Council to honor Aliso Viejo National Little League team, 17-year volunteer umpire for outstanding feats
The City Council on Wednesday will honor the Aliso Viejo National Little League team for its impressive accomplishments during the 2008 All Star Tournament and a long-time volunteer umpire who was selected among hundreds to work in the San Bernardino-based tournament.
The Aliso Viejo Little League 11-12-year-old majors division’s road to the summer tournament was the first time that an Aliso Viejo team advanced that far and only the third time in 30 years that a team from District 55 had done so.
The tournament was the final step in qualifying for the Little League World Series. The team’s games were hard fought and well played with victories and defeats along the way. Although the team did not advance to the World Series, it made history in the league and represented the city of Aliso Viejo with talent, perseverance and style.
Resident Duane Cave, who has volunteered his time umpiring Little League games for nearly two decades, received an “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity when he was selected as one of only 14 umpires to work in the Little League Western Region Championship. The invitation was well deserved and impressive, as District 55, which serves Aliso Viejo and 11 other South County leagues, has more than 150 district volunteer umpires. Qualifying as a regional umpire requires countless hours of umpiring and a recommendation by the district administrator based on skill. During the San Bernardino-based tournament, Cave lived in barracks, worked two games per day and was the only umpire who had a cheering section every time he hit the field.
The City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers at 12 Journey. For more information, call 949-425-2505 or visit the city’s Web site, www.cityofalisoviejo.com.
