Thursday night’s packed meeting at the Brookhaven RecreationDepartment focused not only on bettering the Dr. A.L. Lott BaseballProgram and recruiting volunteers, but also on building thecity-sponsored program by reaching out to more kids.

Director Terry Reid spoke to more than 50 people, who turned outfor the meeting to discuss issues ranging from team sponsors toequipment to a proposal for this year’s new uniforms. Reid alsomentioned resodding the field and using movable pitching mounds toaccommodate the different ages of participants.

Meeting participants also tossed around the possibility of aPony League for 15 and 16 year olds who are too old to be a part ofA.L. Lott baseball.

A proposal to offer Major League Baseball named teams anduniforms brought concerns over possible loss of sponsorship fundsdue to a business or individual not receiving sufficientrecognition as they would if the team were named after the sponsor.In response to a question from Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates, theuse of outfield sponsorship signs was suggested as analternative.

Finding a way to reach out and attract more kids met with anin-depth discussion as questions were raised as to why it seemedsome children play in the A.L. Lott League, which is sponsored bythe city, while others play elsewhere. Reid said the situation wasunique to baseball.

“We’ve had black kids and white kids on the same team in soccer,flag football and basketball,” said Reid. “Baseball is the onlysport we’ve had this situation.”

It was discussed that the issue might hinge on the neighborhoodsthe respective parks are located, and whether that had anything todo with the perceived segregation of the baseball programs. PoliceChief Pap Henderson said the believed segregation was not, in fact,the rule.

“It should be pointed out that I have seen whole tournaments ofteams with nothing but white children play at A.L. Lott (field),”said Henderson. “I don’t want it said that only black children playat A.L. Lott.”

Reid went on to point out that some women’s softball teams hadparticipated there in the past as well, and that one year the onlyteam to sign up for women’s softball was a white team.

Two youth baseball leagues operate in Lincoln County. The A.L.Lott League is operated through the Brookhaven RecreationDepartment. While the Dixie Youth League is operated by a localnon-profit corporation who operates under the guidelines of thestate and national Dixie Youth League organizations. Both leaguesown and operate their own facilities. Individual participant costsrange from around $30 per player in the Lott League to around $80per player in the local Dixie Youth League.

Reid said there will be another Recreation Department meetingscheduled for the third week of February in order to continue thediscussion and to add in any developments that might have takenplace at that time.

Speaking at the close of the meeting, Brookhaven Mayor BobMassengill praised the group.

“I think we’ve had a good meeting here,” he said. “And it’s goodto see that the people of Brookhaven are willing to work togetherto bring about change.”