Play Ball! Newtown Edgmont Little League Announces Exciting News

Our Community feature by Sheila Turner-Hilliard

Photos courtesy of Daren Grande

Oh, how the sweet sounds of spring fill the air! Birds are chirping, kids are playing and bats are cracking over at Newtown Edgmont Little League (NELL). Baseball season is officially here!

Boys and girls from all over town have been eager to return to the fields. It’s been a long winter of waiting, and players and families alike have come back to the place they call their second home. NELL is truly a special spot where kids ages 4 through 12, of all playing abilities, learn to develop their love of the game. From Tee Ball to competitive tournament teams, NELL offers an ideal environment for players to excel and for families to enjoy their time at the fields.

Aside from the sheer excitement of returning to baseball, NELL Board President Daren Grande tells us that much more is in store.

We are undergoing a major and much-needed renovation this year,” Daren said. “We have a new snack bar and new bathrooms, and players will love the new dugouts and field improvements!

Such improvements include a complete overhaul of Field 1 with new fencing, scoreboard, backstop and renovations to the Peterson Building that sits behind home plate.

New Snack Bar

Daren shares more exciting news. “For the first time since 1996, NELL has been chosen to host the Pennsylvania State Tournament in 2023!” he said. “So, these renovations are happening at the perfect time.” The tournament, for 11- and 12-year-old players, will bring the top eight teams in the state to NELL. The winning team will then advance to the Mid-Atlantic region tournament where they will play for the opportunity to go to the Little League World Series.

Visitors who have come to NELL in the past have always been amazed by the complex, which offers a memorable experience for players and families. It’s an impressive layout of eight meticulously maintained fields, six outdoor batting cages, a 15,000 square foot indoor facility, a snack bar that rivals area restaurants, and plenty of on-site parking. It’s hard to believe it’s only going to get better!

Field 1 renovations

These exciting renovations come at a price of course. Because NELL is a volunteer-directed 501(c)(3), they rely heavily on volunteers and funding from the community. One of the fundraising initiatives this spring is NELL’s Green Picket Fence campaign: Families can purchase a personalized, engraved placard that will be affixed to the new composite fence surrounding Field 1. Daren, who has served as President for eight years, says that he is always amazed at the generosity of NELL families, but also of NELL’s corporate and private Sponsors as well as Township officials. For details about this fundraiser, visit www.NELLBaseball.com.

Many of the generous folks who volunteer and financially contribute to help ensure that NELL remains so special are those who have fond memories of their own time as a player. Passing the experience down to younger generations is simply saying Thank You for the memories!