Tough Times for Monrovia Little League

Already strapped for funds and adequate equipment, times are about to get even tougher for the Monrovia Youth Baseball League.

A column in Sunday's Los Angeles Times highlights the issues surrounding the Monrovia little league and the work one parent, Jason Vance, is doing in order to help make the MYBL a fun summer activity for local youths.

According to the article, some of the problems with the league include subpar facilities. The article describes one recreation baseball field as without lights, an outfield fence and enough grass in the infield.

This past year the league included 31 teams with close to 400 kids playing ball, 40 of which were on scholarship because they couldn't afford the $135 registration fee, says the article.

Next year it might be even more difficult to sign up for the league. The Monrovia Unified School District originally planned to charge the league $18,000 in rent. The price has since been reduced to around $12,000, which would still require a hike in registration.

District superintendent Linda Wagner told the Times she realizes the league's displeasure, but "she lists all the cuts the district has made and points to the increase in class sizes. She says the rent is one way to raise money to help what is going on inside those classrooms."

Click here to read the full column.