DATE: Friday, July 11, 1997                 TAG: 9707090166

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

DISTRICT 6 SETTLES INTO NEW HOME, ON AN OLD SITE

With all due respect to the baseball and softball All-Stars from Cavalier Manor, Churchland and Olive Branch, the best team on the field in Portsmouth Saturday may have been a group of middle-aged men and women whose Little League playing days ended years ago.

Thanks to the virtually round-the-clock efforts of the members of Cradock Little League Inc., District 6 Little League play was able to settle into a new home Saturday - the formerly run-down but newly refurbished Cradock Little League Fields.

Although slightly miffed that representatives from the media and the city of Portsmouth didn't turn out, the association proudly welcomed more than 1,000 players and fans for Saturday's opening of District 6 play. Games will continue through July 15.

``If we had tried to host this last year, it would have been pretty much impossible,'' said second vice-president Larry Brady. ``For us to host five divisions of District 6 Little League is a major accomplishment.''

Using revenue from bingo receipts for the first time, the association poured approximately $100,000 in the facility over the past year, according to president Rick Posey. Among the improvements:

The installation of lights, at a cost of roughly $45,000;

New dugouts and fresh coats of red and white paint;

The resodding of the fields, at a cost of approximately $11,000;

The erection of 3,000 feet of new fence around the various fields.

Improvements planned for next year include additional lights, new scoreboards and a new concession stand.

With the improvements have come additional volunteers, Brady said. Brady also credits the restoration project with generating a sense of pride in Cradock teams which have struggled in recent years. This became evident on opening day, when three Cradock teams scored victories. Included in the wins was the Senior softball team's 3-2 upset over rival Olive Branch.

``My daughter's been in the league since tee-ball, when she was five,'' Brady said. ``She's 15 now, and until Saturday, her all-star teams had only won one game.

``Cradock's been dormant for a long time, but we're starting to turn the whole program around. Fixing up this place has helped build character and a positive attitude in the kids. It's not just about winning games.''

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