Friday's All-Star Game will keep Varju busy, as usual

FROM THE MORNING CALL

As an umpire for the past 25 years, Bob Varju has been called plenty of things.

But these days no description fits Varju better than "Mr. President."

The 43-year-old Easton native is in his first season as the president of both Lehigh Valley amateur baseball leagues — the Blue Mountain League and Tri-County League.

Friday night is the showcase event of the amateur baseball season when the leagues meet in an all-star game at Limeport Stadium. First pitch for the nine-inning game is set for 7 p.m. at Limeport.

It will be a busy night for Varju.

Then again, they're all busy for Varju.

He umpires about nine games per week — one each weeknight and then doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. He works games in the Northampton County Legion League as well as the BML and Tri-Co.

And when the game he umpires is over, Varju will get a few calls on his cell phone with reports from other games.

"I have a lot of help from different people in each league and I am in constant communication with them and with Frankie D'Angelo, who assigns the umpires in both the BML and Tri-Co," Varju said. "I usually only get two or three calls a night, sometimes more when a controversy comes up."

Varju, who is in his third season with the Tri-County League, said it has been a controversy-free season for the most part.

When a dispute comes up, he listens to all sides.

"I believe in letting people voice their opinions in a respectful manner," he said. "And when everybody is heard, then you look for a way to resolve the situation. I made it clear that this is not going to be a dictatorship. I am looking to solve problems, not create them, and just want things to go forward."

It was his penchant for fairness and his willingness to listen to others that led to both leagues turning to Varju to keep things moving forward.

Varju replaced Mike Brosious as Tri-Co president in 2009 and follows Eric Charles with the BML and said he has not heard anyone say he favors one league over the other league.

Keeping peace between the leagues has not always been easy. In fact, for several seasons the BML did not want to play the Tri-Co in the all-star game, playing the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League instead.

"There's definitely a rivalry between these two leagues," Varju said. "There will always be members of the Blue Mountain League who won't think the Tri-County League is as good as the BML. But I think it's pretty close right now. There's a lot of parity between the leagues and a lot of parity within each league, especially the Blue Mountain."

Varju said he wants the all-star game to go off without a hitch. As the Tri-Co prez he appreciated the efforts of BML boss Charles in recent years and said attendance has grown thanks to the cooperation between leagues.

Each team in both leagues is required to provide a gift card from a local business of at least $25 to be part of a ticket raffle. The between-innings drawings have become as popular as the game itself.

Once the all-star game is completed, Varju said that he anticipates a very good second half of the season and a competitive playoff tournament in each league to follow.

"I think we're going to see a lot of good baseball," he said.

The economic climate makes running these leagues even more a challenge, but Varju, who works for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, is optimistic about the future.

"These leagues provide an outlet for the guys who can still play the game at high level," he said. "Where would some of these kids play without these leagues? These are still premier leagues and I look at it as my job to keep them going. There are some financial concerns, especially in this economy. The guys are working longer hours and some teams are having trouble filling rosters. Sponsors are harder to come by.

"But it's still baseball and there's nothing better than going out and watching a game in one of these leagues. We've got talented players who love the game and some great venues to watch the games."

As for Varju's own career, he said it ended by playing legion baseball for Easton and Jack Logic.

"I began umpiring the next week after my legion career ended and I have been umpiring ever since," he said. "Being an umpire and serving as league president is my way of giving back to a game that has given so much to me. People were there to help me when I was growing up and now I want to be there for others."

ALL-STAR SALUTE

Here are the rosters for Friday night's game:

BLUE MOUNTAIN

1B: Jesse Borden (Martins Creek), Graeme Davis (Northampton).

2B: Tom Crimi (Easton), Pete McCauley (Starters).

3B: Eric Dimitrovits (Blue Mountain), Ryan "Chubby" Miller (Easton).

SS: Adam Sandt (Starters), Kyle Gable (Blue Mountain).

C: Mark Nicholas (Hellertown), Jake Wandler (Northampton), Bryce Muth (Starters).

Utility: Rick Seltzer (Starters), Brett Wandler (Northampton).

Outfielders: Dan Bierce (Easton), Mike Bortz (Hellertown), Jeff Kroboth (Northampton), Jeff Slanovec (Northampton), Garrison Rausch (Starters), Ryan McCormick (Easton).

DH: Ricky Rivera (Hellertown), Bill Quinn (Limeport).

Pitchers: Jim Ray (Limeport), C.J. Saveri (Vynecrest), Nick Bowen (Hellertown), Ryan Amey (Hellertown), Robbie Williams (Martins Creek), Ray Snyder (Martins Creek), Kyle Collina (Hellertown), Chris Boyce (Hellertown), Jon Derkits (Berlinsville), Jayson Sigley (Starters), Justin Jachowicz (Starters), Mike Ciavarella (Easton).

TRI-COUNTY

1B: Ethan Moser (Boyertown), Tim Wiand (Gabelsville).

2B: Ryan Zakszeski (Gabelsville), Will Flores (21st Roosevelt).

3B: Julio Lebron (Jordan Creek), Dan Sharkey (Northern Yankees), Tyler Lehman (Limeport).

SS: Brandon Sullivan (Gabelsville), Henry Concepcion (Northern Yankees).

OF: Tom DeAngelis (Gabelsville), Mike Crowe (Cetronia), Matt Cotellese (Gabelsville), Brandon Mazzie (Jordan Creek), Mike Cudwadie (Limeport), Mike Fignar (Northern Yankees), Ron Wentz (Jordan Creek), Andy Brandstetter (Northern Yankees).

C: Ben Swatsky (Limeport), Jeremy Faust (Northern Yankees).

DH: Darrin Lenhart (Northern Yankees), Rob Hoyle (21st Roosevelt), Jeremy Arner (Limeport)

Pitchers: Caleb Calarco (Northern Yankees), Chuck Nicholas (Boyertown), Anthony Clemens (Boyertown), Adam Maini (Limeport), Ryan Ferrani (Jordan Creek), Derek Brousseau (Jordan Creek), Jason Ferrie (Gabelsville), Matt Dean (Gabelsville), Adam Hayes (Northern Yankees), Mike Troxell (Northern Yankees), Cary Zimmerman (Limeport).

keith.groller@mcall.com

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