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Date: 1/20/2022
LONGMEADOW – It just got easier for kids to play baseball with their friends in Longmeadow.
Two separate youth baseball organizations, Longmeadow Little League and the Longmeadow Baseball Association (LBA), have merged under the former’s name.
“Forming a single league will allow us to continue to achieve our most important goal, which is providing maximum opportunity for young baseball players to learn, develop skills, make friendships and enjoy these great sports in the spring, summer and fall seasons,” Mike Dunnirvine, president of Longmeadow Little League, said in a statement.
Eric Hunter, a Longmeadow Little League board member, explained the LBA broke off from the Longmeadow Little League about 20 years ago. Hunter said the organizations had developed different perspectives on the youth sport. That has changed.
The “biggest” reason the two leagues have rejoined, “is a mutual vision from both groups,” Hunter told Reminder Publishing.
Competition
Until now, kids who wanted to play baseball would have to choose between the two leagues. “Now, kids can play with all their friends,” Hunter said.
In addition to playing with friends, participants also have more options to advance. Those who played under the LBA did not have a chance to go to the Little League World Series. Now, all Longmeadow youth baseball players will have a chance to earn a spot at the national competition.
“It also makes us even more competitive at the higher levels, by bringing together our best players into a single program,” Dunnirvine stated.
Dan Sullivan, president of LBA, agreed. “Instead of competing for players, resources, time and field space, our program will now be working toward common goals,” he said.
In addition to bringing players together, the leagues will no longer be vying against each other for financial resources. The two organizations source their funding through registration fees and corporate sponsorships. By joining together, the Longmeadow Little League can use all the funding toward a single purpose.
The League
The Longmeadow Little League will run two spring sessions and two fall sessions. This spring will be the first season since the merger.
There are seven age groups, from tee-ball for 5- and 6-year-olds to the senior division for teens ages 13 to 15. There are 12 to 16 games per age group each season. The best players of the spring season then try out for the summer All-Star Tournament. Teams that win the tournament go on to the sectional championship, where they play against teams from central Massachusetts.
Longmeadow Little League has partnered with East Longmeadow’s Complex Sports (PLEX Baseball) training facility. The goal is to allow Longmeadow players to join a tournament travel team with more advanced players. Evaluations for interested players will be on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. More information is available at https://www.complexsportsacademy.com/registration/longmeadow-plex-baseball-select-team/12u-tryouts.
In the end, Hunter said, the merger creates a “best-in-class” baseball organization for the youth of Longmeadow.
Registration is open for all youth baseball players. Volunteer coaches can also register. To learn more about Longmeadow Little League, visit https://www.longmeadowlittleleague.org. For info about sponsorships, please email benjamincraft@gmail.com.