Local boys and girls take the field

FOR THE RECORD

A story Sunday, “Local boys and girls take the field,” should have said former Angels player Scott Lewis is the coach of the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn.’s Sterling BMW team.

*************

NEWPORT-MESA — Scores of boys and girls gathered at baseball fields to celebrate Opening Day of their season.

Players in the Newport Beach Little League, the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Pony League, the Costa Mesa National Little League and the Costa Mesa American Little League descended upon their home fields for games, food, festivities and friendship.

“It’s fun, and you make lots of friends,” said Brandt Bucher, 11, who plays on the Sterling BMW team for the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. “Plus it gives you exercise, and that’s good.”

Brandt lined up with teammates Saturday at Ensign Intermediate School in Newport to test how fast they could throw. He said he expects a good season for his team, especially with a little help from his coach, former Angels player Matt Kaplan, whose son plays in the Mustang division of the Newport Pony League.

Although the majority of kids all decked out in their full baseball uniforms were boys, there were a few maverick girls among them willing to be the minority.

Natalie Hutchinson and Cassidy Harrison, both 6-year-old kindergarteners, said they were the only girls on their Costa Mesa National Little League Astros team, but they enjoyed it.

At their Saturday morning tee-ball game, the girls’ team tied, 7-7, and they were looking forward to more.

“I like hitting,” Natalie said. Cassidy agreed that along with playing second base, hitting was her favorite part of the sport.

For the parents, it’s about their kids learning sportsmanship, making new friends and preparing for the future, along with plain old fun.

“It gives them a solid ground on what they have to look forward to — in life you have to learn how to play as a team…. Plus if they weren’t doing this, what would they do, watch TV?” Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. mom Kimberly Steinke said as she watched her son Mitchell take a photo with his Citrus Motors team. “We go to a private school, so it’s nice to make other friends, plus it’s where boys can just be boys.”

David Schaefer, 10, said he can’t wait to make some good plays on the field. The Mariner’s Christian School fourth-grader helped his dad get more into baseball.

“David loves the sport and loves his team and the friendship he has with the other boys,” Bill Schaefer said. “I think it helps prepare them for an active life.”

For the Costa Mesa National Little League, the opening day meant more than just fun and festivities — it was a way to reach out to the community for support. The league is trying to get the fields revamped at TeWinkle Middle School.

ONLINE

For schedules, locations, and volunteer and donation information for each league, check the following websites:

: eteamz.active.com/cmnll

eteamz.active.com/cmall

www.playnhba.com

www.newportbeachll.com