WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt County commissioners granted $1,500 to Winnemucca Little League to help pay the costs of hosting the age 12 and under All Stars Tournament in Winnemucca this year.
JoAnn Casalez and Gina Rackley requested the help, saying Winnemucca Little League funds were depleted because last year the league paid all the costs ($4,000) for hosting the age 10 and under All Stars Tournament.
Casalez said one of the major expenses is for certified professional umpires for the week of Little League All Star Tournament games. High school student volunteers usually referee little league games, Casalez said.
"As great as these kids are to referee for our games, this is a lot of pressure for them. Some of the parents can get a little aggressive," she said.
Casalez said Winnemucca Little League also hosts a barbeque for all the teams, umpires and coaches.
While Casalez and Rackley said they had plans to approach both the Winnemucca Convention and Visitor's Authority and Winnemucca City Council for funding help, they did not want to have to go to local businesses.
"We recently raised $20,000 for four new scoreboards. We have a gracious community."
Casalez noted that area businesses donated enough money in just five days to make that scoreboard project possible. (One new scoreboard is at the Pop Warner Football field at Highland Park and the other three new scoreboards are at the three Winnemucca Little League fields around Vesco Park.)
Casalez said, "We really don't want to go back to those people who just gave us that money to ask for more to host this tournament." She noted that Humboldt General Hospital has donated $2,500 toward the costs of this year's tournament and that EMS (HGH Emergency Medical Services) will
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be providing an ambulance to be on site during the all-star games and will also put on a free first aid clinic for the coaches and providing hydration stations.
The week-long tournament brings players from six out-of-town Division three Nevada teams along with family members. Rackley noted that in little league, the teams are only allowed to play one game a day, which leaves a great deal of down-time for eating out, shopping and spending money in the community, including the money for overnight lodging.
Casalez said she heard from many local business people last year who said they had seen the little league families in their businesses.
Commissioner Jim French noted that bringing an event like the Little League All Starts Tournament to town is good for the entire community.[[In-content Ad]]
