Ray Simpson is in his first year as commissioner of the Lions Club Dixie Boys 13-14 league, but his involvement in baseball goes back to his youth.

&uot;Back when we were growing up, my father owned a vacant lot,&uot; Simpson said. &uot;About 15 of the neighborhood kids and I played baseball and football.&uot;

Simpson played baseball from five years old through his sophomore year at Adams County Christian School. He opted to run track his junior and senior years at ACCS.

His wife, Kitty, graduated from ACCS in 1974, and their daughter, Jessica, 17, is currently a member of the ACCS Rebelette Dance Team.

Simpson coached all four programs in Dixie Youth baseball, T-Ball, Coach-Pitch, 9-10, and 11-12 for eight years and coached his son, Ray Jr., 14, every one of those years.

Simpson takes over for the baseball committee of the Natchez Lions Club who ran the league last year.

&uot;And the rest is history,&uot; Simpson said. &uot;My son plays in this league as a 14-year-old this year and played as a 13-year-old last year.&uot;

When Simpson became commissioner, he undertook three projects (1) start a board so he wouldn’t be at the ball field every day; (2) start a draft to get the best players possible; and (3) get the best umpires he could get.

Also as commissioner, Simpson makes sure the day-to-day operations go smoothly and that there’s an umpire crew is on hand for every game.

The results and growth of the league have been tremendous.

Case and point, in 1999 there were 49 kids and five teams and in 2000 there are 77 kids and seven teams.

There have been numerous improvements on and around the field, some of which he had help from Ralph Tedder of the Natchez Recreation Department.

&uot;We have new dugouts, a new batting cage and a new concession stand,&uot; Simpson said. &uot;We’ve also had a couple of coaches who wanted a Green Monster built in center field. It’s a pitcher’s backdrop.&uot;

Simspon acknowledged Clarence Bowlin, who was the Natchez Dixie Youth commissioner for over 40 years.

&uot;My experience with Clarence has taught me two things: if you do what’s right in your heart, everything will be OK and treat all kids the same, whether he’s an all-star or making his first plate appearance.&uot;

Simpson said that in a couple of years the league will face its biggest concern yet the Natchez Trace Parkway.

He said the Trace will cross Liberty Road near the railroad tracks and the turning lanes will go through the baseball field, which means the teams will no longer be able to play at its current location.

&uot;Hopefully, the new mayor … will help get the new (St. Catherine Village) Sports Complex built. There are couple of Dixie Boys-size fields as well as a college and pro-size field (in the plan). But if not, then we won’t have anywhere to play.&uot;

Which could mean that future 13 and 14-year-olds will somehow have to find another way to prepare for high school baseball.