A new season is fast approaching for players in the Palisades Pony Baseball Association. Tryouts were held last Saturday at the Palisades Recreation Center diamonds with hundreds of local kids vying for spots on their favorite teams this spring. Each perspective player fielded grounders and fly balls, threw to first base to demonstrate his throwing arm, and took cuts at the plate. As always, more players tried out than the fields are able to accommodate. Practices start next week and continue until opening day March 18. The PPBA is broken down into four age divisions. Pinto consists mostly of 8-year-olds, with a few outstanding 7-year-olds and some nine-year-olds to help provide experience for their younger teammates. Mustang consists of 9- and 10-year-olds, and players do their own pitching. Bronco is for 11- and 12-year-olds and Pony is for 13- and 14-year-olds. Draft day for all divisions is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Palisades Recreation Center. A mandatory coaches meeting will be held at Corpus Christi School next Wednesday at 7 p.m. for anyone interested in coaching a PPBA team. This year marks the 52nd season of youth baseball in the Palisades. Commissioner Bob Benton and Mike Skinner, who was instrumental in getting the Field of Dreams complex built three years ago, are at the top of a long list of parents, volunteers and local supporters who keep the organization going strong year after year. Opening day festivities include the traditional pancake breakfast fundraiser and the tossing of the ceremonial first pitch, thrown last year by actress and Palisades mom Mary McDonnell. Last year, the Indians beat the Braves to win the Pinto World Series, the Dodgers beat the Indians to win the Mustang Division and the Dodgers ousted the Braves to win the Bronco World Series.
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