KP Little League’s Opening Day rousing success

By Hugh McMillan


The second Saturday of last month, the league’s Opening Day, Kurt Self, President of the Key

Peninsula Little League, extolled, “What a day! It couldn’t be better.”

Every field at KP’s Volunteer Park was flooded with sunshine and no wind. An excited, enthusiastic group of 324 players, 27 managers, 54 coaches, 30 umpires, 15 KPLL Board members and scads of parents and siblings filled the fields and stands.

The day opened with the league’s annual fund-raising breakfast at KP Middle School where an official photographer took memento photos of each of the 27 teams all clad in their bright new uniforms. The teams then paraded one after the other next door to Volunteer Park’s baseball fields where each was identified over the loudspeakers as they assembled in waves of color and solemnly saluted our flag and national anthem.

Self announced, “Our honoree this year is a very special lady named Linda Hacker. She had the vision to start a league for the children of the Key Peninsula. That vision is now the Key Peninsula Little League, 18 years and going strong.”

Hacker threw out the first ball of the season following which twenty 45minute games were played. The balance of season will be of six innings for Majors and below, seven innings for Juniors and above.

The season runs from April 12 – June 10; most games are at KP Volunteer Park with some at Gig Harbor, South Kitsap, Sequim, and Bainbridge Island. All Star games begin June 15 – July 19.

KPLL is a non-profit, run solely by Volunteers. “Without

fundraisers and our generous sponsors and donors we could not provide this valuable service supporting over 300 KP children,” said Self, “and we sincerely thank them for making it all possible..”

One of the goals of the League this year is to get a second pitching machine. Self explained that the current machine will pitch only 50 miles per hour which is ok for younger players but, for the older players, a machine that will make 90 mph and pitch curve balls and sliders is needed. The current machine is stored until a batting cage is built hopefully by mid-May. The machine, costing about $1,300, will add a valuable teaching tool for our 27 teams, said Self. Funds for the batting cage were arranged by Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To support the league through volunteering or donations,
contact Kurt Self at 677-273 or kpllpresident2006@yahoo.com .

 

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