McKenzie may soon have its own traveling baseball team.

The team, which will be made up of 16-18 year olds, is expected to compete in the Babe Ruth League.

Matt Moorhead, a resident of McKenzie, is hoping to put a team together for the summer. He received approval Monday to move forward with the formation of the team from the McKenzie Town Council.

Moorhead said he has about seven players at the moment but really needs 12 to have a full team.

“I think what Matt is trying to ask is to start the group of 16, 17 and 18 year olds just like we have the 4-12 year olds now for the summer league,” said Mickey Jones, a member of the Butler County Board of Education. “He wants to do that league under the town’s Parks and Recreation Department for the code of liability the same way that the little kids are now. Babe Ruth has to have proof of the liability insurance.”

By signing the waver and putting the team under the Parks and Recreation Department, it will release the Town of McKenzie, McKenzie High School, the Board of Education and any coaches or staff that may participate of any liability if a child is hurt.

“That’s strictly up to the town if you’re willing to let him have that group,” Jones said.

Council member Lester Owens expressed his concern over the scheduling of so many teams and the use of only one practice field.

“Is there going to be a problem with these kids using the field between the Parks and Recreation and all these extra teams,” Owens said. “Is there going to be enough practice fields to cover this?”

Moorhead confirmed that he would be working with McKenzie Athletics Director Miles Brown to work out all of the scheduling.

“He’ll be able to work out the schedule through me,” Brown said at the meeting. “Matt and I will be able to sit down and coordinate the whole thing and make sure there are no conflicts on the fields.”

The scheduling concern came with the thought of working around the approximately 110 kids in the 4-12 year-old teams. However, Jones said those teams’ seasons will be completed by the second week in May and Moorhead will not be able to start his team until later.

“I know we start as soon as the high school is finished,” Moorhead said.

Jones said high school players are not allowed to participate in any other league until they are completely done with high school baseball.

 

In Other Business:

υButler County will be looking into purchasing new signage for the town after it receives a list of needs from the Town of McKenzie.

υMcKenzie has submitted the Safe Routes to School grant application that could contain about $150,000 worth of Sidewalks. The grant requires no match from the town. Officials expect an answer by the end of the summer.