Goldendale Little League

Tayler Bradley For The Sentinel

It may seem a little early, but Goldendale Little League is getting the ball rolling, so that when it comes time for the kids to hit the field, everything is ready to go. If your child is interested in playing baseball this spring, be sure to keep reading for all of the important information.

Goldendale’s Little League is run by a board of volunteers who put together the entire season from start to fi nish. Their job includes fi nding coaches, providing equipment, placing players on teams, scheduling games, and more. These volunteers work together every year to make sure things run smoothly and the kids have the best season they can.

Registration papers are available for pickup and drop-off at McCredy’s here in town. They are due back by Saturday, February 18.

There are teams for ages 4 to 12, and both boys and girls are welcome to play. There is also a $75 registration fee per player. This money goes to replacing gear, Little League charter costs, insurance, and players’ uniforms.

Once the board has received all of the registrations, they sort out age groups and begin making teams. Last year, about 160 kids joined in on the fun. The younger ages playing t-ball and coaching pitch teams will be placed on teams based on the number of kids who sign up. The minor and major league players will have tryouts in early March, so the board and coaches can get a look at their skills. After tryouts, the board will place kids on the teams as evenly as possible based on their skill level. Once the teams are created, the coaches will hold team meetings with the parents to go over the upcoming season. All the coaches are volunteers and do a wonderful job of teaching the kids how to play the game. The teams will get together and have some time to practice and go over fundamentals. Then, around the fi rst week of April, games will begin. The younger ages will play 6 to 8 games, while the older kids will play 10 to 12 games. Baseball is a great sport for these kids. It keeps them outside and active while learning valuable skills. President of the board, Laurie Lyon, tells us just what this organization provides for these growing athletes.

“Goldendale Little League is founded around three basic ideas: integrity, commitment, and encouragement,” she says. “They learn to work as a team through wins and losses, encouraging the other players, and having fun.”

Goldendale is lucky to have such remarkable people willing to give their time to the kids who want to come out and play.