BY SARA SHEEHY
Registration for Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) youth spring sports leagues is now open.
BCRD spring sports, for boys and girls ages 5-11, include track and field, t-ball, machine pitch baseball, player pitch baseball, and player/coach pitch softball. These programs emphasize skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun in a friendly and encouraging environment.
The 4-week track and field program is open to children in 1st through 6th grade. Teams meet twice a week, starting the week of April 12, for practice. The season concludes on Saturday, May 8, with a program-wide track meet at the Carey School. This program offers teams at Hemingway STEAM School, Hailey Elementary, Alturas Elementary, Bellevue Elementary, Carey School, and Wood River Middle School. The registration fee is $40 and includes instruction, a t-shirt, awards, and participation in the BCRD track meet.
Ball programs are offered in Hailey and Ketchum. T-ball is a developmental co-ed program open to 5 and 6-year-olds of all abilities on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 27 to June 10. Machine pitch baseball is a co-ed program open to 7 and 8-year-olds of all abilities on Mondays and Wednesdays from April 19 to June 9.
Player pitch baseball is offered to boys aged 9 to 11 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 20 to June 10. There is a mandatory skills evaluation for player pitch baseball from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at Nelson Field in Hailey.
Player/coach pitch softball is offered to girls aged 9 to 11 on Mondays and Wednesdays from April 19 to June 9. The registration fee for t-ball is $57, and all baseball and softball programs are $67, which includes instruction, a team uniform, and a participation award. Scholarships are available.
Early registration is encouraged and will help form teams and prepare practice and game schedules.
Volunteer coaches are also needed, and the registration fee is waived for coaches' children. Those interested in coaching should contact Ellie Punnett (epunnett@bcrd.org) prior to registering their children.
Questions? Visit www.bcrd.org. Or, call 208-578-2273.