Play Ball!

Many of the 500 children on the Berkeley Little League's roster will take to the newly-mowed fields at the Moorage Avenue complex today to kick off the 2012 season.

The first game gets underway shortly after 9:30 a.m. and play will continue through much of the day, said League President Robert J. Everett Jr.

Everett has been preparing for the annual spring rite for much of the year, coordinating work details, setting up the concession stand, hiring umpires and organizing the League's many volunteers.

This year the Berkeley Little League has 40 teams.

While the number of children has dropped by about 20 for 2012, Everett says such fluctuation is normal.

"It's stays pretty consistent," he said. "We gain and lose 100 kids each year. Kids come and go for all different reasons."

Although the township owns the complex, the League is responsible for the upkeep of the buildings and five playing fields. The League requires each parent to put in eight hours of volunteer time if their child is a member.

"We do all the maintenance," said Everett. "We've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars. And that's not counting anywhere near the man hours we put in. The whole thing is to work together. We do it for a third of what it would cost the township."

The League has well over 100 coaches, who have all undergone background checks and taken a Rutgers University course that focuses on safety, sports injuries and psychology, he said.

Playing schedules and more information can be found on the League's website www.eteamz.com/berkeley/.