Archive: Sports

Spring is bringing the Lansing Recreation Department's baseball and softball programs, and Recreation Director Steve Colt says that both programs are filling nicely.  His department is spending most of its time coordinating the two programs, recruiting coaches, and scheduling workshops for the K-6 programs.  "I was really pleased this year by the participation by the parent coaches that indicated that they were willing to coach," Colt says.  "It is probably one of the best turnouts in recent memory."


Colt says the only level that is short on coaches for this season is the Boys American League.  This league has the oldest boys in the program, fifth and sixth graders.  Five teams worth of players are signed up, but so far Colt has only recruited two or three coaches.  "We're still looking for two or three more coaches for those teams," he says.  "We'll find them."

But for the other grade levels there are more potential coaches than there are teams.  "It's a good problem to have to figure out what you're going to do with eight coaches for five teams," Colt says.  "Overall the commitment from the parents is very impressive this year.  A lot of parents stay with it as their kids move up through the program levels.  Eventually they age out at the top and move on into high school or modified sports at the middle school.  It's a really good group of parents for both the boys and the girls, and a lot of them."

Colt plans selection meetings on April third and fourth to set the final roster of coaches.  The coaches come to these meetings at the Town Hall.  The meeting room is divided with different tables for the different leagues, and coaches go to the appropriate table.  "We'll do a clinic, we'll go over the rules, we'll set the guidelines for the selection to create parity," Colt says.  "And then they pick.  It's usually a fun, entertaining night."

The following week two clinics have been scheduled for the players.  Scheduled over school break, the girls Lansing Softball Program (LSP) players will participate in a spring players training clinic on Tuesday, and Wednesday the Lansing Baseball Program (LBP) boys will do the same.  Both clinics are held from 8am to noon at the school, run by Varsity Coach Ed Redmond and high school players from his team.  Players will pay a small fee, which the Recreation Department donates to the team.  "Ed Redmond is probably one of the top high school baseball coaches in upstate New York," Colt says.


The players clinics have been held for six to eight years.  "The clinics are great for the kids, because it gives them a head start," Colt says.  "The other thing that's cool from my perspective is that for several years the kids who are now the Varsity player clinicians were attendees no long ago.  It's come full circle and now they're on the other end of it."

Cost says the program practices will start the following week, and games will be played starting May 5th, and finishing on June 9th, Super Saturday.

"That seems like a lot of work for a short season," Colt notes.  "It's a lot of work behind the scenes."

----
v3i13