Americana at Rotary Field

It really was that kind of evening.

Leaning against the fence, watching young baseball

players toss the horsehide around a perfectly groomed diamond amid a festive small-town atmosphere, one gentleman observed, “You almost expect to see Norman Rockwell out drawing in right field.”

Some 500 of your island neighbors left the TV behind Wednesday evening to share the elation and exhilaration of community, converging on Winslow’s Rotary Field for the Bainbridge Island Little League Majors championship game. And what a scene it was. Parents and well-wishers crowded the stands or hugged the backstop to see the action up close, while others clambered up the grassy slope behind the diamond for a broader tableau. Kids and dogs romped around the periphery of the field, and the concession stand had a hot dog line longer than a country mile. At times, the baseball game itself was almost dwarfed by the spectacle; the gathering around a community green on a sunny summer evening was a slice of Americana not too often experienced these days.

It really was that kind of evening. And to top it all off, the Cardinals edged the Mariners in their final at-bat, capping an improbable, memorable perfect season. Way to go, Cards!

But on this evening – with the cheers and the laughs and maybe even a little heartbreak shared by all — everyone came away winners. Kudos to Bainbridge Island Little League for staging such a bang-up event, such a stellar affirmation of community.

Tree fund

Speaking of community, friends of Bainbridge High School are stepping forward to reclaim the campus grounds from the blight of vandalism.

Readers will recall that a few weeks back, someone cut down more than a dozen treasured trees ringing the campus courtyard. New trees are planned in their place, but require funding; private donations of about $1,200 have rolled in toward a goal of about $10,000, reports Linda Owens of the BHS Parent-Teacher-Student Organization. Anyone wanting to boost the effort can send a check to the high school, “Attn: PTSO,” with a note specifying “tree replacement.”

Clean it out

Finally, we note that the gals on the Weather Channel are predicting a rainy weekend. So local pack rats may want to seize the opportunity to clean out the garage and take a load or three up to Woodward Middle School and the Rotary Auction drop-off, in advance of the June 24-25 event. Donations are being accepted pretty much dawn to dusk.

Be sure to take good stuff, or you’ll pay Rotarians to throw it away for you.