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Little League Volunteers Cover All the Bases
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Little League Volunteers Cover All the Bases
By Linda Fridy
In spite of a soggy start, Little League baseball is winding up another successful season, filling area ball fields with dozens of miniature Giants, Athletics and even Yankees. In the Capitola-Soquel league alone, 24 teams played in five different age and skill divisions. Aptos, Santa Cruz, San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville all have leagues as well, taking the countywide total of players to well over 1,500.
The record rains kept batting cages full and telephone trees ringing, with parents updating the status of local fields and schedules.
“It definitely was a challenge for all the families, especially new families who have never been involved before, to have so much rain and rescheduling,” said Cherrie McCoy, vice president and information officer for the Capitola-Soquel league.
But teamwork and love of the game kept volunteers focused on coordinating practices and games for about 300 kids ages five to 12.
Slick fields can put players at risk, and keeping the kids safe is a top priority. The league recently bought new equipment following regular checks for any damage done during the season or in storage. A player safety clinic was held in March as well.
“Safety rules are paramount in this organization,” McCoy said.
That’s not surprising, since it is run by parents.
“It’s an all-volunteer organization,” McCoy said, praising the countless unpaid hours donated by team moms, coaches and board members. But it’s not just Little League families who make it possible.
“A lot of people help out of the goodness of their hearts,” McCoy added.
These range from church groups that show up for clean-up day and the many businesses that sponsor teams or buy a field sign.
“Some of these people don’t have kids in the league, some never did,” she said with obvious gratitude. “It’s a very special place we live in.”
Getting a Chance to Play
“You don’t have to be a great ballplayer to be in Little League, you just have to want to play,” McCoy emphasized.
In fact, recent changes allow for a greater range of experience and skill. Capitola-Soquel Little League restructured its older divisions, changing what was once the “minors” into two sections, AA and AAA.
“It was divided so teams can play with compatible ability. We’ve had kids come in at 10 or 11 who’ve never even played catch with their dads,” McCoy said.
Kids â€" and all Little League teams are co-ed â€" can start as early as age five with T-ball, moving up to the coach-pitched farm division. The new AA started the season with coaches pitching five tries, then after a month or so the kids got a chance with coach backup. Older and more advanced players move on to AAA and the “majors.”
To protect young arms, Little League has strict rules regarding pitching. At least one day of rest is required after as little as one inning of pitching. More than four innings need three days off.
Closing Ceremonies in June
For many players, the season will end soon. Aptos has its closing ceremonies June 10 and Capitola-Soquel celebrates the season finale with a home-run derby and barbeque at its June 17 ceremony. However, top players will continue on as “All-Stars” selected by their teammates and coaches to represent their league in playoffs.
In 2002, the Aptos All-Stars gave the County Little League fever with wins all the way to the World Series in Pennsylvania. Many of those boys now play varsity baseball as sophomores at Aptos High.
Capitola-Soquel has had its share of district and sectional titles as well, with one division going all the way to state finals two years ago.
Many players from that team are still in the league, and McCoy thinks they have a chance to make another run at the state level.
The community is invited to help honor the players and volunteers of Capitola-Soquel at the closing ceremonies June 17 at the Soquel fields.
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