Little League baseball in the Cayman Islands is digging in for the 2012 season.
With new drive and vigour, the Cayman Islands Little League is preparing for another season. Being better organized is a key goal and it’s already coming together.
The new Program and Facilities Director LaToya McField has her focus on the kids and making it easy for busy families. She’s had dynamic, involved division coordinators lined up for months, including Cheyanna Stewart for T-Ball, Michael Johns for Pony, Ann Serrant for Single A, Alero Abrams for Double A, Jason Bechard for Triple A, Jonathan Dacosta for Seniors, Jeremy Rice for Girls softball and Alan Markoff heading the adult co-ed programme.
McField states for all of her efforts more volunteers remain welcome.
“We want and need parental involvement,” McField said. “This year we are insisting on a named ‘team parent’ for each team to help the coaches, improve the experience for the kids and help with organisational stuff.
“We invite the public and sponsors to come enjoy a game and the whole scene more this season. The ‘Field of Dreams’ is a wonderful place to spend time, especially watching a ball game, in the cool winter air.”
Registration for the spring season took place over the weekend at the Field of Dreams facility in George Town. Dozens of youngsters came out to be selected for a team and receive skill evaluations.
Little League’s board is pleased with the preparations for the new campaign. Vice president Jeff Pouchie feels it will be a memorable year of baseball.
“We will do all we can to make sure Little League re-focuses on what its all about: which is kids playing ball and having fun doing so while we try to lead them in the right direction in life,” Pouchie said.
Another board member happy with the build-up to 2012 is public relations coordinator Sara Mackay.
“The spirit of volunteering is at the core of Little League,” Mackay said. “We welcome anyone who knows and loves baseball to get in touch and come out to help. It’s so heart-warming to see some of the kids who grew up playing ball in this programme, playing at night and starting to give back by coaching. That’s as much fun, in another way.
“Little League may be going into its 23rd season but the Field of Dreams is a still a hidden gem to some people. The public has to remember that with some 1,000 players a week using the fields, nearly 500 kids and 500 adults plus parents and spectators, Little League baseball is a big part of the Cayman sports scene.
“All the while countless persons have been a part of Little League’s long, proven history of providing baseball and softball programmes for kids, all free of charge.”
Baseball commissioner Rob Harris figures to be a busy volunteer this year. The start of the season will bring a number of initiatives such as the first 2012 White Sox clinic over the long holiday weekend around 21 January. Before that comes an umpires clinic on Thursday, 19 January, which figures to be a fun, educational session led by Jason Clayards and Jim Parham. A season kickoff social with multiple exhibition games is slated for Saturday, 28 January.
The spring season will end 26 May via an all-star weekend that will feature all-star games on Friday night under the lights and an awards picnic on Saturday.
In addition to the kids, the adults will be taking the fields most nights in the immensely popular and growing co-ed league. The captains meeting takes place Monday, 9 January, with games starting the week of 16 January and continuing until 30 April.
Financially Little League remains on track to provide free programmes for kids. Auditors BDO are already at work on Little League’s 2011 financials, thanks to Treasurer Jason Bechard’s diligence.
However the league continues to rely on monetary support from the community. Fundraising coordinator Pam Parsons says the popular discount cards and raffle are on schedule for the beginning and end of the season.
“We continue to ask players and families to support our fundraising efforts,” Parsons said. “We get such good support from the corporate community.”
The public should also look out for the Little League auction, which takes place next Fall.
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