Little League Moves Forward After Merger

When the snow melts next year and the air is full of the pollen and the potential of spring, youth baseball in the city will be a little bit different.

Concord Little League has merged its two leagues – the American and National leagues – in to one large league for the city, without the north and south boundaries or the fierce competition that has historically occurred between the leagues.

In 2014, Little League celebrates 65 years in Concord, and organizers are hoping that both the anniversary and merger will make baseball as big as it has ever been in the city.

Bob Pothier, a long-time coach in the league and the president of the new combined leagues, said the interest in baseball had been dwindling in recent years, with both leagues trying to increase participation in youth baseball and the excitement that comes with playing the game. Both leagues had around 200 players for each last year. Board members from both organizations felt a merger would be in everyone’s best interest. Pothier said the leagues wouldn’t be going after the same sponsors competitively while also spreading around the volunteer effort to a larger board of 24 people, instead of two smaller boards.

“We’re not relying on a few people to do everything,” Pothier said. “There’s renewed excitement too, to bring the Little League experience to the kids. To do it together makes sense. It’s one of the few sports left where kids play with and against their friends.”

Mike Sartorelli said there were so many things for kids to do now that interest in baseball had waned a bit. At the same time, it seemed insane to everyone involved to have dual leagues when, by coming together, they could build more competition and fun into the experience, he said.

“As the numbers dwindle, it’s kinda of disheartening every year to say, ‘We’re only going to have four teams, we’re only going to have three teams,’ and people start thinking, ‘Is this dying?’ Well no, it’s not,” he said, “we just haven’t kept up with the times … I think it’s a real positive step.”

Sherry Didsbury Pratt, another volunteer, added that Little League was one of the only sports that didn’t turn people away for their inability to pay. The game is “all inclusive,” she said, which is why the league is always looking for sponsorships and donations.

“We have a lot of kids that just come down to play,” she said. “As a parent, I think we’re one of the better deals going around … it’s $80 to play … you get a hat and shirt to keep, all the equipment is provided to you … as a joint league, we can keep that going.”

Sartorelli said now that the merger had been completed, volunteers would be reaching out to others in the community to ensure that everything was covered, and that those children who wanted to play, had the opportunity to get involved.

The structure of the league will be similar to the two separate leagues with T-ball for 4- and 5-year-olds, Double A coach pitch for the 6- to 8-year-olds, and Triple A for 9- to 11-year-olds and Majors, for 9- to 12-year-olds, depending on the level of experience and “parental comfort.” They also have a challenger division for developmentally disabled and wheelchair players, for 8- to 20-year-olds. Some of the fields are ADA compliant and accessible.

Baseball, as most people know, has a storied history and in the city, there have been important people along the way who have helped the leagues. Two who have been connected to the leagues, James Ceriello, the founder of Little League in Concord in 1950, and F. Lee Herman, who was the first president of Concord National in 1953, will have divisions named in their honor with the combined league, according to organizers.

Organizers are still working on logistics for home and away fields as well as integrating other communities into the leagues. Bow, Hopkinton, Chichester, and other communities are now involved in Concord’s league. It will also be working with the New Hampshire Fishercats organization to promote baseball signups and cross-promote the efforts, and also allow the players to hang out with major players.

“It creates excitement,” Pothier said.

“It will create memories,” Sartorelli added.

The season next year will start with signups in the new year, with opening day in March, and the games finishing in June, with playoffs and all-stars in late June and early July. The leagues are hoping to match – if not exceed – last year’s participation.

“I think we’re good with 400,” said Joe Russell, the vice president of organization. “If we can increase that number, that would be even better.”

Russell added that the number of teams would be about the same as last year.

The organizers believed that the decision to merge would bring about a better experience for the children of the community, regardless of the level of involvement they have in the sport. Pratt noted that a number of people she has contacted about sponsorships were more than willing to help and recalled their own great experiences in the league, both with friends and competing against each other. The organizers added that this experience was something they wanted to return to others.

In the future, the group hopes to finish Martin Field, another potential baseball field off Iron Works Road, which still has not been completed.

Russell said the project was started a few years ago, with the organization taking out a loan to finish it. But the project had wetlands issues and other problems and was never completed. The organization has until June to finish it or go before the Planning Board for an extension.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone,” Russell said. 

For more information, visit the league's Facebook page.