Harlan Kirgan
COVID-19 has been devastating in many ways, but for youth baseball and softball leagues the impact last year was to wipe out the season.
Robert Johnson, city recreation director, spoke to the Eunice Board Board of Aldermen on Tuesday about the current registration period that ends this month.
“We need players, but we also need parent volunteers, coaches, league organizers, “he said.
“Over the last four years we’ve seen about a 15% decrease in participants in baseball and softball, which are our biggest programs,” he said.
Johnson was at the city meeting pitching for registration of 4- to 14 -year-olds to participate in the season that starts April 5.
The registration fee is $60 per child and is available online at eunicerec.com.
Johnson said player evaluations are scheduled in early March.
But Johnson’s message centered on the need for players and volunteers.
“Without volunteers we cannot make this program operate,” he said. “We have to have coaches and league directors present to make it happen.”
Last year there were 637 youths registered for the program that ended when COVID-19 restrictions unfolded before the season could start.
Johnson said there are virus safety protocols in place for the upcoming season.
Johnson estimated about 600 youths may register this year.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said a recent meeting for adults was lightly attended.
“These kids they need you to mentor, they need you to coach, they need the organizers to help,” he said.
Fontenot said he volunteered for 18 years while his children participated and is considering going back.
Johnson said this year is important in the program’s recovery.
“I really think this year is the year we kind of lay the foundation of where it is going to go in the future,” he said.
“If we have a down year this year and kids aren’t involved and parents aren’t involved, I think it is really going to spill over into the future just based on our numbers that we’ve had over the last four years,” he said.
Johnson forecasts the program will be below 500 kids by 2024 if the registration trends continue.
Alderman Chad Andrepont, who coaches at Eunice High School, said his profession is fun.
“But I had fun, if not more fun, last year being able to coach my daughter in T-ball,” he said in urging adults to volunteer.
Fontenot noted the season was lost last year to COVID-19, but believes things have changed for the better.