By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Spring and summer leagues in the area are taking advantage of the beautiful weather we've been having and getting on the fields to practice for the up and coming seasons.
While baseball and softball don't get started for a few weeks still, the Optimist Soccer League gets under way this weekend.
The league, which is made up of children in the Niles-Buchanan area kindergarten through eighth grades, has 81 teams this year with approximately 1,200 students and over 140 adult volunteers coaches.
This year marks the 28th season for the league and will have more than 300 games this year. The league is the biggest in this immediate area.
Something that sets well with a lot of parents is the fact that the league doesn't promote winning.
Games are played at Plym Park, Ballard School, Eastside Park, and Hunter-Saathoff Park
In Buchanan games are played at the middle school fields, McCoy Creek Park and Ottawa School.
Opening games for April 9 are as follows:
Plym Park
Total Quality Development Services vs. Lesley and Mel Bookout 9 a.m. Coldwell Banker vs. Friends of the St. Joe River 10:30 a.m.
Creditors Service Bureau vs. AAA Straight Up Auction Service 12 p.m.
Wolverine Electrical Contracting vs. Express-1 1:30 p.m.
Niles Vision Clinic vs. M.A.A.C. Property Service 3 p.m.
American Tree Care vs. Modineer Company 4:30 p.m.
Ballard
Scott Stewart State Farm Insurance vs. South Bend Tribune 9 a.m.
Frosty Lawn Service vs. Elliot Law Office 10:30 a.m.
Niles City Fire Local 2317 vs. Jim's Lawn Care 12 p.m.
Dr. Joyce Jilek vs. Louanne Wesner Licensed Child Day Care 1:30 p.m.
Crowe Chizek and Company vs. The Inn at St. Mary's 3 p.m.
Wings, Etc. vs. First Response Disaster Restoration Specialist 4:30 p.m.
Eastside Park E
To Your Door Produce Delivery vs. Fisher Innovative Technology 9 a.m.
Unique Designs vs. Mock 1 Auto Store 10:30 a.m.
Open Arms Child Care vs. J. &J. Donley Associates 12 p.m.
Eastside Park W
Gallagher's Carpets vs. Reits Flea Market 9 a.m.
Tem-Pace vs. Kruger Plastic Products 10:30 a.m.
Selge Construction vs. Sheila Thomas Four Flags RE/Max Realty 12 p.m.
Hunter-Saathoff Park
Custom Craftsman vs. Midwest Energy Cooperative 9 a.m.
John's Galss vs. Camden T.V. &Appliance 10 a.m.
Cavanaugh Construction vs. Amerigreen 11 a.m.
AMS Mortgage Services vs. NCP Coatings 12 p.m.
Martin's Super Markets vs. Buchanan Feed Mill 1 p.m.
Niles Daily Star vs. United Federal Credit Union 2 p.m.
God's Green Earth vs. Buchanan Lions Club 3 p.m.
Buchanan Middle School W
Maxwell Family Keepsakes vs. Airway Oxygen 9 a.m.
Redbud Hardware vs. Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union 10:30 a.m.
McCarty Well Drilling vs. Donald Paul Stone 12 p.m.
Buchanan Feed Mill vs. Welsh &Sons Electric 1:30 p.m.
Buchanan Middle School E
Local # 172 Plumbers &Pipe Fitters vs. 9 a.m.
Joe Jilek State Farm Insurance vs. Weldy's Woodcutting &Woodheating 10:30 a.m.
The Pit Stop vs. Tyler Automotive 12 p.m.
BG Construction vs. Kryder Veterinary Clinic 1:30 p.m.
McCoy Park
Airway Oxygen vs. Soul Shaker 9 a.m.
Federal Mogul vs. A-1 Pest Control 10:30 a.m.
Mark Skene Modern Realty vs. Niles Haunted House Scream Park 12 p.m.
Harrington Orthodontics vs. Chemical Bank Shoreline 1:30 p.m.
Arbanas Worldwide vs. Instant Tax Service 3 p.m.
For more information on game times or for any questions regarding the league, contact the Niles-Buchanan YMCA at 683-1552.