Growth continues for Little League

      Keeping pace with two of the nation's fastest-growing cities, Little League baseball has tripled in league-size in the past 11 years.
      Southern Nevada's youth baseball program has grown from six leagues and 3,500 participants in 1986, to 19 leagues and a projected 17,000 participants for 1998.
      "The growth rate of Little League has grown faster than the growth of the valley itself," said Bob Flemming, in his 11th year as district administrator for the league. "Parents are getting their kids involved more, they want them to be active with community things that are going on."
      Henderson was declared the fastest-growing city in the U.S., by the census bureau, increasing 88.4 percent from 1990 to '96.
      After topping the list of U.S. boomtowns in 1995, Las Vegas ranks sixth on the fastest-growing cities list.
      "It's amazing, but we have been actively trying to pursue kids for the Little League program," Flemming said. "I'm happy with the way things have been going. As far as Little League goes, they're happy too, with our growth and the way things are being run."
      A big problem Little League faces, said a majority of the league presidents, is the lack of parks.
      "They can't build parks overnight, and we understand that," Flemming said. "There is a stress in wanting more parks. From the time they initiate the process, it takes a couple of years.
      "I think they're doing the best job they can. They have all the red tape they have to go through and that takes time."
      Redrock Little League President Nelson Richards, a member of Nevada's District 2 board of directors, said another problem the local Little Leagues have is the low population in certain neighborhoods.
      "Some of the areas are huge but the draw is smaller because they are dealing with the older neighborhoods," he said. "The Little Leagues themselves are not splitting fast enough. What typically happens is when one league gets too big, it will split. We've grown quite a bit in the last six or seven years."
      Rapid growth in the Northwest has been at the expense of one of the oldest leagues -- Paradise Valley.
      In the 1970's, when Paradise Valley was one of the valley's three Little Leagues, it drew large numbers to its once-prominent league. Now, however, Paradise Valley -- which includes an American and National Division -- still has one of the league's largest boundaries, yet one of the lower populations.
      "The Northwest-area is unreal," Flemming said. "That area just keeps growing ... all of a sudden we'll see a new tract of homes."
      Richards said baseball wasn't the only sport growing.
      "Those people deserve just as much time on those fields as us," he said. "If they want to play soccer, if they want to play football, by God let them play. But if the fields are not available what are you going to do?"
      Softball was Richards' choice for the most rapidly growing youth activity.
      Since September of 1996, city officials have made a push to designate fields in their wards for specific sports.
      Councilman Michael J. McDonald leveled an old BMX track to grade three Pop Warner football fields and Councilman Gary Reese recently cut the ribbon on a new soccer field at the Rafael Rivera Community Center.
      Councilman Larry Brown, who was elected to office in June, vowed to focus on parks during his campaign, emphasizing a push for more Little League and soccer fields.
      "It is critically important that we provide recreational opportunities for our children," said Brown, a former Las Vegas Star baseball player. "Open space, including ballfields, reflect our commitment to preserving our quality of life."
      Brown said parks are still one of his highest priorities.
      "We'll see dirt turning on that real quick," Brown said about Children's Memorial Park, which will include Little League fields.
      Flemming said he and his board actively solicit kids to get involved in any youth activity.
      "We feel no matter what it is, it'll be good for the kids," he said. "It keeps them out of the streets by giving them another opportunity."
      Sign-ups for the 1998 season continue this month for all of the local Little Leagues.
      Little League is open to boys and girls ages 5-15 and placed in the following groups: T-ball (5-7 year-olds; 5 is optional in some leagues; Rookies (8-9); Majors/Minors (10-12); Juniors (13); Seniors (14-15).
      Big League programs include 16 and 17 year-olds.