ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove Youth Baseball celebrated its 75th anniversary last Sunday with picture day and a hit-a-thon with all the teams of the current season at Jan Rau Community Park. 

The event began at 8 a.m. last Sunday with pictures and the hit-a-thon with vendors and local food trucks selling food and jump houses for children to play. 

At 11:30 a.m., festivities continued with the parade onto Field 2 of Rau Park, which included every team across all age groups of the league where a couple of speakers spoke about the 75th anniversary, including Elk Grove Youth Baseball board member Curtis Hoffstot. 

“This isn’t only about Elk Grove Youth Baseball but about Elk Grove in general,” Hoffstot said. “This is one of the most special leagues in probably all of America and definitely in California.”

Hoffstot thanked many of the league sponsors, which a majority are local, that helped put on this special event as it allows the league to have event funding, help with equipment and maintain the fields. 

As a native of the Washington D.C. area, Hoffstot said that he thought his local league was special until he moved to Elk Grove and realized “baseball is life” here. Many players started in baseball through Elk Grove Youth Baseball.

All the players and coaches on Elk Grove Youth Baseball teams for the current spring 2024 season gathered during the parade at Jan Rau Community Park on April 8. Photo by Alejandro Barron

One of these players is a former big leaguer who is an Elk Grove High School and Cosumnes River College alumni, David Freitas who now coaches his children in Elk Grove Youth Baseball.

“I want to say for all of the kids that when I was here playing, I still remember when I was 12 and under with how much fun I was having and enjoying playing the game of baseball with how much it teaches you about life,” Freitas said. 

Freitas described coaching both his children as some of the most fun times he has had in baseball. Freitas is coaching them in the same league where he got his start that put him on a path to later reach the major leagues. 

Another speaker during this 75-year anniversary league celebration included Elk Grove Vice- Mayor and District 2 City Councilmember Rod Brewer, who was rocking a cream-colored Homestead Grays jersey of the Negro League. 

“This is a great example of community with all these businesses supporting our kids, the board that’s here is working hard every day for our kids and that’s just a great example of what we can do when we’re working closely together,” Brewer said. 

Brewer spoke about Jan Rau, who he described as a strong community leader for Elk Grove and thanked her for paving the way for Elk Grove parks, such as Rau Park that Elk Grove Youth Baseball uses as home diamond for their season. Cosumnes Community Services District board member Peter Sakaris also thanked the Rau family for donating the land on which Rau Park is on so that children can enjoy playing on the baseball diamond.

Sakaris also took the time to recognize parents who bring their children out to participate in Elk Grove Youth Baseball. 

“One of the most important people that are out here today are you, the parents,” Sakaris said. “It is your dedication and time put into this event and to the league so you all deserve a big round of applause.” 

After ceremonial first pitches from Brewer, Rau and Sakaris, young athletes continued with their hit-a-thon, face painting, local food trucks, bounce houses and the love for baseball continuing to grow through Elk Grove Youth Baseball.