Pro teams need to help youth leagues

You may have taken it in stride when we reported recently that suburban youth baseball has joined the ever-growing list of those hurt by the weakening economy.

Certainly it was no shock to families who are struggling to balance household budgets amid job losses and pay reductions, and see youth sports - and enrollment costs of $135 for young players to $210 for more advanced - as a luxury they can't afford right now.

And, it wasn't news to the youth organizations that have seen hardship requests rise and player registration numbers fall, along with funding to support their leagues.

Kim Mikus' story showed youth softball and baseball leagues from Gurnee to Downers Grove reporting declines. South Elgin's little league has about 300 fewer boys signed up this year, and Bartlett's league is down 200 players.

What may be a surprise is our suggestion to address the issue - the Cubs and White Sox, and even the Kane County Cougars and Schaumburg Flyers must step up to the plate, so to speak.

Their contributions can be monetary, or time in the form of player appearances at fundraisers or donating equipment and uniforms. But their help is needed.

We're not suggesting these teams aren't already doing plenty of good deeds in the community. To the contrary. All are generous in their charitable work.

But this is different. This goes to the heart of the game they play and love.

There are plenty of reasons why it makes sense for them and others to step in and be leaders in this time of need.

Fewer children learning and enjoying the sport and developing skills now could have repercussions at other levels of play for years to come. And, this could contribute to ongoing childhood obesity concerns as another reason for kids to sit inside playing video games instead of being outside on the ballfield.

"We need to do everything we can to keep these kids off the streets and on the baseball fields," said Phil Rizzo, who oversees Little League District 13 - covering 18 leagues from Crystal Lake to Hanover Park.

The need has motivated Trey Johnston, a Schaumburg High School grad who was drafted by the Cubs in 2003 and played a few years in the minors. At 23, he's now going to college and working full time, but hasn't forgotten his youth baseball days in Hanover Park.

Johnston has just started the nonprofit For the Love of the Game Foundation to help budding ballplayers in Hanover Park and playing fields in need of a little TLC. He hopes it will someday grow to include other communities.

He's got ambitious ideas to use his skills to offer free lessons, and host baseball clinics and fundraising events to help pay registration costs and equipment fees.

He's approached the Sox, and soon the Cubs, to see if they'll get on board.

Here's hoping they do.