PVBL: Punxatawney Groundhogs
Groundhogs Withdraw Lawsuit
Febuary 21, 1998

Punxsutawney (PA)--The first major threat to the second PVBL season has been removed. The Defiant's best team last year filed a lawsuit against the league office requesting a name change to correct the incorrect spelling of their team name, which is incorrectly spelled correctly as well. In a matter of hours, league commish Matt Peck swiftly corrected the mistake of a mistake and adjusted all league records to change the name "Ponxatawney" to "Punxatawney."

"We, of course, withdraw the lawsuit against the league. Also, we thank Matt Peck for his swift action in making this adjustment," noted team owner Dan Shapiro.

The team will continue to play in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but are requesting that the town mayor John Hallman change the city's name to agree with the baseball team. Hallman, the three term incumbent mayor of the town, had little to say right now.

"Although it may sound ludicrous, its not out of the question. The team has really improved our economy. The only thing we had before this was Phil--now people flood the town all season long, plus it gets Phil more popularity. But I have to consider this with my city council before I can even think about renaming the town," Hallman said.

In other news, the Groundhogs were delighted with the results of the free agent draft. Team third base coach Mike Schmidt did much of the scouting for this draft and when he was asked by Shapiro who to take, there was no question.

"Well, we looked at the positions where we knew that we'd need a replacement. My boy Scottie Rolen has third base until he retires, so we opted against taking Scott Spiezio," the hall of fame 3B, turned Punxatawney coach said. "That left us with one guy left on our list. We wanted a hitter, not a pitcher, so we went with an outfielder who is in line to replace Roberto Kelly eventually--Robin Jennings. He looked a lot like Rolen did at the start of last season, just a few years older."

Jennings worked very hard during spring training and is being hyped as the next young superstar to reach the city of Punxatawney. However, at 24, he doesn't have a lot of time to prove himself in Rhyolite and Roswell before he might get called on to play in the majors. For now he is with the Eddie Gaedels, but the Weather Balloons are aleady reserving a locker for Jennings.

"I'm happy to join the Groundhogs. This is one of the best teams in baseball right now," Jennings told one reporter briefly during a spring training practice, just before stepping into the batting cage and rapping 3 drives off the outfield wall.

In the second round, the Groundhogs selected catcher Mike Bannister as a backup of a backup--just a warm body to fill out the Weather Balloons who hope to contend for a AAA championship this season.

Jennings and Bannister may not be the only new Groundhogs. The team is currently in deep trade negotiations involving starters Mike Hampton, Scott Aldred, and Dustin Hermanson. "I'm not at liberty to disclose any terms, but we are very near acquiring another bat for our lineup," Shapiro said. "We are still taking offers--looking for an outfielder, especially a leadoff type hitter, in return for our starting pitching."

Much of the recent trade talk has revolved around brining another outfielder to Punxatawney. This has greatly angered newly acquired Luis Gonzalez. He gained a lot of notoriety for his clubhouse antics after being traded to Punxatawney. Since he has arrived, Gonzalez has been very disruptive. And since these recent trade talks began, he has done nothing but complain.

"What the hell! They a starter and a prospect to get me and now they are already trying to replace me? Screw this. I'm going home," Gonzalez said. And he did just that--walked out of practice and left the stadium.

Shapiro found out shortly after when Gonzalez wasn't in left field where he was supposed to be. "That guy is gonna learn the meaning of the words 'massive fines' if he doesn't shape up soon. I thought we could tame him, but he's a major problem in this clubhouse too."

Later, Shapiro was asked to update his tenative starting day lineup. He wrote it out, and seemed to think quite a bit before pencilling in Billy Ashley as the third outfielder--not Gonzalez.

"That's just tenative, of course, and Ashley probably won't end up starting. But I doubt Gonzalez will either," the owner said.

The lineup is as follows:

2B Tony Batista             Rotation          Long            Setup
CF Marty Cordova            Lieber            Worrell         Munoz
SS Jose Valentin            Thomas            Hermanson       Ludolph
1B Ryan Klesko              Hampton
DH Jason Giambi             Coppinger         Middle          Closer
3B Scott Rolen              Aldred            Ruffcorn        Bottalico
LF Billy Ashley
C  Rick Wilkins
RF Roberto Kelly


And that's all from the Groundhog's today!

--written by Dan Shapiro