Take me out to the ball game!

The AAABA Tournament is an annual summer staple in the Johnstown community. For the 79th year, sixteen amateur baseball teams from the east, southeast, and Midwest were invited to compete against each other to crown a new champion. Some of the players appearing in the tournament are currently on Division I rosters while others may become future MLB All-Stars. Notable athletes who have played at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point include Ken Griffey, Jr, John Smoltz, Joe Torre (as infield manager), and Johnstown’s very own and AL Cy Young Award winner Pete Vuckovich, among many others.

There is plenty of fanfare that comes alongside America’s pastime. The Johnstown Oldtimers Baseball Association is the reason the tournament continues to storm the city with gusto on an annual basis. This board works tirelessly year-round to secure enough funds for a successful event. It plans nearly every aspect of the tournament, including the AAABA Hall of Fame banquet and the players’ banquet, which takes place prior to the first pitch.

Aiding the Johnstown Oldtimers in fundraising efforts are the AAABA Ambassadors. This is a group of young women, ages 17-20, who are another integral part of the tournament’s success. If you have gone to any games, you may recognize these ladies selling 50-50 tickets and wristbands, interacting with the fans, dancing on top of the dugouts, or if you have attended the opening parade, promenading on classic cars accoutered in remarkable gowns.

Behind the scenes, however, this group of aspiring women are selling opening day tickets, program advertisements, and hosting fundraising events months before the AAABA Tournament begins. In 2018, the Ambassadors raised $35,000 through these means alone. Understanding the importance of what these young ladies do, Spangler Subaru is proud to sponsor two AAABA Ambassadors for the 2024 Tournament.

Madalyn Hoover is going to be a sophomore at St. Francis University where she is studying to become a physician’s assistant. This is her second year as a AAABA Ambassador, first appearing two years ago. She posed in an outdoor adventure scene with a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. Jacie Coyle will be a senior at Somerset Area High School. She participates in cheerleading, dance, and as a track & field athlete. This is her first year appearing in the program. Her vehicle of choice was a 2024 Subaru WRX, with the backdrop set against the dealership to reflect the staging of a road race. The photos they took with their respective Subaru models made up the full-page ads seen in the tournament’s program. We wish both ladies the best of luck in their very bright futures!