By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

 

Polk County’s newly established baseball/softball league has officially begun and registration is underway.

The new league has begun through the county recreation department after the former parent-run, Little League/Babe Ruth organizations decided not to run the league this year.

The county’s league will offer a variety of play for children ages four-14, with games planned to begin shortly after Polk County School’s spring break, scheduled for April 6-10.

Little League and Cal Ripken merged last year and when they decided not to run the program this year, the Polk County Recreation Department agreed to step up to keep the programs alive. The Polk County Board of Commissioners agreed on Feb. 23 to allow a part-time position at the recreation department to be full-time contingent on enough baseball and softball players signing up to have a league.

Recreation director Jerry Stensland told commissioners the program served approximately 220 youth last year.

Stensland said the plan is to have the recreation department’s league independent and not tied to other leagues such as Little League. That way Polk’s league would be flexible and could play other leagues later in the season.

Registration forms are available at Stearns Gym in Columbus or online at www.polknc.org. The forms can be found under the recreation department/programs.