By ANNIE C. LEAVITT
Moapa Valley Progress
More than 300 young players, ages 4-14 swarmed onto the Logandale Sports Complex on Saturday morning, March 9 to kick off the 19th Little League season for Moapa Valley.
Most teams were putting on their jerseys and hats and buckling belts minutes before the kick off. There was a buzz of excitement and nervousness in the air.
Moapa Valley Little League (MVLL) President Gene Houston thanked all of the volunteers in an opening address.
“The league relies on parent and volunteer participation to keep it running and to keep yearly costs as low as possible,” Houston said.
The league struggled for parent coaches this year. It is also operating at approximately 50 players less than last year’s registration. But Houston urged both parents and kids to keep it about having fun.
“This is for fun and to learn life skills,” Houston said. “We need to keep it fun for the kids and families.”
Bob Fleming, of the Southern Nevada Little League, began the ceremony with a recitation of the Little League Motto: “I trust in God, I love my country, And will respect its laws, I will play fair, And strive to win, But win or lose, I will always do my best.”
Fleming believes that “teaching kids the skills of the baseball program itself is a part of life and a skill to teach them how to win and how to lose.”
Fleming has been participating in Little League since 1976 as a T-ball coach for his own children and still enjoys supporting all of the local organizations.
“I’m still having fun and I enjoy what I do,” Fleming said.
Local youth, Chandler Evans opened the festivities with an electric guitar rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Then the first pitch to start the season was thrown by MVLL past president Darin Hadley and caught by his son Garrett Hadley. Hadley has served as President for the past five years.
Expo games began at 10 a.m. and continued throughout the day until 5 p.m. that evening.
Little League season runs until the end of May. The Moapa Valley Little League Board of Directors includes: President Gene Houston, VP of Softball, Kyle Heiselbetz, VP of Baseball, Angelo Martino; Secretary Rachelle McCombs; Treasurer, Teresa Briggs; Safety Officer, Kacey Martino; Player Agent, Justin Williams; Equipment Manager Shannon Phillipenas; Information Officer, Sarah Wadsworth; Concessions Manager, Margaret Houston; Umpire Manager, Darrell Moffatt; Coaches Liaison, Taylor Johnson; County Liaison, John Stastny.
