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P/CLOUDY Temp: 48 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, April 10, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 30, 2003 Volunteers pitch in to prepare Little League grounds The fields are readied for T-ball, softball and baseball season, which begins in two weeks By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune For Kelsie Bartley, Field Day is a fun day. "We know we’re going to make the fields better for everybody," said the 9-year-old, who added she’s been helping fix up the Little League grounds every spring since she began playing ball when she was 5 or 6. Dozens of volunteers of all ages turned out Saturday equipped with gloves, rakes and riding mowers for the annual Field Day at the Medford American Little League fields at Bear Creek Park. From mowing and weed-eating to raking leaves and spreading gravel, league members and their parents sweated under a sunny blue sky to prepare the fields for the T-ball, softball and baseball season, which begins in two weeks. The park’s five ball fields and three small T-ball fields are home during the summer months to 725 kids, ages 5 to 18, which make up 54 teams. Demi DeSoto, league coach and dad, said the kids take a lot of pride in their fields because they get to help take care of them. "It gives them a sense of ownership in their facility," said DeSoto as he mounted the Little League sign that had been pulled from winter storage. DeSoto, whose two sons, Matthew, 9, and Mychal, 11, are league members, said he’s looking forward to a simpler driving schedule this year. "This year I’m coaching a team that both of my sons are on at the same time," he said. Dennis Helland, who oversees maintenance of the fields and organizes the annual event, said there’s always a good turnout. "We went through a couple hundred hot dogs last year," he said. He said he sees "Parents, players, anyone who wants to get the fields in shape." The city owns the property and mows a lot of the grass, but it’s the volunteers who provide the fencing, dugouts, score booths and a lot of the maintenance, said Helland. David Cheney, league president, sees the day as being more than raking some leaves. "It’s a nice way to get the community involved," said Cheney, adding that it’s an opportunity for those who aren’t coaches to contribute. He also attributes the league’s success to local businesses that sponsor teams at $250 per team. Kara Olson came down to the fields with her son Ryan, 5, to help out and see about getting Ryan on a T-ball team. She said she and her family had just moved from the Coos Bay/North Bend area. "There wasn’t much for the kids over there," she said. Olson has three other boys, ages 4, 2½ and 8 months, "So we’ll be owning the Little League here soon," she joked. While teams have had practices, the season officially begins with the first game April 14, and DeSoto says he can’t wait. "Our motivation today is to hear that umpire yell, ‘Play ball!’ " he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S