Registration opens for 2014 La Jolla Youth Baseball season

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Sign up online at

LJYB.org

through Jan. 12, 2014

By Tom Murphy

La Jolla Youth Baseball

Registration is underway for La Jolla Youth Baseball’s 2014 season. Since 1952, LJYB has been helping kids learn the game and develop the skills needed to play. LJYB’s goal is to provide organized recreational baseball played in a healthy, competitive spirit with an emphasis on skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

As a non-profit organization, LJYB depends on many generous community volunteers and donors, who help make youth baseball in La Jolla possible.

For the third year, LJYB will continue its partnership with the San Diego Padres. Through its Youth Baseball Initiative, every player in the league — from Shetland through Pony — will again wear authentic Padres jerseys and caps representing various eras throughout Padres team history.

In addition to LJYB, the Padres are outfitting 16,000 kids throughout the region in Padres gear.

Assessments are planned for the last weekend in January. Teams will be formed and practices begin in February. Opening Day is Saturday, March 1, 2014. The regular season and playoffs continue through Memorial Day and post-season tournaments and All Stars continue into the summer.

Registration occurs online at LJYB.org through Jan. 12, 2014. Players division is determined by their age as of April 30, 2014: Shetland (ages 5-6), Pinto (ages 7-8), Mustang (ages 9-10), Bronco (ages 11-12) and Pony (ages 13-14).

The cost is $205 and includes about 20 games and 40 practices over the course of the season. Shetland is $185 due to fewer games at that level.

At the LJYB annual meeting in September, president Jim Benham reviewed the 2013 season with members in attendance, including financial and facility operations, tournament results, and the slate of new board members for election to three-year terms: Mark Bale, Brian Canino and Aaron Roberts.

Continuing board members are Jim Benham, Chris Coleman, Anthony Musante and Bo Solis. Five new division presidents were introduced: Charles Hartford (Shetland), Walter Birnbaum (Pinto), Cindi Stratton (Mustang), Geoff Longenecker (Bronco) and Tom Murphy (Pony).

Benham closed the meeting by thanking three outgoing board members for their years of service: Jim Duffy, Brian LaGrange and Tom Murphy. The board held its first meeting of the 2014 season in October.

—For information about La Jolla Youth Baseball, e-mail: email@LJYB.org and visit

www.LJYB.org