Star Staff Reports
The 2015 Millington Arts, Recreation and Parks Baseball, Softball and T-Ball season has come to a close. The program is designed to enhance the health and wellness of Millington’s youth physically, mentally and socially by providing increased physical exercise, teaching the importance of team play and sportsman-like conduct and building self-confidence in a supportive environment. The Department of Arts, Recreation and Parks would like to express sincere gratitude to the coaches, team sponsors and program supporters. Without the involvement of each, this program would not be possible. The volunteer coaches give generously of their time and talent to coach and mentor the youth in the program. Special thanks to Bo Griffin, Tootie Trouy, Clay Murphy, Carl Owens, Misty Wilston, Tim Deaton, John Garrett and Jacob Wilbanks who coached T-Ball; Greg Ritter, Jacob Wilbanks, RJ Sherman and Laurie Harmon who coached Boys Coach Pitch; Jim Warberg, Mario Curry, Mike Sherrill and Greg Ritter who coached Pee Wees; Louis Hale, Jeremy Tincher, Nathan Segars, Jay Fiene, Chris and Jeremy Stevenson who coached Junior Baseball; John Silvis who coached Senior Baseball; Jeff Fiene, John Swain, Tommy Wilston, and Sarah Duckworth who coached Girls Coach Pitch; James Bishop, Billy Howard, Mike Pindell and Carla Van Schaick who coached Junior Softball; Kenny Scarborough, Johnny Williams, Lesley Dickens and Chris Brown who coached Senior Softball as well as the assistant coaches. Their contributions make the program possible. Special thanks also to the team sponsors and program supporters whose contributions help make the program affordable. Thanks to the 2015 team sponsors: Dagen’s Trophies & Awards, Dairy Queen, Bethany Huffman CPA, Chris Ford-State Farm Insurance, Boatwright Pharmacy, Dugout Sports Academy, Kingston Lake Self Storage, Mid South Solutions, Mike Carruthers-USA Properties, Terry Jones Farmers Insurance, Deaton Excavating, Splash Plumbing, Johnson Farms, B & C Towing and Recovery, Phillips Automatic Gate and Fence Co, Louis Hale, Olympic Steak and Pizza, Southern Meat Market, Ritter Communications, Jack’s Towing, Herbi-Systems, Misty & Tommy Wilston, Holmes Services, Memphis Reloading, First Citizens National Bank, Patriot Bank Roland’s Tire & Auto, Inman Murphy Termite & Pest Control, Millington Pawn, Mid South Feed & Seed, Superior Traffic Control. Thanks to the 2015 program supporters: Homer Skelton Ford & Homer Skelton Chrysler Dodge Jeep, CTI-Professional Flight Training and Memphis International Raceway. Last, but not least, the Department wishes to thank the players’ families. Thanks to those who registered their children to participate, made sure they attended practices and arrived for their games on time in addition to showing support by cheering them on throughout the season. Without the efforts of the players’ families, the department would not have the privilege of working with these children. For many children, sports are the most natural way to begin cultivating a habit of excellence in their lives, Millington Arts, Recreation and Parks is pleased to play a part in the development of these young people. The 2015 season featured only two undefeated teams out of the thirty four teams that participated. The most competitive league and arguably most balanced was the Pee Wee League. Only one game separated first and second places, second and third places and third and fourth places. The game of the year was in the championship of the girls coach pitch between the Holmes Services Hydro Blasters and Pink Fury. The Hydro Blasters led going into the top of the fifth 12-8. Pink Fury scored 10 runs in the top of the inning to take an 18-12 lead. The Hydro Blasters answered with six runs to tie the game at 18 and send it into extra innings. Pink Fury then scored seven runs in the top of the sixth before the Hydro Blasters answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning to pull out a 26-25 win! Congratulations to the 2015 Millington Arts, Recreation and Parks League Champions: T-Ball-Pink Fury, Girls Coach Pitch-Holmes Services Hydro Blasters, Boys Coach Pitch-B & C Towing and Recovery Blue Jays, Pee Wee-Superior Traffic Control Cardinals, Junior Softball-Mid South Feed & Seed Rebels, Senior Softball-Kingston Lake Self Storage Dirt Divas, Junior Baseball-Roland’s Tire & Auto Rangers. Although the season was plagued by unusual weather including snow and ice in February, remarkably high levels of precipitation in April, May and June, followed by unseasonably hot temperatures in June and July, there were many positives in the 2015 season including: Almost 400 children participated; The dilapidated dugouts at Joyner Fields were demolished and replaced with new, open-air dugouts through a joint effort of the City of Millington and Phillip Doyle with Phillips Automated Gate and Fence Company; The scoreboards and controllers at Biloxi were repaired and operational for the first time in years; The lights at Biloxi Fields were serviced and all burned out lights were replaced; One pallet of soil conditioner was added to each of the City’s recreational ball fields to improve drainage; Arts, Recreation and Parks offered a coaches clinic as well as a players clinic to strengthen the fundamentals of the program; More than 2,500 people gathered at USA Stadium for Opening Ceremonies as each team, coach and sponsor were brought on the field and introduced.
To those who have concerns with the fields, please know the department of Arts, Recreation and Parks is committed to improving this program and the facilities. The department shares your concerns and has developed a plan to address the problems. Years of deferred maintenance have left the recreational ball fields in need of improvements. While investments were made this year and last to improve drainage and weed and fertilize the turf, further and more significant investments are required. These fields are comprised mainly of heavy clay which does not drain, fosters weed production and results in standing water. Furthermore, if this soil is worked well to soften and reduce weeds and then is rained upon, these fields turn into mud pits and require days to dry before the fields return to playable conditions. This was particularly challenging this season, with not only the amount of rain received, but also the frequency with which it was received. Experts have analyzed each of the recreational ball fields and provided recommendations to greatly improve the playability and aesthetics of the fields. These improvements should begin in the next few months and are expected to eliminate the majority of the rain outs that have plagued recent seasons. For more information, contact the Office of Arts, Recreation and Parks at 7942 Church Street, 901.873.5770 or Like on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
