Little League

Eastwood Little League is a place where you can play baseball 7 days a week from the beginning of summer to the end of summer. At Eastwood Little League you'll have you'll have tons of fun and learn hundreds of things.

There are over 500 kids in only 6 levels of Little League, but 3 levels have two different leagues. One league is for boys and the other is for girls. There are about 75 kids in a league. Most of the kids are average players so there is competition.

The levels are: Tee Ball , Pitching Machine , Jr. Majors , Majors , Juniors , and Seniors. The levels are competitive. The Tee Ball is the funniest. There is more competition in the higher levels because of the age of the players.

Sign up by mail or at the Eastwood Firehouse on East Main across from Hardings Market or at the Comstock Public Library. Sign-up date to be announced in late winter- early spring. The cost is $40.00 plus your birth certificate.

The tryouts are held in the gym at the Adult Education Building in Comstock, Michigan on 26th street.

The Pee Wee Reese park is in Comstock Township. If you go to the corner of Sprinkle and H Ave. go south until you get to Lake St. (Comstock Ave.) and turn west until you get to Central Fire Department. The park is behind the fire department. If you want to get to Eastwood Little League from the corner of Sprinkle and H Ave. you would turn east on H until you got to Casper St. , and turn south to Borgess St. Then you would drive to Nazareth St. and drive till you reach a sign that says "Eastwood Little League". Then drive to the end of the street and turn north.

Equipment is a big part of Little League. You have to have a jersey, hat, cleats and glove.T o bat, you need a bat , helmet , and batting gloves. You can buy this equipment at Play It Again Sports and Jock Shop. Meijers sells gloves and K Mart does, too. .It costs $20 to buy a baseball glove , but at K Mart and Meijers it costs $25 dollars and higher. At Wal-Mart you can get a helmet for $10. Shirts and hats are provided by sponsors. There are no bat weights or wooden bats allowed on the baseball field. A catcher has to have catcher's equipment which include shin guards, chest protector,and helmet.

Baseball is traditionally considered to be the national pastime of the United States. It was once thought to have been invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in Coopertown, N.Y., but it is more likely that baseball developed from an 18th-century English game called rounders(q.v.).The innovation that runners be tagged with the ball rather than hit with it was among the rules adopted by Alexander J. Cartwright and a group of New York City players who established the modern game.The tag rule made possible the introduction of a smaller hard ball and a larger,diamond shaped field.

During the American Civil War(1861-65), baseball became popular among the troops ,and following the war professional players appeared from the ranks of amateur associations.A National Association of Professional Base Ball Players was formed in 1871 and became the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1876.A rival American League was founded in1900,comprising mostly cities outside of the National League.

You play baseball by hitting a pitched ball, then running around 4 bases; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and the home plate. After you touch the home plate you score a run for your team. There are 9 defensive positions; catcher, 1st baseman, 2nd baseman, shortstop, 3rd baseman, pitcher, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder.

The conditions to play in are pretty rough. You would play in any weather except thunder , lightning , and tornado watches or warnings.

By Shelbie & April, Mrs. Schrock 4th Grade Class, Green Meadow Elementary and Dustin, Mrs. Cole's 5th Grade Class, North Elementary
Updated by David: North Elementary