Comments on: Running the Bases: How a college kid became king of Canaryville Little League

By: Old Coach

Old Coach — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:32:31 +0000

I think this is great! The article does not say that no one cared about the field or kids before John. I coached a team a while back — It always seemed a little shady & I heard rumors of things here and there — sometimes its takes an outsider to step in. Now the kids have a great place to play ball & the parents can be sure their money is going towards the right things.

By: Viller1

Viller1 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:03:48 +0000

John Kozlar is the best thing to happen to Canaryville in the last 25 years. Going back to the opening quote “Baseball is for kids, and grown ups only screw it up.” Why don’t we ask the kids what they think; I’m sure they will give you an honest answer. John is not patting himself on the back, he is getting the credit he deserves. He has nothing but good intentions. Jud, if your brother had raised 30,000 dollars, refurbished the whole field, and increased enrollment they would have written an article about him. To John, don’t listen to the negative comments. If it was someone from inside the neighborhood doing the same thing people would not be as critical.

By: Sally Pegausch

Sally Pegausch — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:50:09 +0000

This article is very “disheartning” because it makes it sound like NO ONE in Canaryville ever cared about the kids of Canaryville Little League and I have watched over the years many families put a lot of time and effort into helping Canaryville Little League. I am a Canaryville Resident, 4th Generation! I also use to Coach my daughthers in Canaryville Little League.

I also give credit where credit is due and John Kozlar has put his time and heart into raising money to make it a better baseball field. I commend him for this. He stepped up by being the leader of the fundraising efforts to better Canaryville Little League.

I played baseball on this field and the parents who helped make it so, did a good job and I also commend them for their efforts.

Also, its not nice to accuse people of stealing and when they haven’t. By the way, there was an Award Ceremony at the end of last year so get your facts right before you print the wrong facts.

By: judy mac

judy mac — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:44:48 +0000

if kozlar isnt too busy patting himself on the back, he should look into the history of the league. my brother has coached for 15 years and hasnt had an article written about him. every year prior to the season many people would come out and paint, mow etc and refurbish the field, not years of neglect as stated in the article. many fine people took of their own free time and resources to make the park a welcome spot for families. the tradition of the route was changed for no apparent reason, of course upsetting people who have gone to the parade for many many years, met with other family members and would then walk to the park to enjoy a hot dot but right now the stand isnt even open. after coaching for so many years my brother asked that his team be scheduled for certain evenings when he wasnt working and kozlar scheduled for the nights he’s working. shouldnt he get some consideration after coaching for 15 years. considering he has no children on the league he coached because he saw a need not self promotion! After one year of coaching he has made all these accusations, lets see if he is around in 15 years.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:32:51 +0000

This article clearly doesn’t have the history or facts about Canaryville Little League!!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:28:11 +0000

I do believe that Johnny has done an amazing job to helping to renovate the Canaryville Little League. But I do not agree with your comment that “community involvement and reestablished trust within Canaryville has come from outside of the community”. As even John has said, it’s all about community involvement and that’s why the Canaryville Little League has been running for the past 50 years. All of those volunteers that have helped him over the past months are the same volunteers that have been helping year after year after year. To make it sound like people in the community have done nothing to help keep the organization moving forward is just wrong. I knew the person that ran the little league for many, many years before stepping down from the position about 2 years ago. She was dedicated to the league and the children. As John knows, it’s a lot of work. And one person can not do it alone. Have there been mistakes made in the past yes, will John make mistakes that he will learn from, yes. So would I say that John is the “King of Canaryville”? No. Because as I said and as he said….it was the entire community that did it together.