History of the EASTON FALCONS

     The Easton Falcons, now in their 15th campaign in the Blue Mountain Baseball League, are a long way from the early days. Ellis Weitzman, founder and general manager of the Falcons, initially met and spoke with then BML president Eric Charles to begin the process of entering the league as far back as January 2006. The application, presentation and acceptance by the league was granted in October 2006. It would be the first time in more than 30 years that Easton would have a squad in the BML.

    Thanks are due to former president Charles' insistence and guidance that Weitzman have business backing, a field, and college players. At the presentation meeting attorney Joseph J. Russo, general manager of the Lehigh Valley Clippers, voiced his approval backing Easton's entry into the league. Bob Zerfass of the Hellertown Royals was the first to offer any assistance to the new group. The initial team was named the Lafayette Ambassador Bank Falcons as the bank was the team's major backer.  Bank VP James Hartman was the biggest corporate supporter of this venture. Without Hartman's help and Weitzman's support through the Easton business community, the Falcons would have been hardpressed to put a team on the field. Sicily's Pizza II, 1434 Knox Avenue, Easton, was the first business to assist the team.

     Additionally, Easton Area High School Athletic Director James Pokrivsak worked out details so the Falcons could play home games at Easton's Richards Field. Both assistant AD Greg Hess and Easton baseball coach Carm LaDuca were and still are helpful in their support for this BML franchise, as well as joining the coaching staff. Erik Daly, the City of Easton recreation director at the time, okayed the team playing under the lights at city-owned Hacketts Park.

   Weitzman and Keith Tone, co-managers, are the only ones remaining from that initial group that came off four straight LVMABL championship finals appearances while winning two.  Twelve members of those teams, plus six others from the New Jersey Indians made up the first Falcon BML team. The 2021 roster has a number of players that live in different communities in the Lehigh Valley. A good portion of the team is naturally from Easton.

    Previous Falcon player Tyler Vail a fifth round pick of the Oakland A's is back with the Falcons after a dozen seasons. (see list in this program) had played pro ball as well.

     In their first year in the BML, the newcomers from Easton suffered thru a last place 4-28 campaign. In 2012 and 2013 the Falcons reached the BML Finals, dropping the final game to Hellertown in 2012 and Martin's Creek in 2013.  With at least 10  players returning to the team from a semi-final berth in the 2019 BML playoffs, the young, as usual, Falcons hope to compete and move up the championship ladder.