Field of dreams

Mike Sciacca

Perched high above the blue Pacific and tucked safely away from the

hustle of busy Coast Highway, Riddle Field sleeps silently on this

glorious Spring day.

It is just a brief respite on this early Friday afternoon, for just

before night fall, the crisp, clean lines and bright green turf that make

up her bed are sure to be ruffled by the fancy footwork of several

hundred cleats.

Riddle Field is home to Laguna Beach Little League; more specifically,

the home to the teams of the Majors and AAA divisions. It is also used,

on occasion, by AA and Bantam division teams.

Nestled in a small valley with a panoramic view that is lined with

tall trees surrounding the outfield, and an offering of the vast ocean to

the right, Riddle Field truly is a field of dreams for those associated

with the league.

Not many Little Leagues -- if any, at all -- can brag of such a

location.

“In addition to being truly beautiful, set in this picturesque valley,

Riddle Field has a magical feel to it,” League Secretary Cary Hyden said.

“Riddle evokes a nostalgic feeling of the days gone by -- a slice of

1950s Americana.”

Those associated with the league are certainly in the know when it

comes to the baseball field. But for those unfamiliar with it, the

history of Riddle Field begins in 1962, when it was constructed in Boat

Canyon by city funds and volunteer help.

The original league field, prior to 1962, was at the site of the

current Laguna Beach High School varsity field. In 1962 the school

district rebuilt and realigned the playing fields, eliminating the Little

League facility.

A mad scramble ensued to find a playing site for the league, which the

Irvine Co. provided with a temporary field near the grounds of the

Festival of Arts for the National League teams. It was at that time when

then-Laguna Beach Mayor Jesse Riddle spearheaded a drive to develop the

Boat Canyon facility for the American League teams.

The new facility became the home of all eight Majors Division Little

League teams in 1964. Lights were added that same year and the current

fence height was installed for the 1974 season.

The field was dedicated in Mayor Riddle’s honor as part of the 1963

opening ceremonies. Riddle was a fixture, Hyden said, at Laguna Beach

Little League games until he “retired” at age 96.

He died in 1982 at the age of 100.

“His vision turned into a truly beautiful field” Hyden said. Laguna

Beach Little League’s rich history includes the fact that it is the third

league to be chartered in the state and the oldest league in Orange

County. Four teams were organized in 1952, sponsored by four service

clubs: Optimist, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary.

Sponsors still play a vital role in the success and longevity of the

league.

Damon Berryhill, who played for Kiwanis in 1975-76, is the only Laguna

Beach Little League player to play Major League Baseball. He went on to

have a nine-year career as a catcher and appeared in one World Series.

There’s action taking place at Riddle Field almost nonstop. Games take

place every week day at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The weekend schedule is

full, with three games played each Saturday and two more on Sunday.

“It’s a great field to play on,” said Gabe Stansbury, a

pitcher/catcher who plays for VFW of the Majors Division. “It’s really

neat with all those big trees past the outfield. It’s kind of a special

place.”