Du Quoin Little League Grows to 37 Teams, More Than 450 Players

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Sandy Jones, branch manager for Banterra Bank in Du Quoin was all smiles as she threw the first pitch during opening day ceremonies at Lions Field in Du Quoin. Banterra Bank is one of this year's five Du Quoin Baseball, Inc. gold sponsors. Representatives from three of the five gold sponsors were there.

They were Ruth Mathis of Mathis & Sons Excavating and Crane Service and Kathy Hoffman representing Short Family Enterprises, owners of Mc Donald's throughout Southern Illinois. Representatives from Rich's Shop and Linzee Insurance Agency were honored, but could not attend. This year's summer little league program grew to more than 450 athletes on 37 teams and the addition of 18 new sponsors, according to board president Tim Davis.

Davis extended his appreciation to Du Quoin State Bank for upcoming raffle items and to Vernon Carter and Tracy Fenton for meat donations and cooker for opening day Saturday morning and to Hayley Weber for singing the National Anthem. Du Quoin Baseball, Inc. board members are: Tim Davis (president); Jeromie Morgan (vice president); Amanda Lemons (treasurer); Amy Hill (secretary); Mike Ward (equipment manager) Robin Morgan; Tawmi Conley ; Michele Klein; Chris Robinson; Bruce Eisenhauer; Beaver Rice; Matt Foster; Howard Baxter.

Board member Jeromie Morgan presented a special award to Michael Leyba (and Josh Leyba , son and grandson of the late Nelson "Buck" Leyba, whose contributions to little league baseball and softball have changed the lives of hundreds of Du Quoin area athletes.

Garrett Loyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Loyd received a very special certificate of appreciation for his work on rebuilding the dugouts, renovating fencing, landscaping and working as a summer baseball official a the sports complex.