MI Little League to begin next spring
Published 5:43 pm Monday, November 24, 2008
By Ruth Longoria
Spring training may be months away but excitement is filling the air as Little League baseball gets set to come to Mercer Island. Plans are underway for a competitive league for 5- to 12-year-olds, which will be run through the Island’s Boys & Girls Club and the Little League Baseball organization. Opening day March 25, but baseball enthusiasts are making their pitch now, beginning with an informational parent and volunteer meeting Sunday at the Island Boys & Girls Club.
The Little League Baseball organization is the oldest and largest youth baseball program in the nation. Around the world, more than 3 million young people are involved in Little League, which offers children of all skill levels a chance to learn more about the sport as they play in travel and local levels of competition. Although many Little Leaguers are content to play locally their team’s few dozens games a year, and most of the young people never reach the All Star level that takes them to the final Little League World Series competition in Williamsport, Penn., there’s a dream to be had for Island baseball fanatics, said Todd Bale, executive director of the Island Boys & Girls Club.
“The chase of the dream is the fun part,” Bale said. “But it’s not all about winning. There’s great synergy with Little League and the Boys & Girls Club in terms of sportsmanship and teamwork.”
Having an Island Little League is expected to fill a void in youth sports. “This will be an opportunity for kids to play baseball and softball without leaving the Island to join a team,” said Brian Emanuels, the acting Island Little League president. Although Island Baseball Club is available for youths 13 years old and older, there really hasn’t been a competitive program for younger children anxious to become the next Ichiro or Felix Hernandez.
Previously, some Islanders took their kids to Bellevue to join Thunderbird Little League or that city’s pony league, Emanuels said. “But, there’s too many kids wanting to join Little League in Bellevue already,” he added. “Having our own league should stem the flow and make it possible in the next few years that all Island kids who want to play can play here on the Island.”
The team also could become a training ground for future high school ballplayers, said Doug Williams, head coach of the Mercer Island High School baseball team. Williams plans to make himself and his players available to teach workshops and clinics as needed.
“I’m all for this,” Williams said. “Anything to promote baseball and give kids an opportunity to play on the Island.”
Mercer Island Little League meeting
An informational meeting for parents and volunteers for Mercer Island Little League is set for 4 p.m., Sunday, at the Boys & Girls Club gymnasium, 2825 West Mercer Way. The meeting also will help to establish a League board.
Online Little League registration begins Dec. 5 at www.mipositiveplace.org. For more information, call Donna Eken at 232-4548 ext. 103.
