Rikki George is one of the coaches for the Red Sox, a little league team.   However, he could be consider one of the best players for the Rays, who the Red Sox played in their opening game of the BVI Little League at the Old Recreation Grounds on Saturday.

Parents and coaches pitched to their own team and Mr. George struck out several of his own players, including his son Mikei. He said it was “frustrating,” but he will continue to work with the youth players and help them develop as the season continues.

“The youngsters haven’t quite grasped what a good pitch is and what’s a bad pitch. Some like to swing at the high pitches, some like to swing at the low pitches. For some reason they don’t like to swing at the nice pitches,” Mr. George said.

He added that the league serves an important role for the youth athletes.

“It teaches them discipline and it teaches them to work with other people,” he said. “It is not about winning, it is about teamwork and coming out to have fun.”

This year there are 10 teams competing in the league, including an all girls’ team — the Yankees — for the first time.

“They are experiencing the league for the first time and they are enjoying it,” said organiser Terry Chinnery.

The league is divided into three different age groups — 3 to 5 year olds hit off a tee; 6 to 8 year olds have their coach pitch to them; and 9 to 12 year olds pitch themselves.

Mr. Chinnery steps in on an occasion to pitch to the 9 to 12 year olds, because he has not had a chance to work with the pitchers.

“I will probably pitch for them today, so the [game] can go fast,” Mr. Chinnery said.

The organiser said the league has been productive over the years, because it has helped athletes move on to the next level, whether it is the senior league, college or professional baseball.

“We have a guy playing in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants right now,” Mr. Chinnery said. “[Another player] just turned down a half of a million dollars and decided to go to college instead. A lot of guys from here are making strides in the United States.”

He added that four players from the VI just headed off to college in the US to play baseball.

Mr. Chinnery has been involved with little league for about 15 years.

“People can expect a lot of talent coming out of the league, once they get good we will move them up,” he said.

After the little league games finished on Saturday, the BVI Softball Association opened its Junior Softball Leasgue with a brief ceremony. Remarks were given by Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn and the Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool.

In the first game, the Mets scored eight runs in the fifth inning to overcome a five run deficit and held on to beat the Diamondbacks, 15-13.

The Mets had eight hits, five errors and left four runners on base.

The Diamondbacks had  no hits, five errors and left two runners on base.

The winning pitcher was Annecha Graham in relief of Shaika Jeffers.

Shaika and Chavique Barzey of the Mets each had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. The Diamondbacks did not have a hit, but their offense benefited from 10 walks by Mets pitchers and five errors by the Mets defense.

In the second game, the Jays and Padres were rained out with the Jays leading, 6-5, in the top of the second inning. The game will be replayed in its entirety on Feb. 3.

Games continue on Saturdays for both leagues at the Old Recreation Grounds.