Rays to provide uniforms for area youth baseball leagues

ST. PETERSBURG -- For the second straight year, the Rays will provide jerseys and caps to more than 5,500 T-ball players and coaches in the Tampa Bay area.

The Rays will launch the program on Feb. 7-8 by handing out the uniforms and conducting clinics for both players and coaches.

New Rays manager Kevin Cash, who played for Tampa's Northside Little League team in the 1989 Little League World Series, will speak to the coaches on Feb. 7. Rays reliever Grant Balfour and starter Jake Odorizzi will help conduct clinics for the Little League players on Feb. 8.

The Rays will provide jerseys and caps for more than 50 Little Leagues in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Charlotte, Manatee, Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties.

According to the participating leagues, the total savings from the project are estimated at approximately $115,000 -- funds they can put toward repairing their scoreboards and other facilities, upgrading their dugouts, adding fencing to their fields and purchasing new equipment and grounds crew supplies.

The uniforms, created by Majestic Athletic, include 18 variations of Rays colors and styles.