Little League leader to step down today

Local board members will choose a new president for the Belmont Heights program.

By SHERRI DAY
Published March 10, 2005

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TAMPA - The newly elected president of the Belmont Heights Little League said he would resign tonight at a meeting of the program's board of directors.

Community members chose Monty Bostick, 50, to lead the league Monday night. The election was supposed to end the long-running dispute over who should run the program. But as it turns out, Bostick is ineligible. He was convicted of felony child abuse in 1998, according to police records.

The official guidelines of Little League International prohibit participation by volunteers convicted of a crime against a minor.

Bostick, who said his crime was spanking his son, initially thought the rule applied only to convicted sex offenders. On Tuesday night, he pledged to withhold his resignation until he spoke with officials at league headquarters in Williamsport, Pa.

After talking with league officials Wednesday afternoon, Bostick said they confirmed that he cannot run or participate in the local league.

"Me not being president is not the thing," Bostick said. "As long as the kids can have the park and they can still play baseball, it's nothing."

Bostick was one of 13 volunteers the community chose to serve on the league's board. Little League officials suspended Belmont Heights' charter in January, pending an election. The league's charter committee meets today and likely will reinstate Belmont Heights' charter, officials said.

The remaining local board members will vote among themselves and choose a new president, league officials said. They may appoint someone to fill the slot or wait until the league's next annual election.

Sherri Day can be reached at 813 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com