Community Corner
Friar Helps Lake Murray Little League Get Into Swing of Baseball Season
Padres mascot is among the hits at first Opening Day of several La Mesa Little Leagues.
With the Friar mascot of the Padres on hand for autographs and high-fives, Opening Day at Lake Murray Little League was extra special for 150 youngsters and their families Saturday at Sunset Park. League President Dan Schicker said the league is down from 177 players last year amid boundary and travel team challenges, but dozens of coaches for the 12 teams performed the traditional rounding of the bases with their kids at Sunset Field—making the most of the sunny day. Other Little Leagues with La Mesans will hold their openers Saturday, March 3—La Mesa National and Rolando.
Brenda Keagy was Lake Murray coordinator of Opening Day, which included one-inning exhibition games for T-Ball teams and CAPS and 3- and 4-inning games for Minors and Majors, respectively. Majors and Minors start regular season play March 3 and finish May 16. Coach-aided players (CAPS) and T-ball games will be played near Jackson Park on the grounds of Murray Manor Elementary School, whose principal, Guido Magliato, attended Little League ceremonies to the astonishment of some children seeing him outside of his usual habitat.
In the concessions stand, Slurpees made their debut.
