Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming (or the palo verde trees are blooming)! And kids from Hayden and Winkelman have signed up, ready to start their 2017 Little League season.
On Saturday, April 8, the Hayden-Winkelman Little League opened the season at the Little League fields in Hayden by announcing the teams and coaches, League Officers and this year’s sponsors.
Then it was time to play ball for coach pitch and T-Ball players.
This year’s teams are:
T-Ball
Coaches, Jessica Quesada, Michael Canisales and Mia Real; and players, Orlando Aguirre, Mykaela Canisales, Roman Castaneda, Johan Chavez, Demetrius Pinkard, Marisela Quesada, Ramon Quesada, Raquel Quesada, Rodolfo Quesada and Serenity Quesada.
Coaches, Julissa Westrope and Stephanie Encinas; and players, Azalea Cruz, Maribel Gallego, Michael Garcia, Noah Garcia, Maya Hong, Nico Lorona and Isabella Oropeza.
Coaches, Wade Bailey and Liberty Bailey; and players Aiden Bailey, Anthony Espinoza, Keiki Gain, Yarencia Gaona, Ayden Lusk, Anabella Strickland, Brystol Strickland and Nadia Strickland.
Coach Pitch
Coaches, Robert Lorona, Guillermo Ortega and Melaina Lorona; and players, Abigale Bailey, Michael Felix, Alanie Hise, Marcos Hong, Robert Lorona III, Caleb Ochoa, Daniel Ortega, Jaya Rivera, Maria Sanchez and Kaiden Weber.
Coaches, Mike Ramirez, Brandon Waddell and Damioun Pinkard; and players, Kristin Alvarado, Lucas Gonzales, Julius Pinkard, Benjamin Quesada, Sandra Sosa-Quintana, Jonathan Rabago, Josiah Ramirez, Nevaeh Ramirez, Abrianna Torres and Yvanna Waddell.
Minors
Coaches, Brandon Garner, Steven Butler Jr. and Anita Ortega; and players, Matthew Armenta, Jose Fong, Ryan Garner, Tyler Garner, Rya Lagunas, Jonah Lopez, Aden Ochoa, Marcos Oropeza, Javier Ortega, Selestina Sosa-Quintana; Victor Sosa-Quintana; Ramon Ramirez and Raymond Sanchez.
Coaches, Nimo Lorona, Robert Manriquez, Jacob Manriquez and Carol Lopez-Lorona; and players, Karissa Acuna, Elijah Castaneda, Trinity Collier, Junior Contreras, Paul Gaither Jr., Mario Hong, Kino Lorona, Dallas Mariscal, Julian Mariscal, Joshua Manriquez, Elijah Morrison, Darren Smith and Alejandro Waddell.
Majors
Coaches, Bobby Smith, Chito Lopez and Armand Cruz; and players, Dominic Alvarado, Johnny Arbizo, Deondre Collier, Jarin Cruz, Moraes Cruz, Fabian Elvira, Ismael Gallego, Brandon Garner Jr., Alejandro Lorona, Aaron Peed, Keiston Pool, Emilio Rivera and Damien Smith.
This years League Officers are: Maria Anna Lopez-President, Mike Ramirez-Vice President, Anita Ortega-Secretary, Carol Lopez-Lorona-Treasurer, Nanny Moreno-Player Agent; Steven Butler Jr.-Safety Officer, and Bonnie Pinkard-Safety Officer.
Sponsors for the 2017 season are: Norm’s Hometown Grocery, Recon Refractory & Construction, Town of Winkelman, USW Local 915, Carlotta Copper Company & KGHM, Johnson & Chang Dentistry, 5D Mining, The Ashton Co., Gila County Board of Supervisors, CNSI-Coppernet Systems Inc., ASARCO, SRP and Ace Pipe Cleaning Inc.