Youth Leagues

COVESVILLE, Va. -- On a recent drizzly Saturday, players smacked baseballs in batting cages and spectators sat under colorful awnings, watching children play game after game of baseball on fields worthy of the pros. Here, in the jagged foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains southwest of Charlottesville, a 45-year-old multimillionaire novelist has built his field of dreams: a $3.8 million, seven diamond ballpark for kids. John Grisham, author of such best sellers as "The Firm" and "The Client," completed Cove Creek Park to accolades in 1996 and the park keeps growing.

The Greater Laurel United Soccer Club, an all-volunteer organization, is currently registering players online for the spring soccer season, which begins late March/early April. Those who register by Nov. 5 pay only $60. The league is for players ages 4-18, and offers single-gender teams. Players play at least half of each game. Teams practice once or twice weekly, and games are on Saturday, with occasional Sundays and weeknight evenings. Practices and games are on fields in the greater Laurel area.

Youth lacrosse Martin named director of Charm City league Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler , founder of the nonprofit Charm City Youth Lacrosse League, and league president Miles Harrison announced Thursday that Jody Martin has been named executive director of the league. Martin has served as men's division director at USLacrosse since the organization's inception in 1998 and was director of membership and chapters at the Lacrosse Foundation from 1994 to 1998.

Generations of kids have spent summer evenings pounding their cleats and sliding into home on a West Baltimore baseball field. Now, a longtime youth baseball organization is hoping to refurbish the fields on which it has instilled teamwork and responsibility in those children for more than half a century. James Mosher Baseball, Maryland's oldest continuously operating league for African-American children, started in 1960 to keep kids occupied in the summer. But after decades of play, its fields need help.

The injury that St. Louis Cardinals star pitcher Adam Wainwright suffered in the bullpen during spring training isn't just a big league problem. As baseball season approaches, Little Leaguers and other school-age players should be aware that they can damage their elbows. Dr. Anand M. Murthi, attending orthopedic surgeon and chief of shoulder and elbow surgery at Union Memorial Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, explains the surgery that is sometimes necessary for repairs. It's called ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)

For years, many inner-city youngsters have had to wait until summer to live out their major-league baseball fantasies. But for a privileged group of Baltimore fourth- and fifth-graders, the summer game is getting an early start.Beginning April 25, the Baltimore Baseball League will begin a nine-week season with play at recreation centers throughout the city. But instead of wearing uniforms bearing names of the Orioles, Mets or other major-league teams, participants will represent 24 elementary schools in Baltimore in a program is designed to serve as a model for other cities.

The Baltimore Police Department kicked off its spring soccer league yesterday afternoon at a municipal park that was once a haven for drug dealers.More than 500 children packed Frank C. Bocek Park, on East Madison Street at the edge of some of East Baltimore's most dangerous neighborhoods. Provident Bank of Maryland donated $25,000 to pay for referees and uniforms."I came to have fun," said Shatel Veazy, 10, a fifth-grader at Frederick Elementary School. "I have no experience with soccer, but I like to kick things."

A story about Howard County parks in the Howard edition of The Sun yesterday incorrectly characterized county officials' position on volunteers helping to maintain playing fields. Although school officials are reluctant to let volunteers help maintain school fields, county officials say they encourage volunteer help on county park fields.The Sun regrets the error.Howard County youth leagues -- strained by new fees for use of county fields -- will get a temporary, partial reprieve under a plan announced yesterday by County Executive Charles I. Ecker to cut the fees in half for 1997.

AFTER THE January we've had, it is tough to think about spring sports -- much less start planning for them.Nevertheless, the Brooklyn Park Youth Athletic Association is having several registration sessions in February for baseball, softball and T-ball.Parents of boys and girls ages 5 to 16 are invited to sign up at Brooklyn Park Elementary School at these dates and times: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 17 and 24; and noon until 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, 18 and 25.Registration fees are $30 for one child, $50 for two children and $5 for each additional child in the family.

Well, it's that time again.Adult softball players have already taken to the field for another season.The Carroll County Men's Softball League and the Mount Airy Men'sLeague were officially to open the softball season for many local teams with early-bird tourneys last weekend.These affairs, however,were only partially completed because of the Saturday and Sunday rains and will have to be finished at a later date.Rain also canceled Monday night's planned opening of the Westminster Jaycees girls' softball season.