Homewood’s Joy League crowns 2016 division champions

The Joy League in Homewood recently completed its 59th consecutive season of daytime baseball. Commissioners Perry Akins and Ted Hagler awarded trophies to the teams that won their 2016 division championship:

► A- Bucs, coached by Phillip Wehby and Daniel Stephens

► AA- Bucs, coached by John David Owen, Andy Harrington and Bill Traylor

► AAA- Sox, coached by John Cucinotta, Keith Holloway, Zavier Irving and Taylor Robinson

Each division champion team played a game against an All-star team composed of 12 players from its division. In addition, All-stars from the Bucs and Cards played the Sox and Yanks in a T-ball Rookie All-star game.

Following those games, the players, coaches and Joy League families enjoyed a traditional watermelon picnic.

Each year Joy League games are played on Saturday mornings on the two diamonds at Edgewood Elementary School. There are no tryouts, and all players play in every game.

Nearly 200 boys and girls, ages 4-12, played this year.

Established in 1958 by the late John J. Smith, Sr., the league provides its third generation of players a fun place to learn how to play baseball.

– Submitted by Bill Hutto and Phillip H. Wehby.