PALMYRA -- The Central Penn Piranha is doing all the little things before playing its first game of the season -- and playing in a new league.
Both newcomers and veterans spent the beginning of Sunday's practice in Lebanon County being fitted for mouth guards.
Central Penn has joined the Gridiron Developmental League, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The GDFL is the largest football league in the country at the minor league level; boasting nearly 90 teams, including the Piranha's chief rival, the Chambersburg Cardinals.
The Piranha did not play the Cardinals in 2011. The two teams are scheduled to face each other on June 16 at Chambersburg.
"Plus, there's teams from all over the country; the league we were in before was only the East coast," said Ron Kerr, the owner/head coach of the Piranha.
Central Penn claimed the Major League Football championship last November with a 15-3 win over the New Jersey Lions at J.Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. The title was the sixth league championship in the team's history. The Piranha finished the season with a record of 16-0.
"This is more of a nationally-ranked, nationally-known league and we're excited," added Kerr.
Central Penn's first game is Saturday in Philadelphia against the Philly Braves. It's a non-league game and is the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Piranha's first home game is Sunday, June 3 at East Pennsboro High School versus Lehigh Valley.
