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Article previously published in the Weirton Daily Times following Opening Day 2004.
Kings Creek is bound to Robinson
WEIRTON - Nestled in between the rolling hills of Hancock County where wildflowers flourish and sunshine cuts through leafy trees in cascading rays, there exists an 18-acre sports complex with as much character as the valley it dwells in.
There you'll find T-ball players wielding bats in their tiny hands, Little Leaguers perfecting their pitches and softball players proving that, yes, girls too can get down in the dirt.
In the spring, you'll find the Madonna baseball team feverishly working to make a name for its program, and in the summer, the boys of Weirton show up for a little American Legion action.
It's the American passtime brought to life, a piece of Americana right in your backyard, and for many in the Weirton Baseball Association, it's a dream that still seems too good to be true 32 years after its birth.
"It was called a dream come true back when it opened in 1972 and it really was. It still is," said Rob Petrovich, a member of the WBA board of directors for the past two years. "Sometimes you forget just how good you really have it, but then you travel and see where other kids have to play and you appreciate it all over again. After all these years, it's still a gift to have it."
It's a top-notch facility with four well-groomed fields. It boasts a concession stand complete with sheltered seating. It also has a two-story fieldhouse with indoor batting cages on the second level.
In deed, wood, rock, concrete and steel dutifully came together to form the amenities of the complex, but those materials are not the foundation of the sprawling park.
The true compounds cannot be found in lumber or brickyards, nor can they can not be created in steel mills or cement mixers. The complex was built on much grander elements. Those which can only be found in the hearts of the men who came up an with an idea, rolled it into a goal and finally nurtured it into the reality that became the Kings Creek Baseball Complex more than three decades ago.
Without these devoted men and the land, which the WBA acquired from the Manksowki family, would not likely house such a complex. Without these men,it's unlikely the city of Weirton and the children who inhabit it would have such a complex to call their own.
Many deserve credit for the creation of the complex. Roger Wilson, Howard Lammers, Jim Lemal, Nick Petrovich, George Misoylanis, William Miller, Harley Wise, Bill Horstman, Ivan Rine, Frank Mafiloi, Steve Rodgers, Chuck Baker, Paul Jackson and John Olashuk all played pivotal roles and invested many long hours in the development of the park. Others who have contributed and helped maintain the complex during the last 32 years include Jim Klash,Harry Mack, Bob Dankovchek, Sam Magnone and Bob Rosnick.
The fortitude of those who built it and the dedication of those who keep the dream alive are recognized each spring when the park awakes from its winter slumber to welcome children back to its awaiting fields.
This year, opening day was held on May 1 and one of the complex's biggest contributors received special recognition. The 2004 ceremonies surrounded around the renaming and dedication of the clubhouse in honor of that individual.
Harry J. Robinson, a former president of the WBA, now has his name on the complex building, where he spent countless hours maintaining, improving and looking after the association's home.
"Mr. Robinson was very influential not only in the startup, but in the maintenance. Like all of us, he was here for his kids, but he stayed for years after his kids went through. And his legacy is more in the administration," Petrovich said. "He was responsible for a lot of what you see here today. Mr. Robinson spent a lot of time in that building for the good of the association and the complex, so it seemed a fitting way to honor him."
Tony Pietranton, the current president of the association, echoed Petrovich's words. "That building is really the focal point of a lot of activities. That's where we have a lot of our meetings," he said. "That's where the indoor batting cages are and that's where a lot of things take place and originate. We felt it was appropriate to rename it after Mr. Robinson, because of the work that he did."
Robinson, who has been battling cancer, was unable to attend the opening day ceremonies. His wife, Dorothy, and other members of his family came in his place as the clubhouse was christened in his name. Mayor William Miller was also on hand and called Robinson "the guy to go to get the job done and keep the program for the youth progressing."
Some of those jobs Robinson accomplished were pretty big ones. For instance, it was Robinson who was instrumental in establishing the big baseball field that serves at a home to the Blue Dons and the Weirton Legion. He also was responsible for the lights under which those teams play, but perhaps his biggest contribution was the rebuilding of the bridge that leads to the complex.
After the original bridge was destroyed by flooding, Robinson spearheaded the bridge's reconstruction. He worked effortlessly to ensure the bridge was ready before the start of the next season.
"I'd have to say that his biggest accomplishment was the building of that bridge. He singlehandedly got the materials donated and actually worked on the bridge himself," Petrovich said. "He gave up a lot of his time to see that it was rebuilt and was out there with others in sub-zero weather to get it done."
To those who know Robinson, it comes as no surprise that he was able to pull the resources together to build the bridge, as well as complete all of his other undertakings.
"He had the ability to get all of the different parties working together. There's a lot of things that have to get done around here to keep this functioning," Pietranton said. "He was very good in getting people to work together around here for a common goal."
Robinson's administrative gifts went beyond the fences of Kings Creek. He also served as district manager for Little League Baseball, and that came with the responsibility of 22 teams.
He looked after an area that included Weirton and Follansbee, as well as Fairmont, Morgantown and other parts of West Virginia.
But it's Weirton, where he served as the WBA president for more than 10 years, which enjoyed the fruits of Robinson's labor the most. He not only worked to improve and preserve the complex's exterior, but also helped implement new and exciting things within the association, including the establishment of tee-ball and girl softball leagues.
Some might ask what drives a man to invest so much time and energy into an association that stopped benefiting his children years before. Petrovich and Pietranton think that's a pretty simple question. The answer of which can be found every time a 4-year-old hits the ball to the fence, a 10-year-old strikes out the side or a 16-year-old slides across the plate. Robinson did it for the children.
"It was always about the kids. I had the opportunity to visit with Mr.Robinson before the opening ceremonies and all he could talk about was the children," Petrovich said. "His wife kept reiterating that on opening day, for him, it was all about giving something to the children. The kids of Weirton are lucky to have had a Harry Robinson."
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