Volunteers for the East Butler Baseball Association help build a 15-foot-high wall around the association's field. The wall is being built in three phases. Field maintenance accounts for a significant part of the costs required to keep a baseball league running.

What does it cost to play youth baseball?

It depends on whether the cost is for one player or for an entire league.

For example, the average cost per player in a youth baseball league is $150. But this means a league with 200 players would spend, on average, more than $30,000 a year for annual expenses.

According to Dess Schnur of the East Butler BaseballAssociation, the costs for a league are:

• $11,000 for equipment such as uniforms, baseballs, bases, home plate, catcher's equipment, helmets

• $350 for paperwork such as registration, insurance papers, announcements

• $2,500 for awards and trophies

• $9,500 to pay umpires, who get $18 per game in the younger leagues and $70 per game in the older leagues

• $3,000 for field maintenance for items such as marker lime, weed and seed, grass, infield mix and soil conditioner

• $20,000 for concessions that include food, drink, plates, napkins, etc.

• $1,100 for garbage and sewage

• $900 per month for water and electric utilities

• $3,000 for insurance

• $500 for first aid equipment

Schnur said registration fees cover only one-third of the funds to support a league. The remainder comes from team sponsors, fundraisers, concessions and donations.

He also said these items do not include special costs, such as new bleachers or the addition of lights, and any unforeseeable repairs that would be necessary.