Talent and skill on display

OLIVE PARK — For decades, the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department Ponytail Softball league has been the premier place for the area’s young players to hone their playing skills.

Saturday at Olive Park, the players celebrated the ending of another successful season with the annual Ponytail Softball Jamboree, sponsored by the Foothill Civitan Club.

Like their male counterparts a week earlier, the softball players invaded the park for their traditional skills competition, food, refreshments and a lot of awards. More than 375 participants and about 48 teams took part.

The day began at 8:30 in the morning with a parade from the Burroughs High parking lot.

In the skills competition, players took part in four events — hitting for distance; throwing for accuracy; baserunning and throwing for distance — and won awards for their accomplishments.

The Ponytail program is the largest and oldest organized league in the city. This spring league is designed for athletes in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The city offers a variety of youth sports programs, instructional camps, sports leagues and special programs throughout the year. Recreational competition is provided for both boys and girls.