The "It's Time For Some Championship Baseball - Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Getting ready for the start of this year's New Era Tournament, Lancaster's premier baseball championship.  The tournament, which was stated in 1946, is now known as the LNP LancasterOnline Tournament.  I have written about the tournament in the past, but I never tire of writing about my favorite sport as well as my involvement with the tournament that this year will be celebrating 75 years of baseball in Lancaster County.  I have been a part of the tournament since 1956 when my summer baseball team, Schick, made it into the first round of the tournament.  

I'm wearing my Schick uniform in this photograph

We lost, but it was something that I will never forgot.  Since that time I have coached in the tournament for 7 years and also saw my sons play in the tournament several times.  The first time I coached in the tournament was back in 1969 when I was coaching the Hamilton Watch Jr. Midget Team along with my cousin Judy's former husband, Lance and my wife's cousin Bobby Nonnemocher who had played professional baseball for the Kansas City Athletics before hurting his arm and having to leave professional baseball.  We were in the first round of the Jr. Midget level tournament when the opposing pitcher hit my pitcher while he was batting.  Hit him in the head with a pitched ball.  Bobby grabbed him and headed to the hospital.  Always thought that it was intentional, but could never prove it.  We lost and were eliminated from the tournament.  

My Hamilton Watch team that played in the New Era Tournament.

My oldest son was on the winning team back in 1987 when he played with for Manheim Township.  My youngest son played on the team that I coached known as the Manheim Township Sertoma.  I coached the team for six years...2 years each at the 12 years old and under, 14 years and under and 16 and under.  We made the tournament every year, but had to face a team from Willow Street who had a pitcher who eventually was signed by the Phillies to a minor league contract.  He pitched against us each of the first 5 years and beat us, one time in the finals and 4 times in earlier rounds.  In my final year of coaching in 1991, the Willow Street pitcher injured his arm near the end of the season and they didn't make the tournament.  My Sertoma team made it to the finals where we had to play against the  Lancaster Township Midgets (16 and under) that were coached by...my wife's cousin Bobby, a one-time professional baseball pitcher.  

Article in the newspaper telling of our reaching the finals!

My team was so psyched that we handily beat the other team and won jackets given to us by Lancaster Newspapers.  

After six tries at winning, we finally did it!

Perhaps you read my story a few years ago about my winning the jacket and having them put my name across the breast pocket.  Only problem was they spelled my last name as "Woops" instead of "Woods".  They gave me a new one, but over the years I wish I hadn't asked for a new jacket.  The old one would have gotten more stares and comments which would lead to me telling how I won the jacket.  

Team photo after we won the New Era Tournament in 1991.

Recently my grandson, Caden, has had the chance to play in the tournament a few times and his 14 and under team won the championship last summer with him hitting a homer in one of the games.

The 14U Mountville Team that won the LNP Tournament.

 My wife and I were on the island of St. Martin at the time, but did get to watch it on my phone through the app GameChanger.  Baseball, as you can see, is a big part of my family's lives.  And, it all goes back to what at one time was called the New Era Tournament.  My family appreciates all that the Lancaster Newspaper has done for Lancaster County by allowing my family, as well as many other families in Lancaster County, to participate in  The New Era Tournament beginning in 1946.  

My grandson Caden pitching in the tournament.

The teams that may possibly make the tournament this year recently had stories published about them in the newspaper.  Caden is part of the Hempfield Black team that still has a chance of making the tournament this year.  The teams that make the tournament all have an equal chance to claim the title of best team in their respective divisions.  The LNP Tournament will give all the teams a chance to win and end their season with a win.  But, all teams in the tournament can claim to have played superior baseball throughout the summer months of 2021.  A real accomplishment!  And, perhaps someday, years from now, one of the players or coaches will write about being in The Lancaster New Era Tournament/ LNP Tournament just as I did.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.