OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Old Orchard Beach Surge hasn’t played a game yet, but when they do it will already be in a different league than was originally planned.

The East Coast Baseball League, which was just formed this year, is now defunct after problems with getting players across the border to Canada ”“ and more importantly, problems with league owner Colin Cummins.

Fortunately for the Surge and baseball fans in OOB, a new league has been formed under new leadership.

“The old league, the ECBL, is defunct. We have a new league, the North Country Baseball League,” said Bruce Zicari, who is the owner of the Watertown Bucks and the new NCBL.

Surge General Manager Alex Markakis is thrilled to have someone like Zicari at the helm.

“We are very fortunate to have someone like Bruce (in charge). He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s a good general to have in charge,” said Markakis.

Zicari will still be the sole owner of the Bucks, while the new league ownership group ”“ led by Zicari ”“ will be in charge of the Surge, the Newburgh Newts and the Road City Explorers.

The switch from the ECBL to the NCBL was quick, according to Markakis.

“Everything just happened in literally a day … everyone opted out of East Coast Baseball League and we formed our own little corporation and we see nothing but the light at the end of the tunnel at this point,” said Markakis.

The main reason the ECBL went out of business before even getting started was lack of communication, said Markakis.

“There was a lot of miscommunication going on behind the scenes between basically the whole ownership group,” said Markakis.

That lack of communication started from the top with Cummins, who was unable to deliver what he had promised everyone involved.

“I really don’t want to get into knocking anybody, but (Cummins) just really wasn’t able to perform what he had to do for the league … I’d like to let it go at that,” said Zicari. “It just didn’t work out and things happened on his end, I don’t know if it was investors or whatever happened, it just fell apart.”

Markakis believes the difference between having no leadership at the top and a strong leader in charge is huge.

“To have someone like (Zicari) running the show really helps everyone. You are only as strong as your weakest link, but you are only as strong as your general too. If you don’t have the right general, you get misled in a lot of different directions,” said Markakis.

There were also problems involving Visas for the players as the ECBL included two teams in Canada.

“We got into a real problem there. We had trouble getting across the border. If you go across and just say you are going to go visit somebody or go for tourism, no problem. As soon as they mention work, the poor guys got hung up for three days at the border and we’re not getting into all that,” said Zicari.

Markakis is proud that despite the latest challenges, he will be able to deliver on a promise he made to the residents of OOB.

“I promised this town that I would do whatever I could to make sure there would be baseball in Old Orchard Beach, one way or another,” said Markakis.

Part of the reason Markakis will be able to bring baseball back to The Ballpark is the support of Surge Director of Baseball Brad Michals and Surge Manager Scott “Skip” Nathanson.

“Everyone is still on board and they have been on board since Day 1 … that is the reason we are going to succeed because of people like Brad and Skip. They are really committed and driven guys, who won’t let one one individual or anyone stop them,” said Markakis.

Zicari praised Markakis for his leadership in the transition from the ECBL to the NCBL.

“(He’s a) great, great guy. We and (Old Orchard Beach) are lucky to have him,” said Zicari.

Markakis, Michals and Nathanson have been key to bringing baseball back to the beach this summer, but it wouldn’t have happened without Zicari, who brings with him an extensive resume from the business world.

“He’s a tremendous business man,” said Markakis of Zicari, who founded the popular southern chain Cheeburger Cheeburger.

One challenge the Surge are still facing is the lack of housing for their players, who like most independent minor league players, rely on families to take them in during the season.

Markakis is hoping the Old Orchard Beach community will step up and take ownership of this team.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure the community knows that this is their team. I would be more than happy to talk to anyone who has some questions about it, but we still need some housing for these guys,” said Markakis.

The Surge GM wanted to reassure anyone who is thinking about opening up their home to a member of the team that the players are there to work and be good members of the community ”“ not get into trouble.

“I told them, ”˜you’re not going to be staying at the Ritz Carlton or eating filet mignon.’ I told these guys that this is about the opportunity to play professional baseball and get seen by professional scouts,” said Markakis. “This isn’t about going out and partying or having fun with a bunch of girls in Old Orchard Beach, this is about the opportunity at hand.”

The Surge will open the season on the road in Watertown, New York on Friday, May 29 before returning to The Ballpark on Tuesday, June 2 for their home opener.

The home schedule for the Surge will remain the same, but there may be a few time changes involved in the transition to the NCBL, according to Markakis.

Tickets are $5 and kids under the age of 7 are free. For more information or to buy tickets go to surgebaseball.weebly.com.

“We are ready to go and we just urge the fans to come out and support us,” said Zicari.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.