THIS year's local youth baseball season culminates this weekend with the much anticipated East-West All-Star Games.

The Youth Athletic Organisation (YAO) Baseball League from the East End will take on the Bermuda Youth Sports Programme (BYSP) from the West End in the final games of the 2006 season.

Six All-Star games will be played on Sunday. The Rookie League (ages seven to nine) and Little League (ages ten to 12) fixtures will take place at the Kindley Community Playing Fields in St. David's, while Senior League games will be played at Bernard Park Baseball Stadium. The first ball will be thrown at 12 noon.

YAO Baseball League president David Bedard praised the young players.

"I would like to congratulate all the participants in this year's baseball season," Mr. Bedard said. "It's wonderful to watch a younger generation develop qualities of citizenship, discipline, physical well-being and teamwork through sports activity.

"By adopting the virtues of courage, integrity and loyalty, the YAO Baseball League aims to help children and young adults become superior citizens as well as superior athletes. Everyone will be a winner this weekend."

The Argus Group has been a proud sponsor of the YAO Baseball League, which is a registered charity, since 1998 and Cindy Campbell, executive vice-president of the Group, has been pleased to watch the numbers of children participating in youth baseball swell over the last eight years.

"The YAO Baseball League is a fun, family-oriented organisation involving our youth," Ms Campbell said. "For over 400 children, it provides an outlet of healthy activity and training under good leadership in a community atmosphere. I would like to applaud the many volunteers who give up their time to oversee games and participate in league activities.

"Their involvement is helping these young baseball players grow into healthier and happier adults."