Hempfield man spreads lifelong love of baseball

June 23--Talk to Daniel Ranieri for more than a few minutes and he'll rattle off a dozen ideas involving Westmoreland County baseball and softball teams.

Baseball's been an important part of the Hempfield resident's life for decades, and he thinks everyone should participate in America's pastime.

"It's a team sport," he said. "It's not about how good you are."

He's seen the game from many perspectives, most recently as director of recreation for Southwest Greensburg, trying to revitalize the borough's dwindling baseball and softball teams.

Last year he helped the Greensburg Salem School District create a girl's middle school softball team, recommending a coach and providing Red Devils park in Southwest Greensburg for games.

"Because of Dan, we were able to use his facility, which made all the difference in the world," said Greensburg Salem recreation Director Lynn Jobe.

The district had talked about creating a team for several years, but it never had a place to play, she said.

"Dan, in my opinion is a positive, "let's go' guy," she said. "He gets a solid idea and he just wants to run with it."

Ranieri organizes a yearly youth baseball tournament to raise money for 9-year-old Nico Salvio, a member of the Southwest Greensburg baseball team who's waiting for a heart transplant.

Sports, Ranieri said, are all about "bringing people together."

This year's tournament begins July 19.

Ranieri's love of baseball began when he was a kid growing up near Jeannette.

"We grew up in the country, so there wasn't a lot to do. But we played (baseball) in Jeannette."

His dad and uncle were both coaches in Jeannette's youth baseball program, which was dominant when Ranieri played in the '60s.

He went on to Clarion University, where he wrestled and got a degree in physical education.

He then went to Penn State, where he furthered his education and ran the State College recreation program.

He would later get a coaching job in Bellefonte, then returned home to coach in Jeannette.

Steady coaching work was hard to find, so Ranieri got into the insurance business, eventually opening his own firm.

Ranieri stayed involved in baseball, bringing his son to tournaments and coaching youth teams.

His son, also named Daniel, coaches baseball in Florida, making him the third generation of Ranieri baseball coaches.

Ranieri, now retired from insurance, took over the Southwest Greensburg recreation program last year.

He wants to drive interest in the program, which once had eight baseball teams, seven softball teams and a T-ball team.

When he took over it was down to two baseball teams and four softball teams.

He's had mixed success so far -- baseball is up to four teams, but softball is down to one.

"The kids just aren't coming out and playing ball like they used to," said Jim Heater, president of the Southwest Greensburg recreation board. "(Dan's) doing a good job. He brought back baseball."

Raising interest and money for the girl's softball teams is the top priority, Ranieri said.

He sees youth sports as a way to teach kids camaraderie, strategy and other life skills -- and he thinks it's best to start young.

"I like to see them all learning," he said.

Competition is important, but it's the game that's important, not winning it, he said.

"It was always fun to try to win," he said. "It didn't matter if you did."

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646, [email protected] or via Twitter @Soolseem.

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