A wave of community pride filled the air as Frackville Little League officially kicked off its 2025 season this weekend.
With one of the highest registration numbers in recent years—124 young athletes lacing up their cleats, including the addition of a sixth tee ball team—the future of baseball in Frackville is looking brighter than ever.
The Opening Day ceremony, held at the league’s home fields, highlighted not only the players and teams but also the countless volunteers, parents, and local sponsors who help make the season possible.
A Community Effort Backed by Local Support
This year’s season was highlighted by the generosity of numerous sponsors and donors. Among the standouts is Chevy Youth Sports, which, in partnership with Rinaldi Chevrolet of Shenandoah, awarded Frackville Little League a $500 grant along with vital equipment and supplies to support the athletes.
A major facility upgrade is also underway, as the league announced the groundbreaking of a permanent bathroom facility at the complex. This long-anticipated improvement is a joint effort between Frackville Little League, Frackville Softball, and the Borough of Frackville, and is being made possible in large part thanks to a donation in materials from EMD Electronics of Tamaqua. EMD, a business of Merck, is recognized globally as the largest integrated specialty gas manufacturer, with products that touch nearly every modern electronic device. Special thanks were extended to Kelly Hansbury, Workforce Planning Project Manager, for facilitating the generous contribution.
Another highlight was the unveiling of a brand-new scoreboard for the 2025 season, complete with a pitch count display. This much-needed upgrade was funded by CACL Financial of Pottsville and installed by R&T Mechanical, Inc., further underscoring the community’s commitment to youth sports.
Honoring a Local Hero: Coach John Chuma
During the ceremonial first pitch, dedicated to the memory of longtime coach and community leader, John Chuma was honored.
A Frackville native, Vietnam Veteran, and 1967 graduate of North Schuylkill, Coach Chuma was the heart and soul of youth sports in the area for over five decades. From Little League to teener leagues, biddy basketball to North Schuylkill varsity athletics, Chuma left an indelible mark on countless young athletes.
In 1995, he and his son Chris helped guide Frackville Little League to its first District 24 title. His lifetime of service earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Jerry Wolman Northern Anthracite Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the naming of the Frackville Teener Baseball Field in his honor.
Though Coach Chuma passed away in February 2024, his spirit lives on in the players, families, and coaches he influenced. In a tribute, his grandson Knox threw the first pitch of the 2025 season to his father Chris.
A Heartfelt Start to a Promising Season
The ceremony concluded with North Schuylkill 8th grader Keira Blozousky delivering a stirring rendition of the national anthem, followed by the traditional Little League Pledge.
