The Shippensburg Stars season didn’t end the way they had hoped it would. Stars were nocked out of playoffs in the early rounds. Losing games to Littlestown (5-2) and Gettysburg (6-1). Stars finished the season with a record of 14 and 6. Even though disappointed by the way the season ended, Stars players and Coach Petty are looking forward to next season.
A quick recap of the 2020 season. In February the Shippensburg Stars and Hagerstown Braves were forced to switch from the West Shore Twilight Baseball League to the South Penn Baseball League when West Shore disbanded. Josh Petty took over the reins as head coach and we added a whole new group of ball players, as the Stars joined forces with the Newville twilight team.
Once again the season was put on hold as Corona Virus hit our country and everything was put on hold. The Stars 2020 season wouldn’t start till June 21.
Coach Petty built a team that would be a force to be reconed with. Leading the team on and off the field was Todd Weldon, former professional pitcher in the New York Mets farm system and current head coach of the Scotland Knights. Todd lead the team on offense and always stepped up for his team on defense. Taking on any role Coach Petty asked of him. The team really looked up to him because of his experience playing the game at a higher level.
The Stars were also blessed with adding Jayvien Sandridge, former pitcher in the Baltimore Oriole farm system, to the roster. Three college players from Shippensburg University (Braden Petty, Joe Barbera, and Nick Zanic), Jared Pine is attending Mont Alto, and Brad Weber who attends Union University. The rest of the roster is made up of players from Shippensburg, the Scotland Knights, and surrounding communities. Coach Petty hopes the core group of the Stars team will stay together going into the 2021 season.
Hopefully COVID won’t shut high school and college baseball down this year. High school and college baseball seasons prepare players for their upcoming summer baseball season. It also motivates players to want to play, especially high school players.
The South Penn League has added Thurmont, Maryland to the 2021 schedule. With Thurmont that would give the league 11 teams. They are hoping to add a team from the Carlisle area as well. South Penn is a very competitive league and the Stars are thankful for being able to play in it.
I know it’s only the end of December/beginning of January but we are very excited for the 2021 season to start and looking forward to seeing our loyal fans hopefully in April.