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New Jamestown Baseball Team Name Announced

From the left, Russell E. Diethrick Jr., president of Jamestown Community Baseball LLC, and Frank Fanning, general manager of the Jamestown franchise in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, unveil one of the logos of the Tarp Skunks, the new team name, which was announced Wednesday morning at the Carnahan Theater at Jamestown Community College. The Tarp Skunks' season runs from late May through late July. For more information, contact the team's office at 716-705-5600 or email Fanning at frank@tarpskunks.com P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Welcome the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.

The team, whose name was announced Wednesday at a ceremony, will begin play in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League on May 29.

Team ownership and management said they hope to honor “Chautauqua County baseball heritage by selecting ‘Tarp Skunks’ as the team name.”

In a statement, the team said “Tarp” refers to Howard Ehmke, a former county resident, MLP pitcher and 1983 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was the founder of the Ehmke Manufacturing Company, which produced the original infield tarp.

“Skunks” represents a very common creature at Diethrick Park, one that has reportedly made a habit of “pestering and wreaking havoc on baseball team employees for decades at Diethrick Park; specifically living inside the infield tarp, and under the visiting’s bullpen’s bench. Skunks are also seen wandering the concourse in the evenings.”

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