Neighborhoodtimes: Baseball league in search of a field

The league is for kids from 6 to 8 years old and their parents, who want a more competitive environment than Little League offers.

"Burg" is short for St. Petersburg and more specifically for Midtown and the southeast quadrant of the city where Fintak and his partner Charles Castle have been recruiting players.

There's only one thing standing in the way for Fintak and his league: a home field. Although practices have started and games are scheduled to begin in March, they still don't have a field to play on.

"There's a need for competitive baseball here on the south side. I'm trying to do what I can to provide it," Castle said.

More than 40 kids have signed up and are practicing on Saturdays at the fields behind Lakewood High School at 12th Street S. Those four fields are used by Bay Point Little League, whose season starts in February.

Bay Point practices and hosts games at 5801 12th St. S and has first rights to the fields through a contract with the city.

Fintak and Castle brought this issue to the Bay Point Little League board at a recent meeting. The league would be unable to give up the time for Burg Baseball's games before Bay Point completes registration, said Bob Henry, president of Bay Point's board.

Before Burg Baseball, Bay Point was the only league available for kids in southeast St. Petersburg. If parents wanted an alternative, they were often forced to into an AAU league as far away as Fossil Park or Seminole.

Sue Tegarden, an athletic supervisor for St. Petersburg, who has been working with Fintak and Bay Point, is also confident that the issue will be resolved.

For more information on Burg Baseball, Mike Fintak can be contacted at 727-866-6578 or via e-mail at stpetecane@aol.com

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Comments on this article

by Anthony	01/26/07 12:32 PM
Nothing has been more important to BPLL for the last 15 years than the Southside neigborhood and the kids. It is all volunteer, and they have poured their hearts into the league, the fields and the families. Smith lacks knowledge and history.

by Me	01/26/07 07:37 AM
Bay Point is in its 55th(?) yr and the first integrated league in FL! Board members, players & families are from diverse demographics. They work hard to continue its success financially, in size and diversity, quality of fields, and competitiveness.

by Concerned	01/25/07 10:18 PM
Why can't the 6-8 yr olds, simply, join Bay Point if it's to play at that specific facility? Start a new league -- use an available facility. Lk Vista fields are already committed to Bay Point. And Smith, define "CERTAIN " kids! What's your point?

by Mudville9	01/25/07 05:44 PM
Mr. Smith, if you are suggesting that race has anything to do with field recommendations, try reading the title of the story again. He is just trying to give some direction to someone, that it appears, needs it to successfully run a baseball league.

by George	01/25/07 04:04 PM
This has nothing to do with "certain kids" playing on "certain fields". This is about a certain person forming a competing league because he was denied head coaching priviledges by BPLL last season for lack of committment.

by Margaret	01/25/07 03:46 PM
BPLL is always begging for volunteers. Why take 40-50 kids from BPLL & form another league? Logic says work together to make BPLL more successful. Then everyone wins.

by Bill	01/25/07 03:40 PM
Hats-off to those guys and their parents, they are taking the time to get more kids out to play some ball. God knows we all need to do a better job, keeping our kids physically active.

by John	01/25/07 02:34 PM
Mr. Smith, perhaps non profit leagues do start every day. The smart ones however line up their field or court times before taking registrations.

by smith	01/25/07 01:47 PM
This choice is about the kids not a specific coach.If you keeping digging on one person(personal comments) some information might be given out from parents of baypoint and medowlawn about pastcoach behavior

by Anthony	01/25/07 01:45 PM
The Ball Parks and concessions would not exist except for the effort of BPLL. BPLL cares for them year round at BPLL expense, with City support. Burg Ball wants access during the BPLL season, and would seek access to other BPLL resources. Why?

by susan	01/25/07 10:37 AM
Burg Ball? More competitive for 6 to 8 year olds? Give me a break. Totally agree with Sean's comment. Little league is to teach the game and have fun at that age. The older they get the more competition they will have.

by smith	01/25/07 10:04 AM
It is very interesting that John recommnded(two)specific fields. I really question the motives of anyone who does not want kids or maybe CERTAIN KIDS from our community to play on public fields of there choice.WHY THOSE TWO FIELDS JOHN!

by Smith	01/25/07 09:54 AM
I am very concerned about some of the questionable comments made regarding this new league.Citizens start (non profits)leagues every day in many sports inorder to provide parents with other options.Remember this is a public field.Choice is important!

by Concerned	01/25/07 07:52 AM
Did this reporter do his job or is he just a friend of Fintak? Fintak started coaching a team at Meadowlawn LL last Fall & when the team wasn't doing well, he left the kids stranded. Will that happen at Burg BB, too, with 6 - 8 yr olds stranded?

by Cobra59	01/25/07 07:42 AM
I wish that the parents of Burg BB would've known first that Fintak has many times started coaching and never finished after the first few weeks. He has said to me, "I only coach winning teams," and when they don't turn out to be talented, he leaves.

by Trese	01/25/07 07:15 AM
I live in the area and walk the trail at lake vista and the fields are never used except in the spring and that is not all the time. So what again is the problem Baypoint has with a little competetion?

by Mike	01/25/07 07:12 AM
The writer of this story didn't do all his homework or didn't provide both sides of his findings. There are many fields in the area, one being the former Thunderdome LL fields near The Trop. Why disrupt an already successful program at Bay Point?

by Maria	01/25/07 06:51 AM
Mr. Fintak had been separated from Bay Point LL at least 3 times in the last 9 years. His MO now is not all about the children. Bay Point LL board members have brought the league to a healthy state since Mr. Fintak was the treasurer. Hmmmm...

by Mudville9	01/24/07 11:12 PM
I feel bad for the kids. A baseball league without a field? Sounds like this league's board didn't do their research. It is like a jester with no crowd. Who's the joke on now?

by Margaret	01/24/07 03:22 PM
The volunteers of Bay Point Little League have spent years overcoming financial adversity, and maintaining the fields in question to give their players a positive atmosphere in which to play. Why disrupt that when other fields are available?

by Anthony	01/24/07 09:21 AM
I am shocked that the Times published this story without talking to a wider audience who have information that would not show Mr. Fintak's plans in such favoable light. Mr. Fintak's role with baseball in south St. Pete has been problematic for years

by John	01/24/07 08:47 AM
There are parks for Burg to call home. If this new league serves Midtown and SE St. Pete, what's wrong with Bartlett Park or Campbell Park? I think are enough alternatives that they don't have to infringe on Bay Point.

by Sean	01/24/07 08:00 AM
These kids are 6-8 years old and their parents want "competitive" baseball? Give me a break. How good could they possibly be? Just more parents living through their children.