Fremont gears up for baseball season

Every year, the smell of freshly cut grass signals that the baseball season is beginning for the year.

Teams around the area have started practicing and their seasons are soon to begin.

The Fremont Parks and Recreation Department youth league still has a few weeks before practice starts June 2.

“In our program every kid plays,” said Isaac Paden, Fremont recreation program coordinator. “Nobody rides the bench. We take kids at all levels even if they’ve never picked up a bat before. We work with them so they can learn to play the game. If there’s a more experienced player, he can get in some more playing time to improve his skills.”

The Fremont Nighthawks program provides more competitive play and has already started for the league.

Nighthawks president Mike Diekmann said the Fremont-based nonprofit baseball organization has two separate programs: An in-house league of about a dozen teams for 9- to 14-year-olds and six select traveling teams for boys

10 to 14 years old.

“We actually try to teach positions,” Diekmann said. “We try to teach the game. I think Fremont offers a lot of kids with baseball skills and knowledge. From my point of view, competitiveness helps the kids get better. We’re not all about winning. We could care less. We just want to teach them the game.”

The Dodge County Baseball League starts at the end of this month. The league consists of town teams and has players ranging in age from 18-mid-40s.

“The first year out of Legion, you can play, or you can play if you skipped Legion,” said Todd Thomason, who plays for the town of Dodge. “It’s a lot of fun and it’s really competitive. The towns are all very supportive. I think it keeps the communities strong.”

Practice makes perfect, but right equipment can make for perfect practice.

Youth softball coach Dave Nielsen said a lot of fancy equipment isn’t necessary for players, but there are some things parents should keep in mind when selecting baseball or softball equipment for their child’s upcoming season.

Starting with a glove, fit is important.

For players just beginning to learn the fundamentals, Nielsen suggests picking out a glove which the child can easily handle.

“You don’t have to have a very expensive glove to start, just something moderate that you feel good about,” Nielsen said. “You want them to be able to protect themselves if the ball is hit hard at them. (The glove) should be something that you can bend.”

Stories: A3-4