While longer days and warmer weather may be a sign of spring, high school baseball fans look to the baseball diamond for hope.
 
Baseball players from McMillen and Williams high schools and Plano East Senior High recently participated in a workday at their respective schools in preparation for the upcoming season, which kicks off with scrimmages February 7 for all teams. District games begin March 14. The complete schedule for each team is available at http://planoeastbaseball.com/teams/

“We’ve invested about $13,000 in improvements this year,” said Barry Burke, Plano East Baseball Booster Club president. “We purchased new uniforms and training equipment. We also rebuilt the Pitcher’s Mound, put crushed granite around both dugouts to improve drainage and are replacing the portable batting cage backstop. A Booster Club member  built a new helmet and bat rack for the Home dugout.”
 
The Plano East Baseball program is offering a Winter Baseball Clinic for boys currently in grades K – 6 Saturday, February 4 at Plano East Senior High School Baseball Field, at 3000 Los Rios Boulevard in Plano. The clinic for kindergarten thru third grade students will be 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fourth thru sixth graders will be 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per student, which includes the clinic as well as a t-shirt. Non-Plano residents add $4. Registrationthrough the City of Plano is available on-line through Friday, February 3. You will need a Family Account PINand an Individual ID Number, both of which can be obtained by calling a Plano recreation center (Liberty 972-769-4234, Muehlenbeck 972-769-4404, or Carpenter 972-208-8087). Once you have obtained these account numbers, go to www.planoparks.org and click on register here.
 
Other upcoming special events include:
            • February 3 Homerun Derby
            • February 4 Media Day
            • March 14 Servicemen & Women Night
            • March 21 Cancer Awareness Night
            • March 31 Alumni Celebration
            • April 4 Teacher Appreciation Night
            • April 11 Middle School Night
            • April 18 Elementary School Night
            • April 28 Senior Celebration
 
The Plano East Baseball program is under the direction of Head Coach Jordan Byrd, Assistant Varsity Coach Scott Castleman, Junior Varsity Head Coach Michael Martinez, Assistant Junior Varsity Coach John Lubow, McMillen Head Coach Cole McLean, McMillen Assistant Coach DeMarcus Mathes, Williams Head Coach Shane Kesler and Williams Assistant Coach Efe Osawemwenze.  For more information, go to planoeastbaseball.com