Daily News League welcomes 4 new summer baseball teams

The McKeesport-based Daily News League summer baseball circuit is expanding, not just in numbers but more than ever outside the city's immediate area.

Four new teams, including three representing other municipalities of Allegheny County, join eight returning clubs from last season to form a 12-team league. It matches the most membership in decades, according to Nick Donato, who enters his 11th season as league president.

“It was my goal from the start to get back to double-digit teams, which was the norm when I played,” Donato said. “It finally happened this year, when all eight teams returned from last season and four new areas applied to join for 2015.”

The new teams are Banksville; McKeesport; Peirce & Associates, representing Munhall; and Plum.

They join Klingensmith Insurance of McKeesport, Clancy's Pub of Dravosburg, Leschak Auto (formerly Bowser) and Quinn Construction of West Mifflin, Pasquale's Pizzeria (former Synergy Group) of White Oak, South Hills, South Park and Woodland Hills Ducks (formerly Sakas).

South Park is the defending regular-season champion but lost in the championship series to Quinn Construction.

Rosters for the four expansion teams will consist mainly of college- and high school-aged players seeking teams beyond the age restrictions of American Legion leagues.

“It's a youth movement we're seeing, and it's continuing with a large majority of the players under 25 on those teams,” Donato said.

“Yet we still have a very talented group of veterans playing into their 30s and beyond.”

The Daily News League peaked at 12 teams “around the turn of the century,” Donato said.

“Really, other than that one year around 2000, this is the most teams we've had in over 40 years since I can remember.”

In 2004, the year before Donato assumed control, the league nearly folded.

“Fortunately, we found an expansion team for the next year, getting us to six clubs and keeping the league alive,” Donato said.

A key to keeping the returning teams' rosters intact, Donato said, is the youthful makeup of the expansion teams.

“They're basically all new players on those teams,” he said. “That means that the returning eight teams will not be bothered by any major losses going to the expansion clubs.”

Teams will play a 22-game schedule, facing every team twice.

Opening day is May 11.

Dave Mackall is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at dmackall@tribweb.com.