Thursday, January 23, 2014

Little League Changes Coming

If you have ever watched ESPN when they televised  the Regional Little League finals and you wished that someday just maybe Rocky Mount could be in that game or even better go to Williamsport PA for the Little League World Series?  If you have  had that dream it could come true.

The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation has applied to the Little League International  to become part of that organization.  It seems according to Lynn Driver of RM Parks Rec that the city is fairly certain that their application is being accepted and if it does they will be assigned to NC District 6 which covers most of eastern North Carolina from Durham and Wilmington.  This would put Rocky Mount in the same district as Wilson, Garner, Clayton, Fayetteville and Wilmington.

Rocky Mount has applied for Nash and Edgecome County to be their playing district and that would mean any player in the RM little league program  that lives in either county would be eligible to play in the playoffs if they make the all star teams as has been the procedure in the past.  It is hoped that Rocky Mount will continue  to have two teams as they have had in the past.

The age group will be from 7-12  years old much like The Tar Heel association was.  There are too many benefits as why  this change is good for Rocky Mount to talk about all of them here today.  The biggest advantage is the chance to possibly make it to the LL World Series which has been in existence for more than 75 years and 2.6 million children take part every year.  Little League International offers liability and accident insurance to all players and coaches. LL International offers umpire clinics and even  education videos for parents making sure baseball is a fun experience for the parents and their children.

Rocky Mount Parks And Rec has won several State and District Championships over the last 25 years while participating in the Tar Heel program.  If you want to compare this, this is like jumping from Division 2 football to D1.  This is moving up to the big time.  I would suspect there will be a feeling out process over a couple of years and success might take a while.

I think Rocky Mount Rec has gone about as far as they can go with Tar Heel as many  championship they have one.  There are so many advantages that makes  this is a great move.  There is a possibility that Rocky Mount could host District, state and even Regional.  Wouldn't it be great that one day ESPN would  here covering the Regional finals.  That would never happen if RM Parks and Rec stayed in The Tar Heel Association.

How soon before the little league season starts ?  The entire month of February you can go on line and register your child for the 2014 baseball spring season.  Go to www.rockymountnc.gov/parks
It's time to play ball!.

No comments: