Are you ready for some baseball?!!

Opening Day 2003

Getting tired of the long winter and the days without little league baseball? Well, this time is about to end, as Fort Myers American Little League will hold its annual Opening Day Ceremonies on March 1st. There will be baseball games for children of all ages, plus a formal opening day ceremony. This ceremony will take place around 12:00 noon, and will feature a "parade of players", in which all of the teams march onto the fields in parade fashion, with team name, manager and sponsor announced to the crowd. As usual, there will be plenty of food for everyone. So, if you have a child playing Fort Myers American Little League, or you just love the game, plan on attending the Fort Myers American Little League Opening Day Ceremonies on March 1st. It should be a wonderful ceremony. I hope to see you all there!!!

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And To All The Mothers...

It is imperative that every team have a Team Mom no later than March 1st. Please contact Vikki Melchiorre at 768-6275 with the name and number. Your help is very much needed, and very much appreciated.

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Foul Tips from the Umpire Jeff War, Umpire in Chief

Welcome to a new year here at Fort Myers American Little League. My fellow umpires and I look forward to working with your children during the upcoming Softball and Baseball season.

This time of year is not only busy for the players and families, but also for the men in blue. We are always looking for people that are interested in furthering their knowledge of Little League Softball and Baseball. The view of the game is much better from the field instead of the stands. No matter what level your child currently participates in here at Fort Myers American Little League being an Umpire will be an exciting experience.

Anyone who might be interested in volunterring for a game or two, I would be happy to work with you to become comfortable on the field. I work with a bunch of great umpires that are always willing to share their knowledge of umpiring with other fans of the sport. There is no experience required to become an umpire only an interest in Softball or Baseball.

Please contact your child's coach or me directly. I can be reached at bjbward@comcast.net or at home at 768-5327. Watch this column in the future for explanations of strange situations that occur on the fields during the years.

Remember to encourage your team to play fair and with good sportsmanship. The respect shown to everyone on the field by the fans makes a difference for all the kids involved.

Enjoy your time at the fields and remember to return all foul balls to the concession stand or umpire.

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What's for Dinner?? How about Papa John's!!!

This is a great fundraiser for FMALL and it's a great deal for your family. We are selling Papa John Pizza cards for only $10. The card has 20 punchmarks - each time you purchase a pizza, you GET ONE FREE! 20 TIMES!!! Ask your manager, or call Vikki Melchiorre at 768-6275.

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Can you think of anything that should be in the next newsletter? If so, please contact Brian Hunter at 561-0531, or at atlhunt57@hotmail.com

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