Since its inaugural season in 1974, the Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club has supported and provided amateur, summer baseball within the Alaska Baseball League. The Peninsula Oilers, on what will be the organizations 45th baseball season, are facing crippling financial realities which threaten the 2019 season and the future of summer baseball on the Kenai.
The history of Oilers baseball is one of community support and involvement. In addition to a summer baseball program which has featured well over 100 future major league baseball players, most recently including Steven Piscotty, Patrick Wisdom and others; the Oilers have conducted baseball clinics for Little League Baseball in Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Seward; have been involved in community events including the Frontier Community Services World Series Event and have provided scholarships through Oilers Baseball and the Oilers Booster Club to graduating seniors on the Kenai Peninsula.
Mike Tice, President of the Peninsula Oilers Board of Directors, would like for the Oilers to continue its role in the community.
Tice: “One of the things that is bothersome to the Oilers right now is that we used to give out money to American Legion baseball, we’d give out money to Little League teams around the peninsula,we would help fund high school baseball, and we’re not able to do that any more. We would like to get back to that. We’ve kept our scholarships (high school seniors) going; it’s a part of our charter–we’re never going to not give out the scholarships, until we’re out of business. Kind of have to cut back on everything else.”
The Peninsula Oilers two primary funding sources gaming through Old Town Bingo and marketing and sales have through recent years taken major hits. A downturn in the economy can be attributed to both the decrease in sales and marketing and the decrease in revenue from the gaming aspect of Oilers bingo. The main point of emphasis now–how can the community and the Peninsula Oilers come together to fund the 2019 season and look ahead to the future of Alaska Baseball League play on the Kenai Peninsula.
Tice on community funding: “Every little bit would help. It doesn’t necessarily need to be monetary funds, there are a lot of things out at the ballpark that we (Oilers) pay for that if we could get local businesses to help us with and not have to pay that. We definitely need someone that can maintain the ballpark and get the grass looking good and the way we like it.”
Individuals, companies, businesses can also help the Peninsula Oilers by becoming financially invested through marketing, through sales, which may include park buy-outs, billboard signs, program book advertising, and much more.
Tice: ” It could be as sign out in the outfield, it could be a ballpark buy-out night. We have some packages that are a little bit more that would cover balls (Oilers pay thousands for baseballs each season). I know that Diana (Oilers office manager) has worked hard to structure that so that you can mix and match a special package for anybody for whatever amount they care about. We’re always willing to do whatever, work with our customers. People can always make donations. We’re in the process of setting up an on-line means for donation, making it easy for people to donate on-line. You can call the Oilers office directly at 283-7133.”
The future of Peninsula Oilers baseball and the presence of summer baseball on the Kenai now in the hands of the community and the fans to rally together to help save Peninsula Oilers baseball.
Contact the Peninsula Oilers at 283-7133 or online at oilersbaseball.com
