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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Little League fun returns May 3

Parade, opening day festivities once again kick off MAYS season

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: April 10, 2008

For many youth baseball and softball players throughout the Manchester community, the countdown to Opening Day is on.

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Manchester Area Youth Sports is scheduled to kick off the 2008 Little League season May 3 at Kirk Park.

For the third straight year, MAYS will hold a celebration for the first day of the Little League season with a parade around town and a full slate of games. The parade is scheduled to start around 9 a.m. followed by each team running the bases at Kirk Park. After the singing of the national anthem, the first round of baseball and softball games will begin.

"It should be similar to last year," MAYS president Traci Regner said. "We're hoping to have the same parade route."

Last year, the parade began on Adrian Street next to Kirk Park, traveling north to Main Street, then west to Clinton Street before returning south to the park.

Many other festivities for the event haven't been finalized yet, including who will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. In the past, MAYS has brought in celebrity guests to help kick off the Little League season. Two years ago, more than 200 kids walked in the parade along with Detroit Tigers mascot "Paws." Radio personality "Bubba" from W4 Country led the parade, threw out the first pitch and announced the start of the games at last year's event.

"We're also hoping that we can do raffles, but we're not sure on all the details yet," Regner said.

The participation level in the Little League remains strong. Regner expects similar participation from last year, when MAYS had 26 teams across six age divisions in the organization. Tee ball, for kids ages 4 through 6, and coach-pitch, (ages 7-8) each had six teams. MAYS Little League also features minor (ages 9 and 10 boys), major (age 11 and 12 boys) and juniors (age 13 and 14) divisions for baseball. There is also a junior softball division for girls.

"Last year was very successful for us and the kids had a good time," Regner said. "We have about equal participation to last year, which is good."

Regner also says that the support from local businesses and the addition of several new sponsors this year has also boosted MAYS.

The opening day festivities signal the beginning of the Little League regular season, which runs until late June. MAYS will then send all-star teams in the minor through junior divisions in baseball and junior softball to compete in the Little League playoffs. There, teams from across the state will compete for a chance to play in the Little League World Series.

Throughout the season, parents and players can follow the happenings in the league on the MAYS Web site, eteams.active.com/manchesterareayouthsports.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.