The Sideline

Hayfield Hawks Baseball Contenders for National District Crown

Hawks look to grab second consecutive National District championship.

Hayfield Secondary School's baseball team ended last season the way it began—on fire. The Hawks started the year with a seven-game win streak, scoring 10 or more runs in four of the team’s first seven games. Hayfield cruised through its regular season schedule and won the school’s second-ever district title as the Hawks defeated Yorktown 17-16 in the National District championship. This season, Hayfield (8-5) currently sits at 7-2 in National District play and is determined to prove that last year’s success was hardly a fluke. “While we did win districts last season, we only had two guys returning that contributed and played on that team,” said first-year head coach Michael Shore, who has been with the program for four years, told Patch …

• Photos (4)

Little League Comes with a Big Price Tag

Poll: What do you think? Is the cost of kids' sports out of hand?

Have you purchased a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100? How about a $250 bat? Baseball and softball equipment, including cleats and uniforms, accounted for over $1 billion in sales in 2010, reported the New York Times. "Youth equipment represents the highest percentage of sales, particularly bat sales, as the parent willing to buy a $200, 28-inch bat for a 9-year-old is likely to pay the same price for a 30-inch bat for a 10-year-old the next season," wrote Mike Tanier in "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues." The cost of joining a league and outfitting a player can overwhelm families, and may even prevent some kids from playing. So what do you think? Has the cost of bats and gloves …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Little League: Dodgers Beat A's in Central Springfield League

A's led early in the game

An update on the Central Springfield Little League AA team, the A's, by Arlene Connin. A's led by five runs in the third inning, but the Dodgers put together a furious comeback to steal the victory, 11-9, on Friday at TS-1. Lleyton McFarland led A's' offensive threat, as he got on base two times in the game. He scored two runs and had one RBI. He singled in the first inning. The Dodgers were sparked by Gage and Seamus, who teamed up for two hits and four RBIs. In the top of the first, the Dodgers grabbed the early lead, 1-0. A's scored four runs of its own in the first. A's scored on a walk by Brian Borda, a walk by Jonathan Filz, a walk byDylan Brittingham, and a walk by Gavin Brustman. After a quick strike from the Dodgers, A's responded…

• Photos (1)