Missing funds trouble Little League

Denise Cardinal

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997 | 10:08 a.m.

Faced with a police investigation into missing funds, the Peccole Little League is forced to enact strict cutbacks, including limiting each team to one new ball per game.

"Last year we spent $11,563 on baseballs," said LeVans Estrada, the board of director's treasurer. "We figured this year we'll only spend $5,000."

So dire is the financial picture, board members at a recent meeting grilled a trophy salesman about the cost of giving each team member a participation trophy.

"We'd be spending $16,000 on awards," said Mary McDonald, former treasurer and board member. "I don't think so."

Metro Police are investigating the Little League for a series of checks of more than $50,000 that bounced during the 1996 season, according to documents obtained by the Las Vegas SUN.

Also obtained was a copy of a check for $73,000 given to the Little League in 1994 to erect five scoreboards at Rainbow park. Only one scoreboard is up today.

Investigators also are looking into a missing $1.7 million donation to build five ballfields at Rainbow Park for league use. The city of Las Vegas is finishing the fields with taxpayer dollars -- four years later.

Since the trouble began, a new 12-member board of directors has been installed. The board is trying to put the league's questionable fiscal past behind it. And there isn't much time left -- sign-ups start next month. They're hoping for 850 kids to join the league, at $90 each.

"People are going to be reluctant," Estrada said. "But they're going to want to get their children involved."

Some board members maintain that the tight-fisted budgeting process is one example of how they'll make sure the money's where it should be and that the entire 12-member panel is held accountable.

"We can't overspend any money," said Steve Nappi, a board member in charge of the T-ball division for the Little League. "Just last year we finally got into the black."

The 1998 season will be the first since the league started five years ago that it'll operate a concession stand. Profits from concessions are expected to exceed $10,000.

Rather than dwell on past mistakes of past boards, the new members pledge to clean up the image of Peccole Little League.

"We just want to fulfill our obligation that each participant can have a pleasant experience," Nappi said. "We're at no risk of deteriorating any further."