Even with the heat of recent days, there was an ongoing excitement in Saugus baseball, with Saugus Nationals winning their district title, as did Babe Ruth
squads of 13-year olds and 14-year olds. All the teams, in that excitemenmt, moved up at least a notch in tournament competition before the great rides of this spring and summer came to an end. I saw some great crowds at tournament games, and some great baseball on both sides of the field. Saugus baseball is, it appears to me, as Saugus hockey has, in the hands of some great kids. Without a doubt these teams have been my favorite entertainment values and I want to thank coaches, players, parents, fans, and volunteers for bringing to us a most valued sense of competition. Even as young as they are, these players are role models for others, and make great measuring sticks. Two years ago, Saugus Americans all over ESPN TV, my daughter asked her 2-year old son Bobby what he wanted to be when he grows up. In his little Saugus baseball cap and jersey he said, "I want to be a Yanno." (For those who may not have heard the name, that is the slick-fielding third basemen from 2003's Saugus American Little League All-Stars who went all the way to Los Angeles and ESPN's voting for the best game of 2003, and also the third baseman on this year's Babe Ruth 14-year old team.)

And I think that improved field conditions, such as at our new World Series Park, will add future value to all our competitive efforts.