By Anna Michael
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA - The idea of bringing a professional baseball team to Clermont County has been brewing in the mind of a Union Township man for several years.

After much hard work and dedication Chuck Lawrence may soon being shouting "play ball," the way one of the Batavia council members did as a way of showing his support of the idea at a special village council meeting last week.

Lawrence is certainly not lacking support. Clermont County Commissioner Bob Proud, Batavia Village Administrator Bob Stewart and head of Clermont County Convention Bureau June Creager all said they were "excited" about the possibility of bringing a professional baseball team to Batavia.

"We met this past Monday and the village council unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed this," Proud said. "One comment was that this was the best thing to happen to Batavia in years."

It wasn't just the council members who were excited. The special meeting drew a packed house, Stewart said.

"The vast majority of the people there were enthusiastic about it."

A few residents raised questions about increased traffic, noise levels and when stadium lights would be turned off, but council assured them that those questions could be addressed after the final decisions were made.

Batavia's fate for getting a team for the 2005 season lies in the hands of the Frontier League, an independent, professional baseball league consisting of 12 teams, including the Florence Freedom.

"The Frontier League (should choose) within six weeks as to whether or not the franchise will be granted," Stewart said.

Batavia has some competition. The city of Hamilton, which hosted the Florence Freedom during the 2003 season because the team's stadium was not ready, is hoping to get a team.