Little League braces for sign-ups

      Despite being slapped with a police investigation of missing funds recently, Peccole Little League began its sign-ups Tuesday at the Peccole Ranch Recreation Center, 9601 Red Hills Road.
      The Las Vegas Sun reported the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the league for a series of bounced checks of more than $50,000. According to the Sun, investigators are also looking into the absence of a $1.7 million donation to build five fields at Rainbow Park, where the city of Las Vegas is currently completing the work at taxpayers' expense.
      "They city has done great things for us," said Steve Westmoreland, Peccole Little League president. "(Councilman) Michael J. McDonald has gone out of his way to help us, and they've done a lot of things to get the fields done as soon as possible."
      Westmoreland said he was told the fields would be done by March 21.
      Although the league will be forced to make strict cutbacks, Westmoreland said the Southwest-area league will benefit from the new fields, a concession stand and lights for night games.
      The remaining four sign-up dates will continue at the center, beginning Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-noon.
      On Jan. 14, 16 and 22, registration will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
      "It was kind of tough because the kids had to walk over the dirt to get to the fields (last year)," Westmoreland said. "And with the heat, we nearly melted. This year, with the lights, we'll be able to enjoy playing at night. We've made a lot of progress and I think the kids are going to have a fantastic year."
      Central Little League will hold its sign-ups on Saturday and Jan. 17, at Eldorado High from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. On Jan. 14, the league will hold sign-ups from 5-9 p.m. at K-Mart on Bonanza Road and Nellis Boulevard.
      Cheyenne Little League will register players the next two Saturdays, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Antonello Elementary, 1101 W. Tropical Parkway.
      Community Little League will hold its sign-ups on five consecutive Saturdays (Saturday through Feb. 7), from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the McDonalds on Washington Avenue and Rancho Drive.
      Green Valley Little League President Tom Fico said he is expecting an increase of about 150 more kids because of the new housing tracks throughout the area. Sign-ups will take place at White Middle School, 1661 Galleria Drive, on Saturday and Jan. 17 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Jan. 14 from 6 -9 p.m.
      Henderson Little League sign-ups begin Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St. Sign-ups continue Jan. 14 from 6-8:30 p.m. and Jan. 17 from 9 a.m-3 p.m.
      Marty Barrett Little League will hold sign-ups Jan. 24 and 25, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at K-Mart on 2671 N. Las Vegas Blvd. On Feb. 4, players can register at Burger King, 2044 N. Las Vegas Blvd. from 6-9 p.m. Sign-ups return to K-Mart on Feb. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
      Mountain Ridge Little League, in its inaugural season, has scheduled three sign-ups at the Rainbow Library, located at 3150 N. Buffalo Drive. Registration will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m., Monday from 5:15-8:15 p.m. and Jan. 17 from 12:15-4:15 p.m.
      "We started planning for this in August," said Dennis Gradillas, president of the Mountain Ridge Little League. "We had to pretty much start from scratch. I think things have gone along well. We've had great volunteers and they are moving along as well as can be expected."
      Mountain Ridge branched off from the Lone Mountain Little League, which had about 1,200 kids last season.
      Gradillas said he is expecting between 500 and 600 kids for Mountain Ridge.
      "(Lone Mountain) will probably have more than us because they're a little more established," Gradillas said. "Not too many (more), because we have a lot of the newer families in our area. The numbers should be fairly close."
      Lone Mountain Little League begins its registration Friday (5-8:30 p.m.) and Saturday ((9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) at Lied Middle School. located at 5350 W. Tropical Pkwy. Additional sign-ups will be held at Lied on Jan. 16, from 5-8:30 p.m., and Jan. 17 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
      Redrock Little League will register players the next three Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Adcock Elementary, 100 Newcome St.
      Silverado Little League began continues its registration tonight from 6-9 p.m. at Charlotte Hill Elementary, 560 E. Eldorado Ln. Silverado's final sign-up day is Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., also at Charlotte Hill.
      Spring Valley Little League begins its sign-ups tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Dondero Elementary, 4450 S. Ridgeville St. Registration continues at Dondero on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and on Monday, Jan. 14, and Jan, 21, all from 6-8 p.m.
      The following Little League presidents could not be reached for sign-up details, however a phone number has been provided for those interested in registering for the 1998 season.
      Legacy Little League (Steve Dana) 594-0104; Paradise Valley American (Roseanne Gonzales) 435-1143; Summerlin Little League (Randy Eckland) 341-5500; Western Little League (Bridgett Ashton) 655-4304.