Owls Sports Club Timeline
1941–2026
A Legacy of Baseball, Community, and Volunteerism
For more than 85 years, the Owls Sports Club has been a cornerstone of the West Lawn and Berks County community. What began with a small group of dedicated men in 1941 grew into an organization recognized throughout Pennsylvania for its commitment to youth baseball, community involvement, volunteerism, and the development of outstanding athletic facilities.
The following timeline chronicles the history of the Owls Sports Club, the development of Owls Field, and the accomplishments of the West Lawn Owls American Legion Baseball program.
The Beginning
January 6, 1941
The Owls Sports Club is founded
The first meeting of the unincorporated Owls Sports Club was held at the Clubhouse Rooms, 2344 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, Pennsylvania.
The meeting was presided over by temporary President Joe Kline, with Lewis Frey appointed temporary Secretary.
According to the January 6, 1941 minutes, Joe Kline gave a short talk on the origin of the club:
“After having appointed Lewis Frey temporary Secretary, Joe Kline gave a short talk on the origin of this club. Through the efforts of the five club members, namely, Joe Kline, Samuel Hettinger, Casper Simon, Harry Peiffer, and Robert Sheidy, and the cooperation of the officers of the defunct West Wyomissing Athletic Club, namely, Paul Potteiger, Harold Meyer, Chester Morgandale, John Gilbert, and James Smith, it was decided to merge these two clubs into one in order to further the activities in sports of these local communities.”
The Treasurer's Report at that first meeting showed a balance of $18.41.
The vision established that day would ultimately become a legacy lasting generations.
May 1946
Owls Sports Club Award Established
The Owls Sports Club began presenting an annual award to an outstanding Wilson High School athlete, establishing a tradition of recognizing athletic achievement and character.
January 15, 1948
Owls Sports Club Incorporated
The Owls Sports Club was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a nonprofit corporation and officially became Owls Sports Club, Inc.
The Birth of Owls Field
June 1949
Construction of Owls Field Begins
Work began on grading the property that would eventually become Owls Field, establishing the foundation for what would become one of Pennsylvania's premier amateur baseball facilities.
June 1955
West Lawn Owls American Legion Baseball Begins
The West Lawn Owls American Legion Baseball program played its first season in the Berks League under the guidance of Ralph Leininger.
The franchise had been acquired from West Reading, which could no longer field a team.
June 1955
West Lawn Owls Join the Lebanon Valley Baseball League
The West Lawn Owls became the 10th team in the Lebanon Valley Baseball League, beginning another chapter in the organization's baseball history.
August 1962
Pennsylvania American Legion Champions
The West Lawn Owls captured the title of Pennsylvania State American Legion Baseball Champions, establishing the program as a significant force in Pennsylvania Legion baseball.
Building a Baseball Destination
July 1992
First Pennsylvania Region 2 Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted their first Pennsylvania Region 2 Baseball Tournament, using Reading's George Field as the host site.
The financial success of the tournament provided the impetus for a major renovation of Owls Field. Owls members recognized that having their own facility capable of hosting tournaments was essential to the long-term success of the Legion baseball program at the local, state, and eventually national levels.
September 1992
Owls Field Renovation Plan Approved
The Executive Board recommended, and the General Membership approved, an ambitious plan to renovate Owls Field.
The improvements included:
New field lighting
Electronic scoreboard
New fence enclosing the entire playing field
New playing surface
Eventual elimination of the softball field in left field
New dugouts
New press box, concession stand, and garage
Underground irrigation system
Terraced areas for park-like seating
April 1994
Major Owls Field Upgrade Begins
Construction began on the new press box/concession stand/garage structure, along with installation of the new field lighting.
1997
Owls Field Becomes a Baseball-Only Facility
The softball field was removed, making Owls Field a baseball-only venue and establishing it as one of the finest enclosed amateur baseball fields in Pennsylvania.
July 1998
First Region 2 Tournament Championship at Owls Field
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania State American Legion Tournament and won their first-ever Region 2 Tournament Championship.
The field was officially renamed:
Owls Field at Ted Palka Park
The name honors longtime Owls member Ted Palka in recognition of his many years of service and dedication to the Owls Sports Club.
July 1999
Back-to-Back Region 2 Champions
The West Lawn Owls repeated as Region 2 Tournament Champions.
Expanding the Owls Legacy
July 2004
First Junior Legion Eastern Region Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted their first Junior Legion Eastern Region Tournament.
July/August 2005
50th Anniversary of West Lawn Owls American Legion Baseball
The Owls celebrated the 50th anniversary of West Lawn Owls American Legion Baseball by hosting their second Pennsylvania State Tournament.
The Owls finished second to Boyertown and qualified for their first-ever National Regional Tournament, participating in the Great Lakes National Regional Tournament at Augustana College in Moline, Illinois — home of John Deere.
July 2006
Region 2 Tournament Hosted
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania Region 2 Tournament at Owls Field.
August 2007
First Mid-Atlantic National Regional Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted their first-ever Mid-Atlantic National Regional Tournament, bringing teams from:
New Jersey • Maryland • Virginia • West Virginia • Delaware • New York • Pennsylvania
Owls Field had officially become a destination for high-level regional baseball.
July/August 2010
NCAA Division II and National Regional Baseball
Kutztown hosted the NCAA Division II National Regional at Owls Field.
The West Lawn Owls also hosted the Pennsylvania Region 2 Tournament in July and their second Mid-Atlantic National Regional Tournament in August.
July/August 2011
Berks County Playoffs and Pennsylvania State Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Berks County Playoffs and the Pennsylvania State Tournament.
July/August 2012
NCAA Division II National Regional Returns
Kutztown again hosted the NCAA Division II National Regional at Owls Field.
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania Region 2 Tournament in July and their third Mid-Atlantic National Regional Tournament in August.
July 2013
Junior Legion Eastern Regional
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania Junior Legion Eastern Regional.
July 2014
NCAA Division II Regional and Junior Legion Eastern Regional
Millersville hosted the NCAA Division II National Regional at Owls Field.
The West Lawn Owls also hosted the Pennsylvania Junior Legion Eastern Regional.
July 2015
Pennsylvania Legion State Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania American Legion State Tournament.
2016
Indoor Baseball Facility Opens
The Owls completed construction and opened a new indoor baseball facility, expanding the organization's ability to provide year-round baseball opportunities.
Millersville also hosted the NCAA Division II National Regional at Owls Field.
2017
Region 2 Tournament
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Pennsylvania Region 2 Tournament.
A Remarkable 2018 Season
2018
A Historic Year for West Lawn Owls Baseball
Millersville hosted the NCAA Division II National Regional at Owls Field.
The Youth League (Junior Legion) team hosted the Eastern Regional Tournament July 21–25 and completed one of the most successful seasons in Owls history.
Youth League accomplishments:
Overall record: 43–2
Undefeated Berks County Youth Legion League Tournament Champions
Pennsylvania Youth Legion Eastern Regional Champions
Pennsylvania Youth Legion State Champions
The Senior Legion team also enjoyed an outstanding season:
Overall record: 33–6
Undefeated Berks Legion League regular season
Regular-season record: 17–0
Berks County Legion Tournament Champions
Qualified for the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 2 Tournament
Continuing the Tradition
2019
Owls Field Fence of Fame
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Berks County Playoffs.
The organization also announced Steve Carroll, Kurt Behrenshausen, and Mitch Hettinger as the next inductees into the Owls Field Fence of Fame.
2020
Baseball Interrupted
The COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, resulting in the cancellation of professional, collegiate, and high school sports across the United States.
The cancellations included the American Legion World Series, National Regionals, and Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball.
Despite the challenges, organizations throughout Pennsylvania worked to create independent leagues and opportunities for baseball during the late summer.
The Owls persevered through one of the most difficult periods in modern sports history.
2021
Berks County Showcase Begins
Owls Field hosted the first Berks County Showcase, featuring 10 Berks County schools.
The West Lawn Owls also hosted the Region 2 Tournament.
2022
Berks County Showcase Expands
The Berks County Showcase expanded to 14 Berks County schools at Owls Field.
The West Lawn Owls hosted the Berks County Senior Legion Playoffs.
2023
Owls Field Continues as a Premier Tournament Venue
Owls Field continued hosting the Berks County Showcase, as well as the Berks County High School Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
The West Lawn Owls Legion team became Berks County League Champions and finished third in the Region 2 Tournament.
2024
Continued Growth and Recognition
Owls Field continued hosting the Berks County Showcase.
The field also hosted the BCIAA Quarterfinal Playoff Doubleheader and, for the first time, the BCIAA Semifinal Playoff Doubleheader.
The West Lawn Owls named John Piscitelli as the next inductee into the Owls Field Fence of Fame.
2025
BCIAA Championship Comes to Owls Field
Owls Field continued hosting the Berks County Showcase.
The facility hosted the BCIAA Quarterfinal Playoff Doubleheader and, for the first time, the BCIAA Championship Game.
The West Lawn Owls also hosted the Berks County Senior Legion Playoffs.
2026
The Legacy Continues
Owls Field continued hosting the Berks County Showcase.
The facility also hosted the BCIAA Quarterfinal Playoff Doubleheader and the BCIAA Semifinal Games.
The West Lawn Owls Legion team captured the Berks County League Championship and finished third in the Region 2 Tournament.
The Owls Legacy
Through the efforts of countless volunteers over more than 85 years, the Owls Sports Club stands as an example of the long-term vision of the men who first created the organization in 1941.
Through good times and lean times, the Club has endured and persevered.
Generations of volunteers have stepped forward to help in countless ways. Their dedication is reflected in the Owls Sports Club of today and in its commitment to keeping the organization and its endeavors moving forward throughout the 21st century.
We, of this generation, can only say thank you.
We hold the original Owls — members of what has been called the Greatest Generation — in our thoughts and our hearts.
Their gift was more than a baseball field or a baseball program. They created an organization built on community, teamwork, service, sportsmanship, and opportunity.
It is now our responsibility to carry that torch.
We must preserve the Owls Sports Club and Owls Field at Ted Palka Park for future generations so that American Legion Baseball can continue to prosper and remain a solid foundation for our children and grandchildren.
The Owls Sports Club salutes the men who created this organization in 1941 and the countless volunteers who followed them.
They created it.
They protected it.
They improved it.
They passed it on.
Now it is our turn to carry the torch into the future.
The Owls Sports Club
1941 – 2026 and Beyond
God Bless America!
Historical Note
Originally compiled and written by Mitch Hettinger and subsequently updated by others.