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United Baseball League winter ball starts Jan. 17 in Harlingen

HARLINGEN Ballplayers from the Laredo area who believe they have the talent to play professional baseball are urged to sign up for the United League Baseballs Winter League, which will begin a 24-game schedule on Jan. 19.The league will be comprised of four ball clubs, Harlingen, Brownsville, Edinburg and Laredo.

"We are looking for players who are trying to break into professional baseballs summer leagues and those developing their skills," said Craig Brasfield, the ULBs executive general manager, who is in charge of the winter league.

Players will be assessed and some will be selected for the 2007 ULB regular season, which will begin a 100-game schedule in early May. All winter games will be played at Harlingen Field, two games per day, except for Sundays.

Scouts representing major league organizations, as well as minor leagues and independent leagues representatives will make periodic appearances and evaluate the talent for their organizations, according to Brasfield.

He said managers from the ULB will be involved. They include:

* "Doc" Edwards, field manager of the San Angelo Colts, who has 50 years of playing and managing in professional baseball, including two years managing the Cleveland Indians.

* Eduardo "Eddie" Dennis, field manager for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in Harlingen, who was a player and coach with the Toronto Blue Jays organization a number of years.

* Buddy Biancalana, field manager of the Amarillo Dillas; former major leaguer and who played all seven games with the Kansas City Royals, when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1986 World Series.

* Vince Moore, field manager of the Edinburg Coyotes, who has managed clubs to the playoffs in two consecutive years as manager in Edinburg, including making the championship series in 2006.

* Ricky VanAsselberg, former professional baseball catcher and field manager of the Alexandria Aces, who won the ULB championship in its inaugural season in 2006.

Players interested should contact Lizette Moreno at (956) 386-0080 or go online to to register.

The ULB is a six-team league, which began play in 2006. It will continue the 2007 season with six ball clubs, with plans to expand in 2008. Franchises are in Harlingen, Amarillo, Laredo, San Angelo, Edinburg and Alexandria, La.