Submitted photo Mike Cefalde, left, is honored prior to Sunday’s game at at Cene Park in Struthers. Tim Joyce is also pictured.

STRUTHERS — It was time to play ball Sunday at Bob Cene Park.

That allowed hundreds of Class B baseball players to compete for the first time this year after the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated sports throughout the country in March.

It gave area fans the opportunity to honor longtime area coach Mike Cefalde in a surprise ceremony before his 18U Roth Brothers squad opened the season Sunday night with a 3-1 loss to DuraEdge.

Cefalde, the general manager of baseball operations for Roth Brothers who entered his 30th season guiding a team in Class B, was honored for 50 years of mentoring area youth.

He was humbled and emotional.

“It’s unbelievable. I didn’t expect it,” he said. “I couldn’t figure out why all these people were here. It was just … words can’t describe it. To be honored like this is surprising and humbling.”

Cefalde has a large extended family, and former players, friends and co-workers were on hand for the ceremony.

“I enjoy doing what I do,” Cefalde said. “My family is all behind it and supportive. I’ve been coaching for 50 years and married for 49. I feel blessed. To have all of my family here today and so many people, it’s just a wonderful thing.”

Cefalde began as a youth football coach with the Youngstown Little Hardhats in 1970 and continued to coach that sport with the Austintown Little Colts. In addition to baseball and football, he was a corner man for Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Kelly Pavlik, as well as other fighters.

In baseball, Cefalde has coached on the high school level — varsity, junior varsity or freshmen — at Fitch, Boardman, Canfield and East, while spending summers guiding players in Little League, Pony, Colt and Class B organizations.

Cefalde serves as an area talent scout — guiding, advocating for players and helping them find a path to play collegiately.

“Mike is always about the kids,” said Tim Joyce, secretary of Class B League. “If he’s not teaching or coaching them, he’s going through his contacts and helping them to find a good fit to play college ball. He’s notifying college coaches and updating them and promoting our local players in the recruitment process.

“He’s got a huge heart. I’ve never known anyone who has put in so much for so long to help kids. Fifty years is an incredible amount of time, and he still does a great job communicating and connecting with today’s youth. I just say God bless him and his family. He’s the Energizer bunny — giving 100 percent, 100 percent of the time.”

The do-it-all Cefalde has umpired/officiated on the high school level as well as with several recreational and youth leagues.

According to Jim Cortese, an assistant coach with Roth Brothers, it’s the relationships that make Cefalde special.

“If you know Mike, you’re friends with Mike,” Cortese said. “He’s so personable and willing to help anyone. I met him and began managing with him four years ago and he’s a great friend. He’s a father figure and grandfather figure who has his hands in everything.

“He’s a tremendous coach and guy, and the kids love him. He’s personally working on their behalf in all phases. I’m telling you he’s the whole ball of wax.”

One of Cefalde’s former players, Raymond Butler, was ecstatic about the ceremony.

“He deserves this,” said Butler, a 1995 Campbell graduate who was a member of the Red Devils’ 1993 state championship squad. “He’s one of the greatest coaches ever in my opinion. As long as you’re doing the right things and caring about getting better and working on your game, he’s going to have your back and treat you right.

“He pushes you to be better without really jumping on you. He’s not going to scream at you for making an error. He going to build you up and help you believe you’ll make the next play. You can’t help but love Mike. The funny thing is, I ended up coaching (one of Cefalde’s sons) and he was my catcher in 1998 when we won the AA World Series. So it came full circle.”

Cefalde said he wouldn’t change much about his busy life.

“I’ve had two guys who went to the NFL and two in the big leagues,” he said. “But there have been so many others. … Trying to help them all reach their own potential has been worth it. Despite missing graduations and parties, if I die tomorrow, it has all been worth it.”

NOTE: All three Class B divisions (14U, 16U and 18U) are playing 18-game schedules with postseasons to follow.