Children of all ages practiced their fielding, catching and throwing last week as the Greenville Park and Recreation Department held its annual tryouts for Dixie Youth baseball.

Tryouts for the teams were held

throughtout the week. The Dixie Minors, nine and ten year-olds, met at 5:30 p.m. at Day Park on Monday; the Dixie Youth, 11 and 12 year-olds, met at Day Park at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and the Dixie Boys, 13 and 14 year-olds held their tryouts on Thursday, March 23, at the Beeland Sports Complex at 5:30 p.m.

This year, the baseball leagues are trying a new system of selecting teams. In an effort to balance out the talent and experience, the players will be selected by coaches in a draft-style process.

"In past years, if a boy began playing ball with the Braves, he would stay with that team each year. But, we want to try to make the leagues more competitive. All

the kids will go into a pool and they will be drafted. We will use this process every year instead of putting the same players on the same team each year. This should make the teams more balanced and make the leagues more competitive," Harris said.

The Dixie Minor program begins with its first games on April 20, Dixie Youth throws out the first pitch on April 18, and the Dixie Boys will take the field on April 17.

For more information on the youth baseball programs contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 382-3031.