FMB Little League season begins Saturday
Play Ball!!! Opening Day for the 2010 Fort Myers Beach Little League season is this Saturday. The action begins with teeball at 10 a.m. and includes opening ceremonies at 10:45 a.m.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council has been invited to participate in the “first pitch” ceremony which will be part of a full day of baseball activities.
The day’s schedule is as follows:
n 10 a.m. — Teeball: Beach Cubs
n 10 a.m. — Major Softball: Bonita Heat vs. Beach Sunbirds
n 10:45 — Opening Ceremonies
n 11 a.m. — Minor Baseball: Beach Twins vs. Beach Red Sox
n 12:30 p.m. — Junior Baseball: Bonita Rays vs. Beach Phillies
n 1 p.m. — Major Baseball: Bonita Giants vs. Beach Red Sox
According to FMB Little League President Charlie Whitehead, there are six Beach teams competing against area squads: one teeball team; two minor league baseball teams (age 6 or 7-11); one major league baseball team (ages 9-12); one major league softball team (ages 9-12); and one junior baseball team (ages 13-15).
“We play Alva, Bonita, Lehigh, San Carlos Park, LaBelle and Immokalee,” said Whitehead. “The regular season will run almost into June.”
The tradition-rich sport of baseball has a rich history on the Beach with more than 50 years of celebrating the youth version of America’s pasttime. There will be one difference this season.
“This is the first year we will be playing on Town-owned fields,” said Whitehead. “We’ve lost some really good players from our Junior Boys team due to graduation (from the age group). The same goes with the Major Boys team. This year those kids are in the Junior level which means they are 13 year olds playing in the age 13-15 league. They are very good players but they’re playing against 15 year olds. I feel good about the season. We have a bunch of good coaches -some new and some who have been around awhile. We’re pretty well organized I think.”
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“We’re still looking for umpires, concession people and equipment sponsors,” said Whitehead. “Three of the (graduated) players last year are still involved. One (Carlos Santiago) is now an umpire and two (Allison Whitehead and Chelsea O’Reilly) are assistant teeball coaches. I always feel optimistic this time of year because we have kids playing baseball and softball. I’m a real believer in the phrase ‘Little League coaches saves lives.’ You never know whose lives you are going to affect.”
Don’t expect to see games played on the following Saturday, though. Many players and coaches will be involved in the Shrimp Festival Parade festivities.
“We’re marching in the shrimp parade with as many kids as we can get out there in uniform,” said Whitehead. “We never schedule games on that day.”