Flagler Baseball opens its inaugural season

Over 200 volunteers and players help kick off the new Flagler County baseball league.

By Jeff Dawsey
| 11:09 p.m. October 10, 2015

Brody Steele practices catching balls before his game on Saturday. Photos by Jeff Dawsey

Camera Fulling, currently battling brain cancer, played in Flagler Baseball's opening games.

Caylee Casper decided to throw gloves instead of baseballs between innings.

Commissioner Frank Meeker hits a ball after the opening ceremonies.

Coach Carl Sanderson and Jason Sirman share a laugh, after Sirman dives to first base.

Jesse Baugher gets one of the first hits in the new Flagler Baseball league.

Makenna Yingling, donning her shades, tries to knock the ball in the outfield.

Commissioner gets hitting tips from coach and president Tim Baugher.

Trevor Jensen finished with multiple strikeouts in his first game in Flagler Baseball.

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

After postponing its open-day ceremonies the previous weekend, the weather permitted Flagler Baseball to enjoy America’s past time on a bright and sunny Florida Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Flagler County Recreation Area.

“We saw a need in the community, with the old baseball program (Flagler PAL) kind of struggling,” said Tim Baugher, the league’s president. “Our group was a part of the old organization, and we said, ‘You know what? We can do this better, if we can find a new partner,' so we got away from the old organization and went to Craig Coffey and said, ‘Hey, we’d like to take over,’ and it’s been very successful. We’ve doubled our numbers already. We’ve tripled our sponsors, and people have really happy with it.”

Some of Flagler PAL’s board partnered with the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to create Flagler Baseball, which has grown to 180 players and roughly 60 volunteers. Each team will play 12 games apiece. Commissioners present were George Hanns, Frank Meeker, Barbara Revels, Nate McLaughlin and Vice Chairman Charles Erickson. After all of the announcements, they all attempted to “play ball,” along with the kids.

“The community feedback has been really good,” Baugher added. “People are really happy to see somebody out here that really cares about the kids, about the ball fields. The county’s done a great job improving the conditions of the ball fields."

The opening-day festivities included face painting, bounce houses, speed pitch and other fun activities.

For more information, call 313-4132 or go online to flaglerbaseball.com.

Flagler Baseball nominated Camera Fulling to throw out the first pitch.

BOX: Worth the first pitch

Of all of the 180 players gathered around the baseball diamond at the Flagler County Recreation Area, only one was asked to throw out the honorary pitch, and he was Cameron Fulling, 8, who has been battling brain cancer for five years.

“It makes me happy to see that he’s out here giving it a try after everything he’s been through,” said Melisa Fulling, Cameron’s mother. “I love seeing him being a kid and having fun. It means everything.”

Cameron recently underway his sixth brain surgery on Aug. 10, which followed up with eight weeks of radiation at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He back home the night before game day.

On watching her son throw out the first pitch to his older brother, Carter, Melisa said, “I didn’t know he was going to throw out the first pitch. That was really special.” Cameron was also given the ball, which was signed by all of the commissioners. He also played the entire game for his team.