Sandlot Sluggers Opening Game Saturday

The Park District of Highland Park’s new Sandlot Sluggers baseball program for boys and girls ages four and five will get underway on Saturday, June 22 at the new Legends Ballpark at West Ridge Center.

The originally scheduled opening game day of June 15 was postponed one week due to rainy conditions.

The non‐competitive program, with more than 100 participants, is structured to instill a love of the game in a festive, family atmosphere. The Sandlot Sluggers will practice on Wednesdays with games to be played on Saturdays. Four adjacent, newly constructed ball fields have been assembled with temporary fencing funded by local businesses and organizations including the Highland Park and Highwood Rotary Club, Love’s, The Puppy Mill Project, and Frost Gelato.

Appropriately spaced bases and homerun lines, music, a PA system, and game day treats will help to create the family fun atmosphere for which baseball is notorious.

“We’ve seen a need for more programs that center on getting kids outside and on building community by gathering families and neighbors,” stated Park District Athletic Supervisor Brian Dumas. “Kids just want to play with their friends and have fun, and parents basically want to do the same. Sandlot Sluggers seemed like a perfect solution."

The program is coached by volunteer parent coaches and assisted by instructors from the North Shore Baseball Academy. Additional coaches are always needed. The program’s competitive pricing assures that just as in the neighborhood sandlot, everyone can play.

Questions can be directed to Athletic Supervisor Brian Dumas, (847) 579-3124 or bdumas@pdhp.org. Additional information can be found at www.pdhp.org.

Information provided by the Park District of Highland Park