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Sixth Year of Tee Ball on the South Lawn Begins With Game Between Teams Representing the Air Force and Navy
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (June 26, 2006) – President George W. Bush and First
Lady Laura Bush sat in the stands amongst families and local league
officials and enjoyed a Little League Tee Ball game between a team
composed of children of McGuire Air Force Base (N.J.) personnel and a
team from a U.S. Navy submarine base in Groton, Conn.
The 14th “Tee Ball on the South Lawn” game, played at the White
House on June 23, was the first to have a team representing the Air
Force play against a team from a Naval base.
In keeping with the tradition of Tee Ball on the South Lawn games,
no score was kept between the McGuire Air Force Base Little League
Yankees and the Dolcom Little League Indians of Naval Submarine Base
New London. Every player on both teams played on defense and bat
once in the one-inning game that was followed by a picnic on the
South Lawn for players and families. President Bush presented each
player, manager, and coach with a baseball he autographed.
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U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Joint
Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace render honors during
the National Anthem at the 14th Tee Ball on the South Lawn game,
June 23, 2006, along with the teams. President Bush has hosted
each of the 14 games as a way to boost interest in baseball
among young families. Gen. Pace was named the honorary
commissioner for this Tee Ball on the South Lawn game, as both
teams came from military bases. |
This game marked the start of the sixth year since President Bush
began the initiative as a way to boost interest in baseball among
children and parents. The first game played on the South Lawn of the
White House was held on May 6, 2001.
President Bush, the first former Little Leaguer to be elected to the
nation’s highest office, played Little League Baseball at Central
Little League in Midland, Texas, in the mid-1950s. He was on the
Cubs, and was a catcher. In 2001, President Bush was enshrined in
the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence when he visited the
Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
The honorary commissioner for the game was U.S. Joint Chiefs of
Staff Chairman, Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Gen. Pace also is a Little
League graduate, having played in Teaneck, N.J. He also was
enshrined in the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence when he
visited the Little League Baseball World Series in 2003.
The honorary base coaches were the two military installation
commanders: Air Force Col. Rick Martin and Navy Capt. Sean Sullivan.
The public address announcer was ABC Sports personality Tim Brant,
also a former Little Leaguer.
Providing support for a portion of the expenses were Little League
corporate partner SUBWAY® restaurants, which covered the
transportation needs for the Little League Tee Ball team from Naval
Submarine Base New London. Other Little League’s sponsors helping to
support the 2006 Tee Ball on the South Lawn games are: Ace Hardware,
AIG Insurance, Musco Sports Lighting, and New Era.
This was the third game to feature teams composed largely of
dependents of military personnel. On June 22, 2003, teams from Fort
Belvoir (Va.) Little League and Naval Station Norfolk (Va.) played
in the first Army-Navy Tee Ball on the South Lawn game. On June 13,
2004, teams from Bolling Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.) and
Cherry Point (N.C.) Marine Corps Air Station played at the White
House.
Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest youth
sports organization, with nearly 2.7 million children participating
in every U.S. state and dozens of other countries on six continents.
Little League is the only youth sports organization to be chartered
by the U.S. Congress.
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The McGuire (N.J.) Air Force Base Yankees line up and prepare
for the National Anthem. All players on both teams are
dependents of U.S. military personnel, and wore the military
unit patch worn by one or both parents. |
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U.S. Air Force Col. Rick Martin, the honorary third base coach,
shares a laugh with the Dolcom Little League Indians third
baseman from Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn. Col.
Martin is commanding officer at McGuire Air Force Base. |
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A batter-runner for the Dolcom Little League Indians is out at
first, as Navy Capt. Sean Sullivan, the honorary first base
coach, looks on. Capt. Sullivan is the commanding officer at
Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton, Conn. |
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A runner for the McGuire Air Force Base Yankees sprints home as
fielders for the Dolcom Little League Indians decide where to
throw the ball. |
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A typical Tee Ball scene, as the runner takes a long route
to first base. |
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The teams meet at home plate for the traditional handshake at
the end of the game. |
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President Bush, Gen. Pace, and Little League mascot Dugout pose
for a post-game photo with a player from Dolcom Little League.
Each player on both teams receives a baseball bearing President
Bush’s autograph, and the Presidential Seal. |
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President Bush, Gen. Pace, and Dugout prepare
to greet a player from McGuire Air Force Base Little League. |
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The McGuire Air Force Base (N.J.) Yankees (top
photo) will take on the Dolcom Little League Indians of Naval
Submarine Base New London of Groton, Conn., on Friday,
June 23, in the 14th Tee Ball on the South Lawn game, at the
White House in Washington, D.C. |
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