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Softball league ends season

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The Ramona Girls Softball fields at Aqua Lane were all abuzz as an estimated 120 softball and T-ball players gathered around the diamond on Field No. 2 for the annual Closing Ceremony for Spring Ball on Saturday.

Parents and grandparents, kids and coaches all came together for a trophy ceremony to honor the efforts of the players and to thank the coaches, board members and families who support them.

Sporting their team colors and flying their team banners, each youngster was called to home plate, one by one, by their coaches for a handshake, a hug and a trophy to signify another sucessful season.

Ramona Girls Softball is a nonprofit organization run and made possible by the efforts of its volunteers. Board member Janet Neil said that it is through the efforts of volunteers, and the many businesses and organizations that donate to Ramona Girls Softball that they are able to deliver such a quality athletic program at a reasonable cost.

Girls softball remains among the lowest cost sport available to parents of Ramona children, said Neil.

In certain circumstances, a player’s fees have been waived, or covered in other ways, to ensure every girl who wants to play softball will get a chance to participate.

Like a saavy baserunner taking a lead off first base, RGS was already back at it, taking sign-ups for Winter Ball right at the entrance to Saturday’s Spring Closing Ceremony.

Spirits were also high in anticipation of the annual Ramona Valley of the Sun Fastpitch Softball Tournament, hosted on the newly renovated fields, the weekend of June 4 through 6. Over 40 teams from across the Southwest are already registered to play, and the fields expect to see about 1,400 players and fans each of the three days of the tournament.

The kids weren’t the only ones kicking up dust on Saturday, as time-sensitive construction projects remained under way throughout the ceremony. The projects, which include improvements to backstops, bullpens, dugouts and some fresh paint, are part of an ongoing renovation to the fields, funded by a $100,000 grant provided by San Diego County through Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s discretionary budget. While the money is greatly appreciated by those involved with Ramona Girls Softball, they say it will not be enough to make all of the improvements they would like see such as scoreboards, new bleachers, a playground for younger kids, and paved roads and parking.

As the last of the trophies were handed out, the hourlong ceremony came to a close, each child an MVP for the day.

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