When summer finally rolls around, the anticipation of a ball rising high into the afternoon sky from the mighty swing of a bat, will once again help renew our connection to our pastoral past, and so will a new American Legion baseball team that’s set to take the field.

This summer will mark the introduction of the Whitehall-Coplay American Legion baseball team. While the formation of this team is new, it’s actually the merger of two teams that have long been part of Whitehall-Coplay’s youth baseball history. Both Fullerton and Coplay had long-standing traditions, and now the players who played for those respective geographic areas will have a singular team to call their own.

Spearheading this initiative is Andy Hausman.

Hausman, who serves as the General Manger of the Whitehall-Coplay American Legion baseball team, is working alongside Rick Kern, an official with Coplay Sports, and Shaun O’Boyle, manager of the Whitehall baseball team, to get the project off the ground. It’s Hausman’s first season in that capacity, and he’s eager to get this inaugural season underway.

Hausman said that the new team was going to be announced last year, but the Pennsylvania American Legion canceled its baseball season. Now, with the arrival of 2021, Hausman said that this would be the year to start the new team as things start to return to a familiar pace.

In order to get it get it off the ground, Hausman said that the proposals for the new team had to be approved by the Lehigh Valley League’s Board of Officials and member organizations. They were subsequently approved, and now things are set in motion for a summer season.

Kids are pulled in many different directions when it comes to summer activities, and Hausman has seen that tug affect Legion baseball. In prior years, they’ve fielded players from a number of geographic areas, and that’s just the reality of the sports landscape where summer basketball leagues, football camps, and even travel baseball can intrude on legion baseball. Still, he heard what the kids were saying, and he decided to address their wishes.

What they were expressing was their desire to continue to play together.

“They were playing high school baseball on the same team, and they wanted to stay together and play throughout the summer, too,” said Hausman.

He felt that was something they could accomplish. They would establish a new team for Whitehall-Coplay because that’s who they serve.

There would be no more dispersing to different teams around the area, allowing these Whitehall-Coplay kids to remain as one team, playing with childhood buddies. He also felt it was important because the legion season is so compact, and having them together would benefit them all.

Hausman also said that they’ll be drawing kids from Catasauqua and Hanover Township as well.

He hopes that they will establish something permanent, a team whose identity is wrapped up in the Whitehall-Coplay community.

Other considerations were also incorporated into how they’ll operate. He said that they won’t play weekends, noting that playing games during the week won’t conflict with travel baseball.

He also said that both posts, Coplay Post 426 and Fullerton Post 367, have not been formally notified, but fully expects their full support. He said that their support through the years had established a strong partnership and he expects that to continue.

They’ll still be playing in the Lehigh Valley Legion where they’ve resided in the past. Additionally, they have not named a head coach but are in the process of reviewing prospective candidates.

Hausman also believes that the kids can get overlooked when adults are wrapped up in the organizational aspect of sports. He said it’s his philosophy, shared by Kern and O’Boyle to remember who it’s all about - the kids.

“We made that a conscientious effort, and we all share that same philosophy,” said Hausman.

As they’re ready to embark on a new season with a new team, he’s hopeful that the decision will pay dividends to all the players.

“We hope this is a positive for the boys,” said Hausman.