Baseball League Finds Diamonds Are Not Forever

Prospects of Sylmar Independent Baseball League teams taking the field this season seemed bleak until officials at the Lake View Terrace Recreation Center on Friday offered the league temporary use of four baseball fields.

The league, made up of about 700 boys and girls ages 6 to 17, will have use of the recreation center’s fields through April, said league president Dick Jackson. He said the first baseball probably will be pitched at the Lake View Terrace field by the middle of next week.

“SIBL evidently will play, but we won’t be able to play on our beautiful field,” said Susan Carr, a planning consultant hired by the league.

Residents of the Sylmar neighborhood adjoining a 22-acre site near Simshaw Avenue and Gridley Street have appealed a city permit allowing league teams to play there.

The appeal prevents the teams from using the fields until the matter is resolved. The appeal is scheduled to be decided by the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals in June. After that, the board’s ruling can be appealed to the City Council, which probably would not reach a decision before August, city officials said. By that time, the league’s season could be over.

The residents say they fear that the league will mean increased noise, traffic and litter to their neighborhood and are opposed to games being played after 7:30 p.m. weekdays and at all on Sundays.

Jackson met with Susan Kacy, leader of the homeowners’ opposition group, Thursday night while Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) and Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi umpired. However, they were unable to reach agreement. The sticking point between the league and homeowners centered on Sunday games, which would start at 1 p.m.

“It would be different if nobody played on Sunday, but they’re singling us out,” Jackson said. “Our kids will see other kids playing on Sundays. It’s totally unfair what they’re asking us to do.”

Residents Want Day Off

Residents say they merely want a day of rest from the noise generated by baseball games.

“There’s no one who wants to stop them from playing baseball, but we want some consideration,” said resident Virginia Weatherman. “Is it asking so much to have Sundays off?”

Katz and Bernardi, who represent the area, said they plan to meet with officials from the school district, the city Department of Recreation and Parks and church leaders to see if other fields can be made available to the league.

“We’re looking at every baseball field in the area,” said David Mays, an aide to Bernardi. “We would feel a lot better if we had been able to resolve the problem. Second best is to keep the kids playing till the grown-ups can figure out what’s best.”

Meanwhile, Jackson said, the youths will be given baseball caps and attend opening ceremonies at the contested site this afternoon. But no games will be played.

“Everybody’s really kind of upset and frustrated,” Carr said. “Everybody’s been going by the fields, looking at them and dreaming about when they can play on them.”