Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Fewer players sign up for Boulder City Little League

BC Little League 2

Aaron Thompson / Special to the Home News

Boulder City Little League hopeful Chris Harmon shows off his skills for an evaluator at the Boulder City Little League tryouts.

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Nine-year-olds Gabriel Lawrence, Jacke Hubel and Vinny Mayo talk about trying out for the Boulder City Little League at the Veteran's Memorial Park on Jan. 24.

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Boulder City Little League player Ian West, 13, warms up before Little League tryouts at the Veteran's Memorial Park.

The Little League season got under way on Saturday when the Boulder City Little League held its first day of tryouts at Veterans Memorial Park.

"The numbers are down and we figured they would be with the way the economy is," league president Walt West said.

Players ages 6 to 12 showed off their skills in five areas — speed, catching, hitting, fielding and arm strength.

"I can't wait to play with my friends. It's going to be a lot of fun," Taylor Reynolds, 11, said.

There were approximately 100 children who came out for the tryouts, putting the league's enrollment down approximately 40 players from last year.

West said the economy seems to be the biggest reason for the decline in numbers but also said some players just chose not to come back out.

"My own son decided he didn't want to play because he wanted to focus on golf. There's not much I can do about that," West said. "But if there's a kid that wants to play and just can't afford it, we will find a way for them to play."

The league also had to raise its price to $125 per player, up from $90 last year.

"We had to raise prices because we didn't get as many sponsorships, so we need to make up the costs to cover those sponsorships and our other normal costs," West said.

With the lack of players, West said, there will be fewer teams this year. There will be two Rookie Division teams (ages 6 to 8), three Minors Division teams (ages 8 to 10), two Majors Division teams (ages 11 and 12) and two Juniors Division teams (ages 13 and 14).

The League's opening day is March 7, with games in Henderson. The first games in Boulder City will be played March 14.

"This may be a tough time, but I really think it's going to be a good year for the league," West said.

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or [email protected].

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