The slumping economy's effects are being felt all over, but for most local Little League programs, it's play ball as usual.

League organizers in the Rochester area said their numbers are holding steady, but they said some parents are being forced to choose how many sports their kids will play. Participation in Little League has dropped nationally and statewide in the past few years, but Little League officials are attributing those declines to factors other than the economy. 

For some parents, though, cutting back on youth sports is not an option. Ken Metzger of Greece said he spends more than $4,000 per year for his three sons to play baseball, football and basketball, and he and his wife, Julie, wouldn't have it any other way.

"We realize how important youth sports are in our lives and their lives," said Metzger, whose sons play travel baseball, which costs more than Little League. "So we miss a trip to Myrtle Beach, and we'll get another year out of our gas grill, which we were going to replace. Not once did we talk about cutting back on youth sports. It's just not worth it."

Read on...

Alan Morrell

April 18, 2009

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