The Sedona Parks and Recreation Department is looking for children — as well as adults — to step up to the plate in order to gauge the interest of bringing baseball back to Sedona.
This past spring the sounds of cheering parents, laughing kids and bats hitting balls went silent. But Recreation Coordinator Ali Baxter is hoping to bring those sounds back next year.
“It was a mix of not having enough coaches for the number of kids registered,” she said in terms of why the league was cancelled. “When they [Verde Valley Little League] saw that there wasn’t going to be enough coaches they didn’t push to register any additional kids. But those who did call were allowed to play in Cottonwood.”
The two age groups of players they’re looking to attract are those in T-ball and coach-pitch, which has seen the most success locally in year’s past, with an average of 45 to 60 players combined. That said, older kids are welcomed to play but there has to be enough participation to proceed. The interest among the kids was there last year, Baxter said. It was the parental backing in terms of coaches and those willing to be on the administrative side that was lacking.
“If you want to have your kids play, sometimes you have to step up and help the teams out,” she said. “I say the same thing as I do about AYSO and Grasshopper basketball — don’t be intimidated by it. Even if you don’t know anything about it, these organizations are here to teach you how to coach. Quite honest, for T-ball they’re more in it for the sportsmanship, learning how to play the sport and being on a team.”
In 2015, after two years of no action, AYSO was reintroduced here in Sedona. At that time there weren’t enough teams to have a Sedona league so they played against teams from Cottonwood. This past year they had 48 players registered and this year that number has spiked to 85. In addition, Grasshopper basketball [grades 1-6] fielded 92 players in 2018 and 86 this year.
This says — at least for now — despite the dwindling number of younger families moving to the area and the closure of Big Park School in 2018, Sedona Parks and Recreation is not feeling the same impact.
“I see the numbers being fairly steady,” she said. “Our events have remained steady and in many cases have increased and the majority of those are local families. Across the board our summer camp numbers were up. It was amazing. Our soccer camp numbers are greater than Cottonwood’s numbers.
“Even though we closed a school, those kids still went to school somewhere. Even if they didn’t come to West Sedona School, they still live in the area and participate in after-school or summer programs.”
As for baseball, Baxter said she hopes to hold a public meeting in late October to early November to see the level of interest in terms of players, coaches and administrators.
Until then, she is requesting that parents contact her at abaxter@sedonaaz.gov between now and mid-October. Registration would begin Jan. 1 with the league starting mid-March.
Baxter said she’s hoping that by not having Little League last year it will help spark interest for both the players and their parents.
“That’s why I’m starting now and reminding them that they won’t have it if we don’t step up and do something about it,” she said. “I want to know, if the interest is there?”
Verde Valley Little League District Administrator Coco Minner told Baxter that first and foremost Sedona needs a president, treasurer and secretary to restart the league. Then, they need coaches. If there are not enough teams to form their own league, Minner told her they can join Cottonwood’s league.
“We want to see this program happen,” Baxter said. “If I get a solid 20 parents reach out to me before the beginning of October that this program matters to them and are willing to make it happen, then I would be happy to advertise a public meeting.”
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
