« Mostly sunny, high near 50 | Today | Sundlun, Almond to address watchdog group »

November 7, 2007

Providence Little Leaguers get lights

Two years ago, when James Taylor became the vice president of Elmwood Little League, he was determined to do at least one thing: light up the field.

It took a 2-year campaign and nearly $90,000, but the poles have been erected at the John T. Owens Field where the league -- which serves the Elmwood, South Elmwood, Reservoir and West End communities – play.

The city's largest children's baseball league won a $38,000 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and has gotten $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant money through the City of Providence,

More than 600 boys and girls play for 38 teams in the league. "When we go to other fields, every one of them has lights," Taylor said in an interview earlier this year.

"And these kids always say, 'Coach, where's our lights?' And it kind of breaks your heart, and we want them to be equal."

There are 50 children on the league waiting list despite the addition this year of two teams. When the league adds night games, Taylor says, thanks to the lights, it can add one to two teams, or up to 30 more children.

The lights have not been hooked up yet, but even so, they look pretty good.

-- with Journal archive reports

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 7:01 AM | Permalink

Comments

G | November 7, 2007 11:52 AM link

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)