The Ohio Valley Baseball League at one time had a plethora of teams in every small community all over the Ohio Valley. That number is down to four this summer, but league president Laney Simone Sr. isn’t worried.

“This might just be the most competitive summer of baseball,” he said last week. “We only have four teams, but they are all very good teams with a lot of good players. I think this is going to be an enjoyable summer of baseball.

“Like I’ve said in the past, on any given day anybody can beat anybody. That might not be any truer than this season.”

Shadyside is back to defend its first-ever OVBL championship and the Casketmakers are loaded for a repeat attempt. They are joined by long-time Belmont County traditions Maynard and the Barton Braves, and the always-tough Wheeling Cardinals.

“I would like to personally thank the other three managers for helping keep this league together this summer,” Simone Sr. stressed. “If any one of the other three would have decided to not field a team this year, the league would have probably folded.”

Simone said the league will play under American League rules which includes the designated hitter. However, there will be NO re-entry of players this season.

“Once a player is removed from the game, he cannot be re-inserted into the game,” Simone explained.

There will also be a five-member board of directors that will get together and discuss any situations that may arise. That board includes a representative from each team; director of umpires Mike Cox; media representative Kim North; and Simone, who will not represent Maynard in any discussions.

To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must appear in four games during the regular season. A player also has six games at the start of the season if he wishes to transfer teams.

Action got under way Friday night. It continues today as Wheeling visits Maynard in a 1 p.m. first pitch.

The Casketmakers’, who play their home games at Fleming Field, roster includes Johne Stocklask, Heath Brooks, Cody McCormick, Billy Johnson, Zac Klug, Tyler Ramsey, David Bonar, Nathan Butts, Cody Hudson, Kraig Kubancik, Michael Finch, Logan Hudson, B.A. Holloway, Jared Clovis and Hunter Westlake.

The Braves, who play their home contests at Henning Field in Crescent, have a roster comprised of Ryan Lovette, Dillon Ketter, Alex Gazdik, Colton Coss, Matt Withrow, Nick Koval, Shane Smolenak, Bailey McGrath, Bobby Stewart, Matt Gruber, Mike Muklewicz, Nick Bilyeu, Anthony Zorne, Matt Herink, Derick Smith, Kyle Anderson, Kirk Smolenak, Tanner Werkman, Kaleb Baire, Tyler Blomquist and manager/player Billy Timko, who is also vice president of the league.

Barton claimed titles in 1996, 2009-10 and 2012.

Maynard, which plays its home games at Firemen’s Field inside the Community Park, is made up of Tim Mirandy, Mark Smyth, Max Schimmel, Mark Cisar, Ryan Jarvie, Mackenzie Koehler, Greyson Loweecy, Chris McIntyre, DJ Busby, Dustin Hynes, Patrick Buchanan, assistant manager Joe Goletz, Brennan Binni, Cody Goletz, Jesse Padlow, David Vickers, Zach Clark, Seth Pay, Michael Oberdick, Mitch Viakley, Logan Wojcik, Logan Nippert, Cody Willis, Eric Banal and Laney Simone Jr.

Maynard owns back-to-back titles in 2012-13.

The Cardinals, who play their home games at Patterson Field in Elm Grove, are comprised of a veteran cast of players in Nate Bakaitis, Heath Beecher, Matt Brooks, Doug Brown, Aaron Henry, Matt Carnahan, Jordan Daughtery, Jimmy Earp, Aaron Fonner, Mitch French, Andrew Henry, Andrew Kowalo, Noah Mull, Chris Murphy, Jon Nagel, Anthony San Felippo, Todd Schmidt, EJ Schramm and player/manager Ricky Szeligo.

Wheeling has been a perennial powerhouse in OVBL. It has won both the regular season and league champions in 2008 and 2015, while claiming regular-season championships in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.