Letter: Baseball is funded by parents, sponsors

In response to Jay Smith's May 17 letter 'It's a sad day for public schools”: Jay Smith should find out more about school financing. The school district is not 'paying for elementary baseball.”

I reread the May 9 story ('C.R. fifth-graders sign up for a difficult mission: Saving Spanish”) and it says he was at baseball practice. Most 5th graders play on community-sponsored teams run by the YMCA or city recreation departments with community businesses sponsoring teams. A few play on a travel team supported by parent fees, sponsors and fundraisers. Having had several grandchildren (boys and girls) play on these teams I have attended many games and tournaments. None were financed by any school money.

In the metro area I am not aware of any schools sponsoring 7th grade teams for baseball or softball. Eighth-graders are eligible to play on high school teams. The end of the article pointed out that Ben Drzycimski couldn't find any other area he would cut instead.

Bill Ashby

Clermont