me about a half year to figure all that out. Now, when I'm able to truly believe it, it makes it easier on me. And when you know other people support what you're thinking, it makes it easier."

When asked where he gained his wisdom, he answered, "Through cancer."

"They say it takes a special person to realize this kind of stuff," he said. "I don't know if I'm special, but it wasn't hard for me. It's just my mind-set. A situation is what you make of it. Not what it makes of you."

He regularly wears his Freedom baseball hat. Under the bill of the cap is his name, plus this line: "COURAGE + BELIEVE = LIFE."

"I guess I can see why people see me as an inspiration," he said. "But why do people think it's so hard to see things the way I do? All I'm doing is making the best of a situation."

John then raises his voice.

"Why can't people just see the best in things? It gets you so much further in life. It's always negative this and negative that. That's all you see and hear."

John tries to keep complaining to a minimum, but he acknowledges his moments of crying.

"If I'm mad at anything in this, it's that I'm not going to be able to have a son, I'm not going to be able to get married and have my own house," he said, fighting back tears again. "Those are the things I'm mad about. But not dying."

John loves sports. He is an avid hunter -- "got three buck and two doe in the last year," he said.

He played baseball through Pony League and always loved football, despite his small stature. As a sophomore, he started on Freedom's junior varsity team as a slotback and cornerback.

"I was 108 pounds. I had to be the smallest player in the WPIAL," he said with a laugh.

The cancer forced him to stop playing football as a junior.

"But I will never forget," his father said, "when he first got sick he told me, 'Dad, I have to dress for a football game one more time.' "

He got his wish in the final game of his senior season, against Hickory. Coaches let him kick off once. He was supposed to kick and immediately run off the field to avoid danger. Instead, he stayed on the field and got a little excited when the kick returner started heading his way before being tackled.

Later in the game, the coaches put him in for two plays at receiver. Mr. Wetzel and others who saw the game proudly tell how, on one play, John tried to block a defender, fell down, but got up and pushed another defender.

Mr. Wetzel said seeing John play in that last football game, doesn't compare to seeing his hit against Aliquippa in that April 14 baseball game. John vividly remembers the details leading up to the hit. When he walked into the batter's box, he saw Aliquippa's catcher wearing a protective mask with the initials "J.C." and the number "11."

"I just looked at him and said, 'Nice mask.' "

He then noticed an Aliquippa coach saying something to the pitcher.

"I'm thinking, 'If they're going to walk me or throw easy to me, I don't want it handed to me,' " he said. "But sure enough, he threw me a fastball. That's what made it so good. ... There were only about 20 people there watching, but everyone was cheering."

Mr. Wetzel said: "We made it to the state [PIAA] playoffs two years ago and I thought that was the best feeling. I got to play in WPIAL championships at Blackhawk as a player. But that day, that hit, that moment ... That was the best feeling I've ever had in sports."

Six days later, Freedom played a game at PNC Park. John attended the game, but had an IV line in his arm for a treatment he was getting. He took out the IV line and asked Mr. Wetzel if he could pinch-hit again.

"Unbelievable. He told me the doctor said he could take it out for up to seven hours," Mr. Wetzel said. "He told me he just wanted to be a normal kid one more time."

So Mr. Wetzel let him pinch-hit. This time he struck out.

They have a unique coach-player relationship. Mr. Wetzel invited John to be part of the team a year ago and John calls the coach one of his best friends. They talk every day, at least on a cell phone, and go to lunch together once a week.

"The kid has changed my life," Mr. Wetzel said. "I cry for him just about every day. I'm 32 and I'm getting married in September. You know what he told me the other day? He told me to save him a seat in the front row of the church, because even if he's not there, he'll be there in spirit.

"He just keeps doing things and saying things that are just unbelievable. I know our team will never forget this season because of Johnny."

The two want to start a foundation in John's name for young cancer patients.

"Even if [the foundation] is something that can help only one kid or one family, to see people in a different way like I have, it will be worth it," John said. "Maybe it will help younger people who haven't gotten to see the finer things in life that I got to see."

John plans to attend Freedom's prom May 9 and plans to graduate in June. As John ended this interview, he said he wondered how his story will come out in the newspaper.

The 6-foot, 9-inch left-hander has had his share of ups and downs during his seven-year Major League career. The 33-year-old, who used to pitch for York Township of the Susquehanna League, doesn't overpower anyone with his high-80s fastball. And his career record of 43-55 entering this season didn't exactly make him a household name.

In fact, he's probably best known as one of just 11 athletes to compete in both the Major Leagues and the NBA.

But after a few years in the NBA, Hendrickson is now firmly entrenched as a Major League pitcher. And after bouncing around from Toronto to Tampa Bay to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he seems to have found a home with the first-place Florida Marlins.

And you did read the previous sentence correctly. The baby-faced Marlins, and their league-low $22 million payroll, are leading the National League East at 30-21. This weekend, Hendrickson and the Marlins will make a visit to nearby Citizens Bank Park to take on the defending NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils, with their near $100-million payroll, are 11/2 games behind the Marlins at 30-24.

One of the big reasons for Florida's stunning success is Hendrickson, who is 7-2 with a 4.18
ERA this season. Hendrickson is on a pace to win more than 20 games in 2008. That's pretty heady stuff for a guy who has never won more than 11 games and has a career ERA hovering near 5.00.

Hendrickson -- with his $1.5 million salary (plus incentives) for 2008 -- is also a great bargain for the penny-pinching Marlins. That figure is about half of what he made last season with the Dodgers, who didn't offer him a contract after the 2007 season when he went 4-8 with a 5.21 ERA. He signed a one-year deal with the Marlins largely because they committed to him as a starter. He didn't want to bounce back and forth from starting to relieving, as he did with the Dodgers.

Hendrickson's 2008 success can probably be traced to a few factors. First, he improved his conditioning after committing himself to a rigorous offseason workout program. Second, he improved his eyesight after having LASIK surgery. And third, he improved his curveball, giving him another out pitch. And it also doesn't hurt that the Marlins have been scoring runs in bunches during many of his starts.

His improved eyesight has also made him a threat at the plate. The career .140 hitter is batting .333 this season and has even been used as a pinch hitter.

His success and experience on the mound, meanwhile, has allowed Hendrickson to assume a leadership role on the Marlins' youthful and talented pitching staff.

Now, on Friday night, Hendrickson is scheduled to face one of his stiffest tests yet against a potent Phils' lineup that has scored 42 runs in its last three games.

But Hendrickson, who lives in York County during the offseason, will likely have some fan support of his own at Citizens Bank Park from his many relatives and friends in the area. One of his biggest supporters Friday will likely be his uncle, Don Trout, the Dallastown High School baseball coach.

If Hendrickson can beat the slugging Phils on the road, it would be another significant step forward in a season that's been full of them so far. And if he can continue to pitch as well over the rest of the summer as he has this spring, Hendrickson will soon have multiple reasons to celebrate.

First, he may find himself pitching in the postseason for the first time ever. Second, he may find himself in the running for some serious postseason awards. And third, he may find himself in line for a large -- and I mean large -- pay raise.

The "journeyman" may be on his way to a career-changing season.

2008 Tom Kerrigan Memorial Baseball Tournament

Veteran left-hander adds experience to young crew of pitchers

Judging by his contract incentives, Hendrickson may be banking on the chance to cement a starting role. Hendrickson can earn up to $100,000 if he pitches 180 innings, and he can make another $300,000 in incentives if he makes 30 starts.

Baltimore currently has just one starter -- staff ace Jeremy Guthrie -- penciled in for a rotation slot next season. The Orioles elected not to tender Daniel Cabrera a contract earlier this month, and they will likely evaluate youngsters Matt Albers, Radhames Liz and Garrett Olson in Spring Training to determine which of the three is most capable of sealing a back-end starting job.

Albers, who's coming off a strengthening program to repair a slight tear in the labrum of his pitching shoulder, may work out best in shorter stints out of the bullpen. Manager Dave Trembley said at the Winter Meetings that Troy Patton, who underwent surgery for a similar injury to Albers, will likely need some time at Triple-A Norfolk in order to work back up to peak condition.

http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/yd/sports/ci_11335161

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Susquehanna League starts 76th season on Saturday

The Susquehanna League opens its 76th baseball season this weekend with a full schedule on Saturday -- but some familiar managerial faces will be gone.

One featured contest on Saturday pits Hallam at Red Lion. But instead of Clint Workinger taking the Red Lion lineup card to home plate, it will be Jim Dennes. Workinger spent 14 seasons with Red Lion and Conrads. He was named Manager of the Year in 1990 and 1992 and won 339 games along with four league and three York County championships. His 2010 Red Lion team (30-6) won the league and playoff crowns.

So, Dennes has a challenge. Many of the Red Lion players and their manager returned for the 2010 season to see if they could repeat. And they did, but retiring along with Workinger were Todd Grove, Micah Workinger, Marc Keller, Rich Leathery and Chris Beaverson, all position players.

However, the cupboard is not bare, Red Lion has a pitching staff led by occasional York Revolution pitcher Shawn Hedrick, Eric Lau and the addition of the Hinkle brothers (Brandon and Austin). Brandon Hinkle pitched some for the Lancaster Barnstormers.

"But even though we have the best pitching, nothing is taken for granted. We still have to score runs," Dennes said.

Hallam: Hallam manager Rod Seitz claims his team's main strength is defense, but a key returnee is Jason Seitz from Windsor. Jason, a former two-time league MVP, batted .385 and hit eight homers last year. He should give Hallam (25-11 a year ago) some pop. He'll play some shortstop and third base.

Hallam possesses an impressive crop of pitchers, including: Jake Schoelkoph, who has more than 100 wins in the Susquehanna League; Travis Stump, with more than 90 wins; and Adam Hoff, who has more than 85 wins.

Justin Seitz returns as catcher.

"We have been contending every year and I hope to return to the championship years of 2005, 2006, 2007," Rod Seitz said.

York Township: In another matchup on Saturday, Windsor (22-14 last year) hosts York Township (14-22), but for the first time in many years Brad Chambers will not be calling signals for Township. Chambers spent 15 years in the league and is the league leader in wins with 392 and only 130 losses. He was also named Manager of the Year in 1991, 1995 and 1996. Chambers also spent several years with Mount Wolf of the Central League.

Jeff Barkdoll, who also coaches at Dallastown High School, replaces Chambers. Barkdoll's goal is to "get York Township back into the playoff picture." Barkdoll believes he has a good core of returning players, including Casey Markel, Scott Hart and Mark Fyock. A key acquisition could be pitcher Vernon Shoff.

"We are going to have fun and give 100 percent once we cross those foul lines," Barkdoll said.

Barkdoll also spent time coaching first base when Chris Hoiles was managing the York Revolution.

Windsor: Opposing Barkdoll, Windsor manager Nate Neff "expects to compete."

Windsor loses Jason Seitz to Hallam and Brad Lloyd to Felton.

"That's 15 home runs, but we still have some power with Nate Newman, who led the league with 10 home runs," Neff said.

Newman will probably move from first and play third base. Windsor also picked up Jason Scott from Felton, who plays the outfield and some first base. Chris Stoudt led the pitching corps with 10 wins last season, and Luke Keeny and Doug Bacon back him. Added to the pitching is Red Lion graduate Josh Scott, who pitches for Shippensburg University.

Jacobus: Mike Austin, 29, takes over for Terry Golden at Jacobus (22-14 a year ago), which opens at East Prospect (10-26) on Saturday. Golden ends his nine years with the Jackals after compiling 185 wins.

"I think I was named manager by default -- no one else wanted to do it," Austin said.

But Austin inherits a team that won 22 games last season and has the same core of players.

"Anthony Ferrell is at shortstop. He's our first reliever and a true hitter," Austin said.

Jacobus has good defense and a frontline pitcher in Jason Christenberry.

"I think we have a mystery pitcher coming from York College," Austin said.

Austin led the league in hitting in 2009.

East Prospect: Manager Tim Poff and East Prospect are still upset about missing the playoffs in the final game of the season against Felton last season.

"We lost too many one-run games," Poff said. "It was like we were waiting to lose."

Poff's goal is to be a "middle-of-the-pack" team. East Prospect's pitching consists of 44-year-old Bryan Crumbling, who is a steadying influence, and Logan Abel. Poff has several high school players, but his prize is Ryky Smith from Eastern York High School, who is a solid hitter and going to play for Penn State. Smith is a middle infielder.

Columbia: An excited Gordie Eck Jr., another new manager, takes the helm at Columbia (22-14 a year ago).

"Last year we won the most games (22) in 15 years and so our expectations are high," Eck said.

Returning he has the league's MVP in Gordie Eck III, who won the batting title with a .443 average and was 7-2 on the mound. Also back is Jeremy Mohr, who hit in the upper .300s, and pitcher Matt Regan, who went 5-2. Regan also throws for Juniata College.

The oddity for Columbia is their left-handed catcher, Mark Schauren, who is solid defensively and hits well. Columbia travels to Stewartstown on Saturday.

Stewartstown: Gary Mitchell wants Stewartstown (5-31 a season ago) to be competitive.

"We did what I claimed we could do last year -- we more than doubled our wins with five," he said. "I want to more than double them again. We have a full roster with a positive attitude."

Jerry Preston and Cory Albright anchor the Stewartstown infield. Stewartstown lost Mark Robinson and Dave Krebs to Felton.

Conrads: Conrads (19-17 a season ago) lost slugging Rick Thompson to Windsor and speedy Nick Root to Felton, but some of the sting from those transfers can be eased with the signing of shortstop Travis Hake, who is a former draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers who also played for the Barnstormers and the Revolution.

Career choices took Kevin Mead and Craig Colvin out of state. However, even with the losses, manager Chad Kennell believes, "this happens when you build a young team, but we feel we have enough talent in place to put together a successful run for 2011."

Conrads has the battery of Brandon Miller and Cole Heffner returning from Allegheny Community College.

Felton: Felton, Conrads' Saturday opponent, signed slugging first baseman Brad Lloyd along with leading base stealer Nick Root.

"If we can reduce the walks given up by the pitchers and our errors, we should be a contender this season," Felton manager Kevin Gladfelter said.

Felton (11-25 last year) has returning Elizabethtown pitcher Matt Ruth and Gladfelter believes Mark Shoff and Chris Farscht can be successful at this level. Farscht was an outstanding American Legion player.

"Our strength is left-handed batters -- we have a short right-field fence," Gladfelter said.

This is Gladfelter's fourth year as manager and he's beginning to get players that played Little League for him.

Most managers feel that Red Lion, Hallam, Windsor or Jacobus will finish on top in the league. However, there's a new balance, because six teams finished over .500 in 2010 and any of the other teams could surprise.

The Susquehanna League looks to be extremely competitive in 2011.

-- Reach Ed Veit at sports@yorkdispatch.com

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