Call it divine intervention, fate or an oddity. A week’s worth of rain in mid July effectively ended the 2019 baseball and softball seasons for kids in Leland Parks and Recreation leagues.
This meant that only two champions were crowned by season’s end changing the format of the Annual Awards Banquet held at the Buster Morlino Community Center on Monday.
“Our season started a little late and we had the rain event,” said Leland Parks and Recreation Director Roy Gordon.”We operate on city time and the school year is right around the corner. So we had to end things a little early.”
With the exception of crowing an 11-12 year old girls softball champ and a 5-6 year boys T-ball champion, there were no other individual or team awards. But everybody took something home for being a part of the league. “
All teams receive a trophy for participation,” Gordon said. “All players receive a medallion for participation as well.”
Leland Parks and Rec summer leagues were made up of 220 players which included leagues for 5-6 year olds, 9-10 year olds, 13-24 year olds and 15-16 year olds. Coaches and sponsors for the event received Gordon’s utmost praise.
“This is their way of giving back,” he said.”Providing their time, effort and money for successful season is much appreciated.”
Long time coaches Elijah Moore and John Hawkins received special recognition awards at the ceremony.
