KERRISDALE LITTLE LEAGUE

The crack of the baseball bat and exuberant cheers coming from Elm Park is a true sign that spring has arrived. Like clockwork, Kerrisdale Little Leaguers (KLL) make their annual return to the baseball diamond from April through mid-June. Kerrisdale Little League has been a part of the community for 70 years and they are preparing to celebrate this milestone anniversary – but more on that later!

Graham Collings is KLL’s president. He played with the league 30 years ago and treasures his memories and friendships. As a father, he is experiencing the enjoyment of watching and coaching his kids play. Like Graham, many families have these generational connections to KLL.

Graham says, “It’s so rewarding to watch my kids build similar friendships, memories and skills. For many years my father coached my teams as well as my brother's teams, and I am continuing that Kerrisdale tradition. In addition to on-field involvement, being a part of the great KLL volunteer board has fulfilled me by giving back to my community. It’s wonderful to see the joy on kids’ faces as they practice and play games outside while getting exercise and building those friendships.”

He also feels fulfilled by helping to foster community. Graham enjoys seeing Kerrisdale parents and families meet each other, share conversations and BBQs. Some choose to enjoy the sun on the side of the field, while others contribute their time as volunteer coaches and managers.

There has been a big jump in early registrations for the upcoming season; children from ages 4 to 12 are welcome to join. The spring season officially begins on April 3 and ends on June 18. Kids may also apply to join the All Stars and Selects which are post-season tournaments teams that play into July and sometimes August. KLL is also providing off-season development opportunities for those who are interested in developing their skills.

Kerrisdale’s parks are put to good use during baseball season. The older 11/12s in the Majors division play primarily at Elm Park with some games held at Kerrisdale Park. The 9/10s in the Minors division play at Quilchena Park and Kerrisdale Park. The 7/8s Rookie division play at Quilchena Park, Maple Grove Park and Kerrisdale Park. The 5/6s T-Ball and 4/5s Blastball divisions play at Maple Grove Park.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of support from the Kerrisdale community and the Kerrisdale Business Association as well as many volunteers that support the league. Of course, we could always use more help and we welcome any families that want to get more involved.”

Graham comments, “There has been increasing competition for kids’ activities over the years and we are believers in multi-sport involvement. Baseball continues to offer numerous team and individual development opportunities for kids. It is a wonderful graduated system that is hyper-local at scale, offering children and families the opportunity to connect with the Kerrisdale community.”

Tournaments are always an exciting part of the season. This year, KLL is hosting the District Tournament for 9/10s. KLL is part of District 1 that includes Dunbar, Jericho, and Little Mountain; they will come together for this funfilled two-week event from late June through early July.

Although many areas of our lives have been impacted by the pandemic, KLL’s 2021 season proceeded with health and safety protocols in place for both the children and their parents. The league’s safety protocols were developed under Baseball BC and viaSport’s Return to Play Guidelines under the PHO and CDC orders. Graham says, “We are continuing to develop league programming within these guidelines to ensure a successful and safe 2022 season.”

Kerrisdale Little League is a volunteer-run organization. Although a set number of volunteer hours is not required, they ask that every family do their part and lend support so that all the children can play baseball.

“There are numerous opportunities to get involved either through Team- Based Roles or League-Wide Roles where community members can volunteer a little or a lot with all these roles outlined on our website. We have a variety of different roles available, and we encourage everyone to sign up,” says Graham.

KLL is extremely grateful for local support through gracious donations and repeat sponsors. There are many ways to connect, support and be a part of the organization. Team sponsorships on uniforms or direct donations are wonderful ways to support KLL. If you are interested, connect directly with Graham or the KLL sponsorship coordinator (contact information is found on their website). The league is also planning to launch a multi-year capital upgrade plan shortly that will further support its community amenities.

Graham comments, “Our anniversary is such an exciting time for the kids and families in the community. It also gives us an opportunity to thank our sponsors for their support. We are gathering stories from KLL alumni from the last 70 years. We would love to hear about their experiences and any special memories they would like to share. Stories can be submitted to alumni@kerrisdalebaseball.com.”

He adds, “Involvement in our community is a pillar of what makes Kerrisdale great. We are growing and you can be a part of it. Baseball is one of the most affordable sports on a per session basis out there. Your children will foster some of their favourite memories through their connections to the sport of baseball and their new friends.”

Additional information about KLL registration, sponsorships, volunteer opportunities and becoming a donor can be found on their website: www.kerrisdalebaseball.com