West Hollywood is participating in the nation’s favorite pastime with the Play Ball initiative. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) declared August to be Play Ball Month. Mayors and cities throughout the nation are engaging community members in events that generate enthusiasm and broad participation for the game of baseball and baseball-related activities.

The West Hollywood City Council, at its regular meeting on Monday, presented a Proclamation for Play Ball Month to retired baseball player Dennis Powell, who started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1983 to 1987 and then played with the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

“The sport of baseball is teaching our youth valuable life lessons of teamwork, perseverance, leadership and sportsmanship and provides a proud sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself,” the proclamation said.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m., city council members will team up with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and the Los Angeles Fire Department for a Home Run Derby — a friendly competition with softball bats and whiffle balls. The event will be at Plummer Park’s Vista Lawn, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. Adults, families, and kids of all ages are welcome to participate; the event is free. There will be hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack. There will be pitch, hit, and run skill stations. The event will be followed by a movie-in-the-park screening of The Perfect Game.

MLB and the USCM launched the Play Ball initiative on June 20. For more information, visit www.usmayors.org/playball.