Little League World Series Still a Hit Locally

Moorpark’s 12-year-old all-stars’ trip to last year’s Little League World Series has been very, very good for the city’s league, attracting 660 players for the 1997-98 season.

That’s 90 more T-ballers and minor- and major-leaguers than last year, said officials for the 57-team league.

On Sunday, players and their families gathered on the baseball diamonds at Chaparral Middle School for opening day festivities of the city’s 41st Little League season. The 5- to 17-year-olds tried to dunk their coaches in the “shark attack” dunking booth, took part in impromptu games and ate and drank plenty of refreshments.

And they stood in line for more than half an hour to meet former Dodger right-hander Jim Gott of Pasadena.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Gott, 37. He spent the afternoon autographing hats, mitts, trading cards and official balls for a seemingly endless stream of big-league hopefuls.

One after another, the young players walked up in their uniforms to shake Gott’s hand, their eyes lighting up as the former pitcher and sports talk-show host gave them words of encouragement and told stories about his early days in Little League.

Gott pointed out that the 1996 all-stars, who made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., were the talk of the nation. “We all knew what those kids from Moorpark did,” he said.

League President Chris Adams of Moorpark, told the crowd that Little League is not as much about baseball as it is about producing honest adults who make contributions to society.

The day was dedicated to the team’s “angel in the outfield,” Joel Burchfield, who drowned Jan. 31, 1996, while crossing the rain-swollen Arroyo Simi, two days before tryouts.

“Those of us who know and love the Burchfield family continue to share their sorrow, and we will always hold the memory of Joel close to our hearts,” Adams said.