Baseball league pitches handballs to elementary school classrooms throughout IUSD

Irvine Pony Baseball has stepped up to the plate with some bouncy gifts for IUSD’s elementary schools.

The youth league recently bought handballs – yes, the red rubber kind, only these ones are blue – for every classroom from kindergarten through grade six. The balls, valued at about $4,000, were happily received. Mike Filia, president of Irvine Pony Baseball -- he's pictured to the right along with local PTA representatives -- said his organization was inspired by other sports leagues that have donated equipment to IUSD classrooms in the past. "We have been fortunate enough to raise the funds for our program within our community,” Filia said, “and (we) felt it was appropriate to give back in the form of sports equipment to ease the burden on the school district, while helping the children remain active."