DALLAS TWP. – As word of Jack Snyder’s death spread among officers in the Back Mountain Little League in December, there was an immediate realization that something needed to be done to recognize Snyder’s many contributions to the organization through more than four decades.
Snyder is now memorialized at a location where he spent much of his time on spring and summer evenings and weekends.
Among Snyder roles with the Back Mountain Little League were years of running the concession stand. More recently, he often settled into one of two plastic chairs near the front of the stand to overlook games and converse with those who visited games there.
Combining those memories, Little League officials made plans for a bench in Snyder’s honor to occupy his favorite spot. A bench – which will ultimately be replaced by a more permanent one that was delayed in shipping – was unveiled during Opening Day ceremonies at the Back Mountain Little League complex May 11.
“He was such a big part of our league for so many years and a lot of my memories are wrapped up with him there,” said Maureen Hite, who shares the vice president of concessions duties with Brenda Morris. “He ran the stand the last handful of years that he was involved. He was just a special man. We lost a good man that day.
“Collectively, we all knew we needed to do something.”
That something turned out to be the bench and a major role in the opening ceremonies for Snyder’s family.
“Especially in the last few years, Jack could always be found sitting in one of the little chairs outside the concession stand window,” Hite said. “He loved a good ball game – softball, baseball – and he loved a good conversation.
“If you sat in the chair next to him, you had his ear.”
The league season was already underway, but opening ceremonies were pushed back from April 27 because of inclement weather.
The Back Mountain Little League wound up with the festivities on one of the few nearly ideal days of this spring.
Each team was introduced as its players paraded down the hill and onto the field. Once there, they listened to speeches from league and district officials.
Drawings were held to award prizes, donated by Weis Market, to players.
Snyder’s efforts were remembered during the speeches. His son Mickey wore Snyder’s baseball glove while throwing out the game’s first pitch. Other members of the family joined in when the bench was unveiled.
District president Robert Bertoni praised the efforts of current president Steve Skammer, as well as Snyder, whom he noted ran the district’s softball division for many years after his time preceding Skammer as Back Mountain president.
“I became good friends with (Snyder),” Bertoni said. “He was an unbelievable mentor to me.”
Skammer noted the ongoing efforts of the many volunteers who keep the district’s most successful league in all-star competition running smoothly on the local level.
“We have so many great volunteers here,” Skammer said. “ … We have a great board. You literally have played on the nicest facility in Pennsylvania.
“This place is beautiful. You have a great complex. We appreciate all the parents, who are coaches, and especially the players.”
The Back Mountain Little League has absorbed the Bob Horlacher Little League this year, adding about 30 players.
“It really helps us because they have three fields that we can use for games and practice,” Skammer said of the former league’s facilities in Beaumont.
With all of the early-season rainouts, additional games are being scheduled at those fields.
Skammer said the league currently has about 650 players on about 50 teams, ranging from T-ball to Juniors for boys and girls.
Also new this year, Back Mountain teams are crossing over and playing games with Harveys Lake, a smaller league, adding more teams to compete against for both leagues’ players.
Hite said a date has not been set, but the league is making plans to conduct its second annual Home Run Derby in June.
