In an effort to expand the benefits and values of Optimist Baseball to more area youth, the Laurinburg Optimist Club will now accept children ages 5 and 6 into its baseball program.

During the coming baseball season, a new league will be developed in the program that will be for the new age group. All parents of children ages 5 and 6 are encouraged to sign-up their children during the upcoming registration period.



There is no charge to play.

Phillip Hayes, the chairman of the baseball committee, says the club is excited about the expanded age range.

"The Laurinburg Optimist Club has always been an organization looking for opportunities to expand the number of youth it serves," he said. "A few years ago, we added girls fast pitch softball to the traditional baseball program in an effort to get more girls active in the sport and touch a larger number of youth. In years before that, we added the 7 and 8 year old baseball programs as well. As with any organization, we feel if you are not growing, you are dying. This year, we felt it was time to expand to program once more by offering 5 and 6 year olds the opportunity to play baseball in our program."

Registration for all of Optimist programs, boys and girls ages 5 to 12, runs March 3 through 6. On March 3 though 5, registration will be available at the park from 5-7pm. On Mar. 6th, registration will start at 8 a.m. and then evaluations for new players will be at 9 a.m.

The park is located at the corner of South Turnpike Road and Plantation Road in Laurinburg. The phone number at the park is 276-9342.