The Kiwanis Club of Lehigh gives a $1,000 check to help establish a new baseball league in Lehigh. Shown here from left to right are Tim Roach, president LABRB; Damon Shelor, president of the Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres; and JP Roeske, executive director of LABRB. Photo provided To The Citizen

Lehigh Acres Babe Ruth Baseball (LABRB) announced that opening day games will be held at Veterans Park on September 18 for the newly created league.

The LABRB charter will cover the towns of Lehigh Acres, Alva, Labelle, Buckingham and portions of Fort Myers, within District 15 of Florida Babe Ruth International.

LABRB will facilitate six to eight teams for the 12 and under division known as the Cal Ripken Division, which will play on a 70 foot diamond with a 50-feet pitching distance and normal MLB stealing and leading off. The season will be approximately 20 games ending in a tournament. The league will add a regular Babe Ruth division (ages 13-15) for the spring season.

The league was formed by Tim Roach and JP Roeske with a generous donation from the Lehigh Acres Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis have a long standing commitment to the youth of Lehigh. The Kiwanis are present in our schools and our community. We encourage the youth of our community to join the clubs offered in their schools by the Kiwanis and help make a difference in our community.

The Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres has been named the division sponsor for the LABRB Cal Ripken Division.

“We are accepting donations of any size to help buy much needed equipment, said Tim Roache, a spokesman with the group.

Registrations will be held at Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres every Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. starting Saturday July 10 until August 28 . The registration fee is $35.

You can email lehighacresbaberuthbaseball@hotmail.com for more information on registration or donations or call JP Roeske 239-243-2526 or Tim Roach 239-810-7405.