PARA Nets $15K From County For Druid City Baseball League's Second Season

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday approved $15,000 in Community Development funding to help the Druid City Baseball League as it enters its second season.

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As Patch previously reported, the league will consist of teams from ages 3-12 years old, with tee ball games played at the Benjamin Barnes Branch YMCA and older age groups at the McDonald Hughes Center complex. What's more, Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) earlier this year announced an official affiliation with the Atlanta Braves organization for its RBI Program.

PARA's Director of Community Outreach Jay Logan made the request from the County Commission, which saw District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray contribute $10,000, while District 3's Mark Nelson kicked in $5,000.

Logan said the league — which is partnered with the Tuscaloosa County YMCA — saw 140 children participate in its inaugural season at the McDonald Hughes Center in the city's West End, going on to say 75% had never played the game before.

"What we’re trying to do is create that cyclical nature of youth sports in those under-resourced areas," Logan said, "and baseball is non-traditional sport as we know it in some areas of our community because it's not being played as frequently as say basketball or football in these under-resources areas."

Logan explained the $15,000 would be administered by PARA to offset direct costs for umpires, provide for resources such as equipment and fund other efforts to add value to the program.

He then pointed out a clinic will be held Saturday at the McDonald Hughes Center, building on the success of the one held last year, which featured former Alabama baseball coach Jim Wells and a long list of former and current standout baseball talent to provide instruction for the kids wanting to learn the game.

"Now, we can start identifying kids who may be more apt to keep the game going beyond middle school and that’s what we want, to produce better athletes and better people," Logan said.

The opening day jamboree for the league is set for April 23, with the season beginning the week of April 25.

Registration for the league closed on March 18.

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