Recently the Recreation Department held the Annual Fleer Diamond Skills Competition. This national baseball skills program provides boys and girls ages 7 to 14 years old the opportunity to showcase their batting, fielding/throwing and base running abilities.

The winners in the various age groups will be moving on to the next level of competition with the hopes of qualifying for the National Finals. The National Finals are scheduled to be held at the Major League All Star Game in Boston in July.

The winners from this local competition are:

7 and 8 Year Olds:

All Around Champion: Timothy Garger

Batting Champion: Jonathan Muscarella

Fielding/Throwing Champion: Dorothy Niemira

Base-Run Champion: Timothy Garger

9 and 10 Year Olds:

All Around Champion: Eric Bevilacqua

Batting Champion: Paul Chilelli

Fielding/Throwing Champion: Anthony Parks

Base-Run Champion: Joseph Young

11 and 12 Year Olds:

All Around Champion: Matthew Petition

Batting Champion: Matthew Petition

Fielding/Throwing Champion: Matthew Petition

Base-Run Champion: Daniel Thaler

13 and 14 Year Olds:

All Around Champion: Adam Chielli

Batting Champion: Megan Allen

Fielding/Throwing Champion: Adam Chielli

Base-Run Champion: Gordon Ronco

Congratulations and best of luck to all the Champions. Thanks to all those youngsters who participated.

The Recreation Department has a limited number of tickets to the Champions on Ice Tour at Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, May 9. Scheduled to appear are Michelle Kwan, Viktor Petrenko, Elvis Stojko, and many more. Tickets to this show are priced at $55 and are on sale now in the Recreation Office in Village Hall. Tickets must be paid for in cash only, no checks. The last day of sale for these tickets is Tuesday, May 4.

For further information, call 742-5800.

With the spring sports season fast approaching we would like to remind all residents that the recreation department gives preference to the Garden City Athletic Association, Garden City Centennials and Garden City Rams for their league programs. When the fields are not in use by the youth organizations, the recreation department of a group holding a valid permit, these ball fields are available or use by residents.

Playability of the fields will be determined by the Recreation Department employee at the field.

In an effort to ensure that the Village playgrounds are being used by Garden City residents and their guests only, the Recreation staff in the Village playgrounds will be recording names and addresses of people entering the playgrounds. The Recreation staff may ask residents to show proof of residency. Your help and cooperation in this endeavor is greatly appreciated.