TWO TEAMS NEED MORE BASEBALL PLAYMATES
11:50 - 07 June 2006
Up-and-coming baseball stars in Plymouth are hoping other teams come forward
soon - because they're starting to get a little bored with playing against each
other.
Just two teams of youngsters make up the Plymouth-based Southwest Baseball
League - the Barracudas and the Devil Rays.
Fifteen members from the two teams are to be selected to represent the small
league in play-off games against outfits from the rest of the country in
August.
Since April, the two teams have slugged it out six times - with the Barracudas
holding a 4-2 advantage in victories.
But manager Angie Wilson admitted she and league chairman husband Tug wished
there were more teams to pick from.
She said: "We had two more teams last season, but people leave because
they were over the age limit to play.
"We used to travel the length and breadth of the country to play other
teams, but we found that nobody came to Plymouth to play us.
"It was very costly to hire a minibus for £200 every time we played away
from home and we took the decision to form our own league.
"We've only got two teams and we'd love to have more because we're worried
that the kids get too complacent.
"They need more variety and more competition from other players if they're
going into the play-offs against different teams.
"We've got some of the best equipment of any team in the country, but we'd
like some more players."
The Barracudas and Devil Rays have team members, aged between 13 and 16.
There is also a younger section for players aged nine to 12.
But Angie said local baseball could take players aged 'from nine to 99'.
She said: "We have an adult team of coaches which plays friendly matches,
but although we are happy to visit and help encourage interest in baseball,
it's up to people to get their coaching badge and set something up themselves.
"People are more than welcome to come along for a free first session and
see how they like it."
Youngsters are battling for the right to be selected to represent Plymouth
Mariners All Star team in the National play-offs and, hopefully, get through to
the National Finals.
Their next game day is on Saturday at Knollys Field, Central Park.
It starts at 10.30am with early warm-up, with
the 13-16s pitching off at 11am and playing until around 12.30pm.
The younger group pitches off at 1pm, playing until one team wins at the end of seven to eight
innings, at around 3.15pm.
The adults are having a game on Sunday, with the pitch-off at 11am.
Anyone interested in playing or helping out can contact Angie or Tug Wilson on
01752 514579.
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