by
posted 01/16/2019
Everyone knows that we are Central Amherst Little League, but let's put a quick emphasis on the "Little League" part of our name.
What does it mean?
Well, it means that we are a charter member (since 1955) of Little League International, headquartered in Williamsport, PA. Little League is the largest and most trusted youth baseball organization in the world with 7,500 member leagues in more than 100 countries with nearly 3 million players.
Central Amherst Little League is one of 18 Little League-affiliated leagues in Western New York and one of more than a hundred across New York State.
(Other youth baseball organizations in Western New York are either affiliated with other parent organizations or are independent/unaffiliated.)
What do we get out of our Little League affiliation?
On a very practical level, we get rulebooks, guidance, and resources for our board of directors, coaches, and umpires—as well as lower group insurance rates and lower group purchasing rates on supplies. We also benefit from the residual marketing effect that comes from Little League's well-earned reputation as the most recognized and respected name in youth sports.
We're also chartered to offer Little League's Challenger League program, which provides adaptive baseball for kids and adults with physical and intellectual challenges.
In addition, we get an annual invitation to participate in the famed Little League Tournament. Our Central Amherst teams compete—as every Little League team across the world is invited to do—in the District Tournament, which is the first round of the tournament that you eventually see on TV. District winners advance to Sectional play, Sectional winners advance to State play, State winners advance to Regional play, and Regional winners advance to World Series play. In 2016, Central Amherst's 11-year-olds won the District and Sectional tournaments and advanced to the New York State Elite Eight. In 2017, our 10-year-olds and 11-year-olds both won District championships—and in 2018, we swept the Districts, winning titles at the age 8-10, 9-11, and 10-12 levels. Who knows how far we'll go in the future?!
Why does it matter?
More important than anything else, Little League stands for community. Each league is very intentionally community-based and relies on local volunteers to run the league and coach the kids. The kids go to school together in that community and are neighborhood friends. (And parents are often already friends or become friends during time spent at the ballpark!)
Little League leagues often partner with their local town and public school districts—as is the case with our wonderful association with the Town of Amherst and the Amherst and Williamsville Schools. Central Amherst also partners with CALL Mom Softball and the Amherst Senior Center on programming for adults.
In short, Little League promotes the "WE" over the "ME"—the importance of teamwork and respect and civic engagement—ideals that transcend baseball and provide great life lessons. As the Little League Pledge states: "I will play fair and strive to win, but win or lose, I will always do my best."
While some other teams and leagues feed into the hyper-competitive, high-cost, elite youth sports factory model with no particular community ties, Little League continues to provide a safe, affordable, family-oriented, community-based space for all to play. And that makes our neighborhood an even nicer place to live in!
We thank you and your family for being an important part of our community-based league!
