Play Ball!!

Branford Little League held their yearly  baseball tryouts on Saturday at . The tryouts demonstrating different skills levels of the young players, such as hitting, catching and throwing, help coaches evaluate the players for their draft choices for this season's games.

Branford High School's head baseball coach George Dummar, was at the event with his varsity team to help orchestrate the tasks of pitching to hitters and throwing pop flies and grounders to the 300-plus Little Leaguers that showed up to the tryouts.

I spoke with Branford Little League President Mike Kmietek about the importance of placing the players equally and fairly as to not have a team with an obvious advantage.  The players are placed into one of five divisions: Majors, AAA, AA, A, and T-Ball according to skill level and age.

Branford's first game of the season will be held April 25 at . The opening day ceremony's will be held April 30. There is also a fun field day event on June 18 that will feature a home run derby put on by the players in the majors division, and a pitch, hit and run composition for all of the divisions. The New Britain Rock Cats along with their mascot will be in attendance in support of the teams (you can also now ).

The beginning of the Little League season is a sure sign that the warm sunny weather is on the way.  I hope you enjoy some of the photos I took and encourage your input and comments. Thank you.