Joy League to begin 56th season

Homewood Joy League Baseball begins registering boys and girls for its 56th consecutive season of daytime baseball on Saturday, Feb. 2. Registration continues each Saturday in February from 9 a.m.-noon at Edgewood Elementary School, 901 College Avenue.

League games are played on Saturday mornings from March 30-June 29, followed by a watermelon picnic. Boys and girls ages 4-12 are eligible to play. Cost per player is $30. Each team practices one hour a week.

Now serving its third generation of players, the Joy League has been an important part of youth life in Homewood since 1958 when the league was founded by the late John J. Smith Sr.

“We have always lived by the motto, ‘There are no bench warmers in the Joy League’,” Commissioner Perry Akins said. “Every player gets to play in every game. We want the players to have fun and learn the great game of baseball.”

Last year, more than 200 boys and girls played in the league.

Doug Akins (823-4929) and Ted Hagler (985-9608) direct Joy League play as Commissioners.