Play Ball!

Spirits were high as Scotts Valley Little League held its 49th-annual opening day ceremony on Saturday. This year, there are close to 400 players representing 33 teams all sponsored by local businesses.

Opening day offers a chance to honor local baseball players, reflect on the past and start a new season.

“It’s always nice to see everyone again and feel the excitement of a new baseball season,” said Hilda Neiger, whose son Gregory plays in the Majors division.

The daylong festivities, which brought out approximately 1,500 people throughout the day, began early with a pancake breakfast then team photos.

City council member Jim Reed started his day flipping pancakes and serving breakfast.

"Today is a long day for volunteers, parents and kids," Reed said. “Personally, volunteering today and putting in long hours is the most rewarding time I have ever spent.”

During regular season play, over 100 parents volunteer their time for the single goal of giving the kids a fun baseball experience.

Volunteers Lisa Marshall, Addie Johnson and Laura Cardero will run and coordinate the volunteer snack shack program for parents and teens.

“This is the best place on earth to work,” Cardero said.

Parent volunteer Laura Burns organized the day’s events.  "We have such a wonderful community,” she said. “I'm excited, this is all done for our kids. It’s about them.”

The festivities of the day also included a Hit-A-Thon fundraiser in which players from all of the divisions participated in. The event raised $22,000 for the league.

“We received an amazing response from the community that donated prizes,” Carolyn Auman said. “We gave away more than 66 bags of goodies with exciting prizes going to the kids that hit the ball the furthest and raised the most money.” 

Player Matt Solis won San Francisco Giants tickets for his top fundraising efforts.

“It feels good,” he said of winning.

This year, there are notable improvements to the fields, including a permanent home for T-ball with mini bleachers and a picnic area; a permanent field for Single A; extended dugouts for Double A; and new turf on the Triple A and Majors fields.

Local business sponsors, the City of Scotts Valley and parent volunteers made all of the improvements possible during the off-season.  

"I’m excited about the condition of all our fields,” said Phil Hormel, this year’s new league president.  

After ceremonies that included the announcement of each of this year’s teams and the recognition of last year’s TOC champions and five All-Star teams, including the 10-year-old All Stars who finished in second place in the state, the first pitch was thrown out by past Little League president Doug Marshall to his son John to kick off the 2011 season.

“Try your best and have fun out there,” Hormel said.

And it was clear the players and parents were ready to play ball.

“Here we go, the season has started!” parent Kathy Morrison said.

“Every year I ask my son if he wants to play baseball and every year he says, ‘Yes!’ To me that says it all,” parent Maria Gauthier said.

The first games of the regular season begin on Monday. Check back regularly on Scotts Valley Patch for Little League standings, scores and exciting game details.