Arbanas

CENTER TWP — Andrew Arbanas genuinely appreciates community baseball.

That feeling landed the 2020 Butler graduate and Center Township pitcher-outfielder a $1,000 scholarship from the Butler County Area Baseball League last week.

Arbansas was one of 23 BCABL players in their final seasons to write an essay about what community baseball means to them. The authors of three of those essays — Arbanas, Isaac Love of Saxonburg and Chuck Spontak of Pine Richland — were awarded the scholarships.

“This league's given me so much already,” Arbanas said. “To receive this scholarship on top of it means a lot.

“I'm definitely going to miss playing here.”

Also a member of Butler's championship rifle team and a javelin thrower in track and field, Arbansas played his youth baseball in East Butler. He did not play community ball the past couple of years.

“I played some travel ball the past couple of years,” he said. “A few of my buddies were playing for Center Township this year and I wanted to come join them. I knew this would be my last year playing.

“It's much more laid back. That's made it a lot more fun.”

Arbanas broke his essay into four categories: Friends, Family, Volunteerism and Competitive Spirit. He wrote of how he was introduced to kids from other townships through all-star tournaments when he was young.

“I was able to learn how to befriend other kids. I will use this learned skill the rest of my life,” he wrote.

He mentioned how his parents have always been there to support him from T-Ball through this season. His father coached many of his teams and his parents have helped run all-star tournaments through the years.

“I appreciated their dedication then, but I appreciate it more now,” Arbanas said. “I realize now how many hours they gave up.”

Arbanas wrote about how his grandfather told him before every game he used to play, he'd know to play hard and walk off the field with his head held high, win or lose.

Admitting that his competitiveness originated with baseball, Arbanas has used that trait to advance in track and field.

“I joined the (Butler High) track team my junior year. Some friends were doing it and I've always been willing to try something new,” he said. “I only competed in two meets and was ranked 17th in the WPIAL in the javelin when I broke my leg.”

That cost him the rest of that season. The COVID-19 pandemic cost him all of this senior track season.

But maybe not his javelin career.

“Andrew is going to try to walk on at Penn State in that event,” Center Township baseball manager Jerry Oliver said. “We've been limiting his pitches this summer because we don't want to mess that up for him.”

Arbanas plans to major in engineering.

Butler's track and field coaches have been running three “intramural” meets at the high school this summer. Golden Tornado athletes compete against each other in a dual meet format.

“It's designed to give us chances to post good times and distances for colleges to see,” Arbanas said. “I've thrown 175 feet in practice.

“I've talked to the Penn State throwing coach and I think I've got a good shot at making their team.”

In the meantime, he's provided a shot in the arm for Center Township baseball.

“He's done a lot for us,” Oliver said. “He's one of my best competitors, plays solid defense and hits in the middle of our lineup. He's a doubles hitter.

“Andrew plays center field when he's not pitching. He's been a great addition to our team. He's so determined and the way he competes, I can see him making that (Penn State) track team.”