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East Bay Little League Says, 'Let's Play Ball!'

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Landen Turner keeps his eye on the ball and hits a pitch from his dad Travis against a fence before a game. East Bay Little League hosted a full slate of games after its opening day ceremony Feb. 28.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

GIBSONTON - Beach chairs were unfolded and lined the fence separating the crowd from the field while visitors gathered at the concession stand to order hot dogs, pizza slices and bottles of water.

It was opening day in South Shore.

Nearly 1,500 players and parents attended the East Bay Little League opening day ceremonies Feb. 28 at Vance Vogel Park.

"I think the day went pretty great," said Amy Gregory, director of opening day ceremonies for the league. "We even came in under a time limit. We had scheduled an hour and 15 minutes, but the ceremony was done in 55 minutes."

The opening ceremony kicked off at 9 a.m. with a message from league president Tony Jrolf, who expressed his gratitude to the league's board of directors and the players' families.

"It's because of parents that we're able to have the success that we've had," Jrolf said. "They help out a lot as coaches and as volunteers for the league, and we really can't do it without them."

The league was founded in 1971 by south Hillsborough County residents and has averaged 700 to 800 players each season. About 700 players are signed up this year.

Its boundaries extend from the Alafia River south to the Manatee County line and from the Hillsborough Bay east to Bell Shoals Road. Baseball players are ages 5 to 16; softball players are ages 6 to 16.

After Jrolf's speech, each team was introduced. Led by their coaches, players jogged from first base to home plate and from home plate to third base to enable eager family members to take photos.

In addition to all the pageantry, the day also featured a full slate of games for each team.

"I'm pretty excited to get out there and start the season," said Landen Turner, 11, who warmed up before his game by hitting pitches tossed by his father, Travis.

Between the end of the opening ceremony and the start of the games at noon, players and their families visited concession stands and bought souvenirs for the season.

"We come out to these events and customize buttons and badges for the parents," said Bryon Kintz of "Got Team Spirit," a Ruskin-based business. Kintz sold those items with the players' names on them.

East Bay Little League teams will play until early May. League officials hope the rest of the season goes as well as its first day of business.

"I think the day was successful," said Nicole Lynch, registration director. "We had a lot of people out there, but there were also a lot of people who helped make it a good day."

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555.

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