Countdown to PPBA Opening Day
The smells of sausage cooking on the griddle and steaming hot coffee permeating the air, the sounds of neighbors and friends chatting and todders playing in the park, and the sight of 7- to 12-year-olds in baseball jerseys and carrying gloves can mean only one thing in the Palisades… it’s time to play ball. The harbinger of spring has arrived: a 51-year-old tradition known as the Pancake Breakfast to usher in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s Opening Day ceremonies this Saturday, March 19, at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams. From 7:30 to 11 a.m., anyone in the community can come to the Rec Center and pay the paltry sum of three dollars to receive a plate of delicious pancakes smothered in butter and syrup, sizzling sausages, thirst quenching orange juice, and piping hot coffee. At 9 a.m., the first pitch will be thrown out by Palisades’ own Mary McDonnell. A muli-talented actress, Mary is in constant demand. She’s in town for a few days before heading to Canada to begin work on a new film, ‘It’s About Love.’ Her career spans from stage work on the East Coast, to her award winning role in the movie ‘Dances with Wolves,’ to guest spots on ‘ER,’ to a part in ‘Battlestar Galactica.’ With her television and movie commitments leaving her little time to train for baseball, the question remains ‘Will her fast ball be the first strike of the season?’ Back by popular demand, 13-year-old Patrick Elder will sing the National Anthem. Patrick’s brother, Brett, is a PPBA player while his father, Bill, is a coach. Hitting home runs were the local 99 Cents Only store that donated all the paper goods; Domino’s Pizza, which underwrote the printing for all the Pancake tickets; Starbucks, which will once again keep early risers awake with coffee; Carl’s Junior, which donates all the sausages; and Gelsons, Ralphs, and Vons, which combined to pay for all of the groceries. The enormous undertaking of the pancake enterprise fell to Chair Lisa St. John, who assembled the best of the best to help in her quest: Mary Elizabeth Horan Lutz is the ticket and prize coordinator, Tamara Bland and Kathy Kamel organized volunteers, the shopping and kitchen volunteers are Valerie Clifford, Robin Dodson, Karen Jeffers, and Shari Wollman, once again decorations are done by Teresa Closson, and keeping the java flowing are Kathy and Pat McRoskey. In charge of baseball school procurement is Denise DeSantis. The following local merchants have won the pennant for sponsoring the youth teams: Benton’s Sport Shop, Denton’s Jewelers, Sotheby’s International Realty, Gelsons, Islands Surf Shop, Dr. Jacobson, Jakel’s Unocal Service, Kay ‘N Dave’s, M.G. Skinner & Associates, Mort’s Deli, Norris Hardware, Optimist Club, Prime Times Sports, Ralph’s Fresh Faire, Regal Cleaners, Village Books, Baskin Robbins, Palisades Patrol, Mogan’s Cafe, Sports Mania, Z Gallerie, Barney’s Beanery, Reel Inn, Spectrum Clubs and Lucia’s Italian Kitchen.. The Bat and Grill concession on the west side of the Field of Dreams complex will fire up the barbecue every Saturday. Hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts, Big League Chew and ice cream are only a few of the items sold at the stand. Even if your kids aren’t baseball players, stop by the Rec Center for refreshments. Mike Skinner, who was named Citizen of the Year for spearheading the Field of Dreams project, is seeking contributions to secure an ‘endowment’ to fund ongoing maintenance, repair and graffiti removal, which costs an estimated $30,000 per year.
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