Play ball

Squirt and bantam kids got in a good game of softball at Indian Point field, July 6.

They were the first ones to get in a good game this Labrador West Minor Softball season.

According to Wendy Barbour, LWMSA vice president and treasurer, about 50 kids registered which is lower than usual, but she said that baseball might have attracted some of their players.

"It's up from last year because of the shutdown, but it' still a little bit down," she said about the registration.  "We usually have about 70 players, but baseball has started up in the past couple of years, so baseball has taken a few players."

She explained that ideally there should be 20 players in each division, but this year 25 players signed up for the squirt/bantam division, whereas only 5 players signed up for the youngest, t-ball division.

Nevertheless, Barbour expressed that they're still pushing ahead and running a program that offers a lot to children.

"With the t-ball, the really young kids, their attention span is a little bit short anyways, so the coaches we have hired they got all kinds of drills and practices and warm-up exercises that make it more or less a game," she said.

"The mite, we teach them how to catch and throw, what plays you make from third, second, first bases, and home," she added.  "The squirt/bantam kids, they mostly know how to play anyway, so they have a game every time."

New this year, according to Barbour, there might be a fast-pitch training for the 13 and 14-year-olds, in preparation for the 2012 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games.

"We're going to start maybe some fast pitch," she said.  "In a couple of years time, there'll be the summer games again, so it would be nice to have a fast-pitch team to send out from Labrador West.  We're going to try and start them a couple of years early, so that they can practice it and we can pick out a team."

As for all of the children, she explained, they have a lot of ball playing and fun to look forward to, as well as a year-end BBQ and championship games where players will get medals.

"I hope that they love the game of ball, learn lots of skills from it and make new friends," she said.

Barbour added that the fastest way to make friends in school is to develop friendships through organized sports.

She said that they're also looking for sportsmanlike qualities from the players who should not get too upset if they strike out.

From the parents, she expects them to support their kids from the stands and come on to the field in case positions need to be filled.

She also said she's still getting calls from parents who want to sign up their kids and would encourage anyone thinking about it to contact her.

(T-ball division is $30 for registration and $20 for the jersey deposit, and all other divisions are $40 for registration and $20 for jersey deposit).