History

"I was playing five days a week," says Al Finarelli Jr. In 1965, Al Jr. founded and pitched for the first Icemen team, which was simply known as the team from Penn Cooler. He recalls that at the time there was only one league in the valley consisting of about a dozen teams. Each team had their own home field and would travel to their opponent's field for away games. Woodbury Street has and always will be the home of the Icemen. Though the team no longer plays its games on the lonely field at the end of Woodbury, the field continues to host little league games and remains a symbol of the Icemen's past.

In the late 1980's, the team from Woodbury called it quits as much of the players attended to their growing families and personal lives. For nearly a decade, the bats of this North Eastern Pennsylvania's softball giant lay dormant, hoping to one day be reborn. Ten years later, they would get their chance. Not until 1996 did Al Jr.'s son, AL III (simply known as "The Third"), pick up where his father left off. Along with a team of Penn softball descendants and Penn employees, Al III began the reincarnation of the once stellar team of Penn Refrigeration. New names like Mike Phillips and Tony Baldo entered the spotlight alongside veterans like Mark Metcalf. Descendents of past Penn softball years, like Al Baguski Jr., came to the forefront as the torch was passed to them. A supporting cast of players complimented these men to form what is the Icemen of today.

Unfortunately, much is not known of the prehistory of the Icemen; however, the following is a compilation of the respective records and leagues that the Icemen have enjoyed since 1996. For more information on the team's award winning seasons, please click on the Accolades link.

Year	Record	League
1996	3-3	Dombrowski Fall League
1997	1-8	Beer Store Summer League
1998	2-7	Kirby Park Summer League
1999	9-8	Beer Store Summer League
2000	13-6	Kirby Park Summer League
2001	5-13	Cole Street
2002	???	Forty Fort

As the team grew, the Icemen were able to acquire new equipment (including uniforms and bats) through fund raising activities and generosity. Above are pictures of the most recent Icemen uniforms. Since 2000, the team has sported a combination navy and gray button down jersey with the interlocking I-M on the left breast, which has most recently become the team's away jersey. Beginning in '02, the Icemen sport a white sleeveless jersey with the same logo (picture coming soon). The back exhibits the players number with no names -- of course.

A lot has changed in the big business of Wilkes-Barre slow-pitch softball. It's no longer about playing the game-win or lose. It's no longer about friendly competition and home team pride. Now its about money. Many different leagues exist in the Wilkes-Barre area today, all of which are autocratically managed by each respective leagues' top team. This has become overwhelmingly apparent as teams who build up their talent find themselves continually shunned by these tyrannical leagues.

Despite all the corruption and changes that have come and gone in the valley's softball arena, one team retains its rich history and learns from its pioneers that came before them. The Icemen will continue to lace up the spikes one at a time and continue to play the game, because that's what its all about...its about the game.