Proud record

When the Southeast Youth Athletic Association started its baseball program in 1994, 200 kids signed up.

Ten years later, 750 players ages 4-19 take their swings at the sports complex based at Seventh and Bigler streets.

Soccer season is equally as popular, with 700 youths ages 4-17 participating.

Add basketball, baseball, tee-ball, foot hockey, indoor soccer and the return of touch football this fall, and SEYAA boasts a roster of 2,700 kids a year, making it Philadelphia’s largest year-round youth group.

SEYAA is not city-funded, which means the league must cover the cost of utilities, field maintenance and equipment. The league organizers and coaches don’t get paid for the endless hours they spend on the fields and courts.

For league treasurer Joann McAfee, who also handles registration, the payoff is evident.

"When we have an opening day and see all those kids out there playing, it really feels great," said McAfee, whose son Billy, 13, and daughter Nicole, 10, participate year-round in SEYAA activities.

The 10-year anniversary is particularly special for league president Frank Punzo, who helped draft the group’s bylaws back in 1994.

"I didn’t expect to have an organization this large, but it grows every year," he said. "I guess we must be doing something right."

Seventh and Bigler streets has become a second home for the Punzo family, including Felecia, 11, who started coming to the field before she was old enough to play. The Annunciation sixth-grader now enjoys playing soccer and baseball. This year, her SEYAA background could give her an edge in Catholic League competition.

"Being involved in SEYAA helps because the coaches teach you how to play sports and have fun," said Felecia, whose older brothers Frank, 21, and Phillip, 13, also have participated in the league.

Unlike city recreation centers, the nonprofit SEYAA gives youths a chance to play together, under the same coach, from tee-ball to their teens. Dads can experience the joy — and challenges — of coaching their sons and daughters.

Youngsters going out for spots on their school teams find the league experience gives them an edge.

Nicole McAfee, for example, has landed a starting spot at Epiphany after playing the sport at SEYAA.

"Soccer is my best sport," she said. "I play it year-round."

The organization also holds a Babe Ruth baseball charter, which provides boys 13-15 a chance to play against teams from Southwest Philadelphia-based Elmwood Park, the Delaware Valley Youth Athletic Association, 18th and Johnston streets, and the Sabres, Seventh Street and Packer Avenue.

Prior to the formation of SEYAA, Seventh and Bigler served as the home field for the Capitolo Cowboys football and baseball teams.

When the Cowboys left Seventh and Bigler streets, Punzo, along with Chris Edge, Jimmy McKinley and Nancy Bady, decided to start the new league.

The current board consists of Punzo, McAfee, Frank’s wife Frieda Punzo, who serves as secretary; outdoor sports president John Squillace, indoor sports president George Piccoli, and trustees Chip Foglia and Mark Cassasanto.

Past presidents Tony Santini (’96) and Joe Guercio (’98) also were key contributor’s in the league’s development.

The board manages a capital improvement budget that has allowed SEYAA to make numerous upgrades to the fields. Many of the changes were made for the 2004 baseball season, including the addition of two Cal Ripken baseball fields, with total grass infields, for the 7-8, 8-10 and 10-12 age divisions at a cost of $18,000.

The organization spent another $30,000 converting its dirt parking lot into blacktop, and purchasing new bleachers and tee-ball fences. State Rep. Bill Keller and electricians’ union chief John Dougherty donated $15,000 for the field improvements, as did Phillies Charities.

More improvements are on the way. On April 22, state Sen. Vincent Fumo presented SEYAA with an oversized check representing a $25,000 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

McAfee said those funds will be used to purchase boards for a roller-hockey program and to improve the main baseball field. Then again, SEYAA could use a field house for its indoor programs. The winter basketball league currently uses the gym at Thomas Middle School, Ninth and Johnston streets.

Stretching a dollar has become a sport in itself for league organizers. The group must spend $7,000 a year on electricity alone, and another $1,500 on chemical lawn treatments.

The city’s activities fund provides a $2,500 grant once a year, but the bulk of SEYAA’s financial support comes from its concession stand and the annual spring carnival, which raises $20,000.

The group has managed to keep signup fees modest for its increasing number of players. Soccer registration is drawing about 40 kids a night. Parents can register children via the Internet at www.seyaa.com, or through mail, phone or in person on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. There is a $65 fee for ages 4-6 and a $75 fee for ages 7-17, which covers the cost of a full soccer uniform and trophies.

Sometime this fall, the SEYAA board will take a break to properly celebrate its 10th anniversary. Preliminary plans call for a party sometime in November for the parents and coaches involved in the program. Punzo said he would like to hold an outdoor festival on the parking lot.

It seems the young athletes aren’t the only ones who tend to stick with SEYAA for years.

"When you start something from nothing to be so big, you don’t want to leave it because you don’t want to see it fall apart," noted the president.

His daughter Felecia is grateful that SEYAA is there for her and her friends.

"It makes me feel good that we have somewhere we can play and somewhere to go when I get bored," she said.