COUNTDOWN TO PPBA OPENING DAY

Steinfeldýs Pitch Is Golden

By SUE PASCOE Special to the Palisadian-Post The Palisades Pony Baseball Association (PPBA) will celebrate its Golden Anniversary with its traditional Opening Day ceremony Saturday, March 20. This year’s festivities are unique, not only because they mark the Association’s 50th year, but also because they include the dedication of the Field of Dreams Wall. Palisadian fitness trainer and author Jake Steinfeld will throw out the first pitch on the new diamonds at Palisades Recreation Center. The community-funded Field of Dreams project was spearheaded by longtime youth coach Mike Skinner, who led the community in designing, revamping and revitalizing all four playing fields, including bleachers, dug-outs, and lights. PPBA invites players, families and friends alike to join in the dedication ceremony. From 7:30 to 11 a.m. a hearty $3 breakfast of golden pancakes, sizzling sausage, steaming hot coffee and chilled orange juice will be served on the outside basketball courts at the Rec Center. Tickets are available from any player or at the park the day of the breakfast. Even parents with children too young to play baseball are invited to attend the community event and support their local youth baseball program. Proceeds of the pancake breakfast are used to pay for field maintenance, team uniforms, equipment and umpires. Top ticket-sellers earn prizes, so please support your next-door baseball player. At 9 a.m. on March 20, Steinfeld will be the latest local celebrity to show off his fastball at the first-pitch ceremony. Steinfeld has authored several self-help books and is currently working on one titled ‘I’ve Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked… And They’ve Got Nothing On You,’ a guide for the street-smart entrepreneur. It will be published by Amacom next fall. The book will teach readers how to put a business plan together. Readers who write a business plan and then fill out the questionnaire at the end of the book have a chance of having Jake fund their fledgling company. Although not every family can support the Field of Dreams, young and old alike will benefit from the recently-completed renovations. Whether its PPBA baseball, AYSO soccer, flag football or the fledgling lacrosse league, the Rec Center fields will accomodate numerous athletic activities for generations to come. Steinfeld is the perfect example of a community supporter and was one of the first citizens to step up to the plate with a donation. On the road most of the spring overseeing the fourth successful season of the Major Lacrosse League that he founded, Steinfeld also created the world’s first 24-hour fitness television network and founded the nonprofit Don’t Quit! Foundation. Those interested in following his lead in supporting the Field of Dreams can call Skinner at 478-5041. Bob Benton will begin his 14th year as the PPBA commissioner overseeing more than 300 boys who make up the four divisions: Pinto (ages 7-9), Mustang (ages 10-11), Bronco (ages 11-13) and Pony (ages 13-14). Games will continue through June with the World Series and selection of the all-star teams. Buy your tickets early and look forward to a mouth watering, fun-filled morning supporting the 50th year of baseball in our community, as well as the dedication of the Field of Dreams Wall.