With Indians’ legend Len Barker taking the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, the Lorain County Ironmen officially began its first season against the Chillicothe Paints.

Between Barker, team co-owner Kevin Rhomberg and hitting coach “Super” Joe Charboneau, it’s not difficult to notice the connections between the Ironmen and the area’s Major League ballclub.

Charboneau, who won the 1980 AL Rookie of the Year, has also been a coach for several Frontier League and minor league teams.

“I hope to mentor (my players) and guide them on their way to the next level,” Charboneau said. “You don’t have to have been in the big leagues to be a good coach, but they do listen a little more intently and trust you a little more.”

One of the most difficult adjustments the Ironmen will have to make between collegiate and Prospect League baseball is from aluminum bats to wood bats.

“You really have to shorten your swing and use you lower body more,” Charboneau said. “It’s just not very forgiving. They can’t drive the ball like they used to, so there’s a period of frustration.”

Having Charboneau on the bench with decades of experience around the game is a great advantage to manager Eric Cormell.

“He’s seen just about everything in baseball that can happen,” Cormell said. “We have a reference point, and any time we see something we can go to him for a remedy. I’m ecstatic about having him as part of my staff.”

Catcher J.T. Feldkamp, who caught Barker’s first pitch before the game, is proud to have such high-caliber influence around the team.

“All these guys know what they are talking about,” he said, “and it’s nice to have them help us get as good as they were.”

Barker spent five seasons with the Tribe, 1979 to 1983, and threw a perfect game in 1981. He still lives in Northeast Ohio and is an assistant coach at Notre Dame College.

“I go around the area, and people recognize me and want to talk about the perfect game,” Barker said. “I enjoy it. It’s something that I will have with me for my whole life.”

Barker thinks the Major League experience associated with the Ironmen will ultimately help develop the team’s young ballplayers “Joe’s a great guy and great at teaching kids,” Barker said. “He’s going to teach them how to hit the ball the right way.”

Rhomberg played in 41 games for the Indians from 1982-1984 and coached for over ten years, including at Cleveland State University.

“Kevin has been around this business for a long time,” Barker said. “He knows what he’s doing, and it will be a lot of fun.”

With Rhomberg and Charboneau, the Ironmen have the advantage of being able to learn from men with not only professional experience, but with experience playing in Cleveland.