Sign up kicks off start of little league baseball

Baseball hats slumped over their eyes, and T-shirts swallowed their miniature frames whole.

They walked in side by side with their mom and dad, some staring in amazement, others swinging arms as if to hammer out a grand slam with an invisible bat.

It was the start of a favorite past time. And the amateur athletes were ready to play ball.

"He's been asking about it," said Rich Wilkes, referring to his son, Austin Wilkes, 5. "He thought he'd be playing today."

Although they didn't hit baseballs Saturday, it was the first day of sign ups for the Martinez-Evans Little League. First games will begin in April.

Saturday's sign up took place at Hometown Sports on Columbia Road in Martinez and will be offered at the same location for the next three Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"The first two weekends are typically our busiest," said Nancy Gooding, who sat behind a table Saturday and checked players' records to sign them in.

The league - which is designed for those age 5-16 - is the first team experience many children have with baseball, said Donald Coleman, the league's president.

"I think you'll find a lot of kids got their start here," he said.

Bob Kellett, owner of Hometown Sports, said that's part of the excitement.

"Maybe someday some of these players will aspire to enter the minor leagues or even the majors," he said.

On Saturday, Kellett said an ample supply of potential hall of famers was present. He estimated about 200 children would attend the Saturday event, and a total of 800 would be on the roster by the end of the four weeks of sign up.

Andrea Bowles was among the first-day crowd. She was there with her two daughters - Ashton and Ali.

"This is Ali's first time," Bowles said. "She's really excited. And you can tell the kids that really get into it. They just have a great time."

To become registered, a child should be accompanied at the sign in by a parent or legal guardian, who must present three proofs of residency and an original or state-certified copy of the child's birth certificate.

At sign ins, parent volunteers also are welcomed.

"Everything here is volunteer," Coleman said. "And we're always accepting them. That's how this league is run."