THE Youth Athletic Organisation (YAO) Bermuda baseball league, sponsored by the Argus Group since 1988, presented trophies to 374 participants on Saturday at the end of this year's baseball season.

In the Rookie League playoffs, the Orioles beat the Dodgers for the first-place trophy, and the Diamondbacks took home the regular-season championship trophy. In the Little League playoffs, the victory went to the Blue Jays, after a landslide win against the Yankees, who won the regular-season championship. In the Senior League, the regular-season championship title went to the Red Sox.

YAO baseball league is a non-profit organisation and a registered charity. With over 400 children and 100 adults participating, the YAO baseball league has become a fixture in Bermuda's baseball scene. It provides baseball programmes for youths and young adults from the ages of five to 16. YAO aims to keep registration fees to an absolute minimum so that no child is prevented from participating due to cost. Every participant receives a baseball uniform at the start of the season and participates in organised games between March and June. In 2008, 78 percent of players were Bermudian.

The league has been thriving in Bermuda for the past 28 years - 14 years as YAO - and is a charter member of Little League Baseball Incorporated, the world's largest organised youth sports programme. The YAO baseball league consists of 28 teams that play in four leagues. Games were played each Saturday at Kindley Field in Southside, St. David's.

Michelle Jackson, Vice President of Group Insurance, the Argus Group, presented the trophies and stated: "We would like to congratulate all the winning teams on their outstanding victories and to all of the players who came out and played a great season. Argus is proud to continue to sponsor YAO Bermuda. The Argus Group believes in getting involved in the community and encouraging healthy and active lifestyles for Bermuda's youth."

Stefan Stecko, President of YAO Bermuda, added: "On behalf of YAO Bermuda, I would like to thank the Argus Group for once again sponsoring the season. Their commitment to helping Little League Baseball in our community is sincerely appreciated.

"If a child leaves the playing fields feeling a little more confident, a little more positive about herself or himself, then it has been a very successful day."