The Coastal Bay Girls Softball league concluded its season by throwing a party for players, coaches and parents who helped make the league a success on May 8 at La Jolla Elementary School. “It’s been a super-exciting day and the weather’s been great,” said Coastal Bay league President Barbara Birnbaum. “We have almost all 200 players here who played in our rec season this year.” Each of the 20 teams was introduced over the public address system. Parents and supporters had the opportunity to take pictures of the players who posed for the fans briefly in the center of the softball diamond. For their participation in the league, every player received a trophy in the form of a bronzed softball glove. Festivities also included prizes for raffle winners, helmet air-brush painting and plenty of food for the hungry crowd. Birnbaum said the league has been going strong for many years but what made this season particularly special was moving the games back to La Jolla Elementary. “We used to play at Torrey Pines and we just moved this year to La Jolla Elementary,” she said. “(Today) is a celebration of the community being in the heart of the Village and all kids and families and siblings.” The La Jolla Elementary field had gone neglected for close to a decade while it grew into a hazardous and unplayable park. But with the help of the local community and a sizable donation from the local Kiwanis Club, the field was renovated and cleaned up. As a result, young girls can once again play softball in La Jolla. “Everybody loves the idea that the games are down here right in the middle of town,” said local business owner and Kiwanis Club member Leon Chow. The league, which was formerly known as La Jolla Girls Youth Softball, had been playing its games at the YMCA for the past several seasons. The new location is more convenient for many local families who want to participate. Over time, the central locale of the games could also attract more interested girls looking for a great way to stay active and be a part of a team. “This is generating excitement for next year,” Birnbaum said. “People can’t wait to sign up and a lot of their friends and classmates want to play next year too.” The Coastal Bay Girls Softball League is open to girls between the ages of 5 and 14, and regular season games are played from February through May, with all-star competition continuing for the next two months. For more information visit www.lajollayouthsoftball.org or call Barbara Birnbaum at (858) 353-2272.