ZANESVILLE – The Muskingum Valley Old Timers Baseball Association and area high school coaches have formulated a new plan for summer 2015.

The Old Timers will begin the Junior Pioneers Youth Baseball Organization, which consists of 13-and-under, 14U, 16U, 19U and 22U teams. These teams will play in tournaments, participate in the Central Ohio Youth Baseball League, and play against American Legion squads.

The first workout for 13U and 14U teams will take place at noon Sept. 21 and 28 at Zanesville High School; the 16U and 19U teams will conduct tryouts after the high school season ends.

“We kind of got a late start on this, which is why we are only having a couple of workouts for the 13U and 14U teams,” said David Balo, head coach of Zanesville High School and the Junior Pioneers’ 22U team. “Next summer, we will have all the tryouts in August. The 13U and 14U teams will not be chosen until next spring, but we thought it was important to get this program started especially in the younger ages.

“Parents can expect to see area high school coaches at these workouts and tryouts next spring,” he added. “We have some really good coaches around this area that want to see all the kids do well and get every opportunity they deserve.”

The players who play on the Junior Pioneer teams will be allowed and encouraged to play on their local Babe Ruth teams.

“It’s a win-win situation for all the kids involved,” Balo said. “Kids will be able to play on the same teams as their high school teammates and friends in the local Babe Ruth leagues. The kids who want to play a higher level of tournament baseball and want the exposure to better competition and college coaches are being given that opportunity to meet new teammates and friends as well.”

The local Babe Ruth League next summer will consist of three leagues, 13-year-olds, 14-year-olds and 15- to 18-year-olds. The 13- and 14-year-old teams will participate in COYBL and participate in tournaments throughout the state.

The 16U team will play in the local 15-18 Babe Ruth league, face Junior Legion teams and take part in several tournaments, including the Junior Legion state tournament and Buckeye Elite.

Dan Murphy will coach the 19U team, which will take on Legion teams and participate in showcase tournaments such as Buckeye Elite and the Legion district tournament.

The 22U Junior Pioneers will continue to play college teams and make their annual trip to the All-American Amateur Baseball Association World Series in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

“The area coaches felt like it was important to offer the kids who wanted to play a higher level of competition the opportunity to do that, but they also felt like it was important to give all kids in the area a place to play good baseball,” Balo said. “Hopefully, this will give the kids who want to play college baseball a place to play locally, from the age of 13 all the way though their senior year of college.”