BUENA PARK : League for Kids Covers All the Bases

In this baseball league, it doesn’t matter if the players strike out, miss a catch, or if the team wins or loses--and no player ever sits out innings on the bench.

The emphasis is on having fun as well as learning how to play ball.

“Everything is a positive attitude,” said Mike Cavenee, who has coached with the city-organized P-Nut baseball league for the past five years. “We don’t argue with the umpire, and we play the kids in as many positions as we can, because no kid ever learned how to play baseball standing out in the field watching the grass grow.

“And you won’t see kids hanging their heads when they go off the field if they lose a game,” said Cavenee, who coaches two P-Nut teams. “They’re having fun, and that’s all that counts.”

The program is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 14. Rick Gomez, a coach and the city’s parks and recreation commissioner, said it offers an alternative to other organized leagues.

“It’s a chance for kids who aren’t stars to play a full game and have a good time at it. When someone strikes out, everyone says, ‘Nice try,’ ” he said.

In Gomez’s view, the P-Nut league offers a lighter side to the competitiveness of baseball.

When the season opens May 9, teams play games against each other until late July, when the competitive part of the season starts and elimination tournaments are held.

“I think the league has its place--that’s why it’s real popular,” Gomez said.

The league has been around for more than 25 years, and this year about 1,000 youths are participating. There are 60 teams; each usually has three volunteer coaches and a number of parents who pitch in to help.

For the players, once they play, many come back year after year.

“It’s my favorite sport,” said a precocious Jimmy Eichmann, 8, who is entering his third year in the league.

“I’m a real good player, because I’ve been practicing a lot,” he said matter-of-factly.

Jimmy, who is on the Pirates teams, also said he’s learned that winning isn’t everything: “I just do my best,” he said.

Cavenee said the lessons learned on the ball field are not all about how to play the game. The players learn to be part of a team and to have pride and self-esteem.

Parents agreed that the league offers their children an opportunity to achieve--without the cutthroat competition.

“I like this league. It’s not real hard-core as far as winning,” said Dave See, whose 6-year-old son, Bradley, is on the Pirates. “There’s a team spirit, and it’s important to get the kids to play as a team.”

David Eichmann, Jimmy’s father, agreed that “they don’t put any pressure on the kids.”

“I like it because they do promote that it’s just for fun.”