News and Announcements
ABILENE EASTERN
LITTLE LEAGUE & JUNIOR LEAGUE
CHALLENGER LEAGUE
"There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all."
- Lou Gehrig
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 5-21 , to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide.
MostTeams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players. Challenger games can be played as tee ball games, coach pitch, player pitch, or a combination of the three.
In a Challenger game, each player gets a chance to bat. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, or when a pre-determined number of runs have been scored, or when three outs are recorded. Each Challenger Division is ran different per league. Little League recommends that no score be kept during Challenger games. The Challenger players wear the same uniforms, shoulder patches and safety equipment as other Little League players.
Some of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field, but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.
Parents and teenagers are strongly encouraged to become involved in this uniquely-rewarding division of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, teenagers may become buddies, while parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
QC Times, June, 19, 2004
Eastern Little League and Junior League fields two teams and all games are played on Saturday Mornings at the Cal Young Park (former Key City Little League complex). The registration fee is $25.00 for each player.
Each player gets a chance at bat. The Challenger players wear the same uniforms and safety equipment as other Little League players.
One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.
The philosophy of the Little League Challenger Division is to provide the framework so that every Little League program may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in the community. Playing equipment, uniforms, official shoulder patches, umpires and any special event activities provided for existing divisions are to be available for the Little League Challenger participants as well.
Chartered by the United States Congress as and educational program, it is incumbent upon every league administration to provide the same organization structure as is offered the other Little League divisions, and to assimilate the Little League Challenger participants into the structure of the Little League program.
A key to a successful Little League Challenger Division is the careful selection of managers and coaches. Qualified adult leadership must reflect positive and constructive direction tempered with patience and understanding.
A wide range of abilities of Little League Challenger participants will necessitate variations in not only the rules, but in the philosophy of conventional baseball. Some flexibility to applicable rules and regulations is permitted in the Challenger Division to meet individual program needs.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LITTLE LEAGUE PLEDGE
The Little League Pledge was written by Peter J. McGovern, the late president of Little League Baseball, in 1954. It made its first apperance in February 1955 in "Little Leaguer" Magazine. Its text has remained unchanged in the more than half of a century since it was written. The Little League Pledge was drafted after Mr. McGovern became aware that local little leagues were reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before the start of their games. Mr. McGovern wanted to give all leagues (not just in the United States but Internationally) a pledge reflecting some of the sentiments of the United States' Pledge of Allegence, minus the references to the US itself, while adding the elements of sportsmanship and the desire to excel. The text of the Little League Pledge was sent to then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower on February 22, 1955. President Eisenhower (and every president since then) was a strong supporter of Little League Baseball. In a response by letter to Mr. McGovern a few days later, President Eisenhower said: " Thank you for sending me the inspiring and fine pledge that, I understand, will now be repeated at the start of Little League games. I am always glad to hear the plans and activities of Little League." When George W. Bush became president, he always recited this pledge at the start of the tee ball games on the South Lawn at the White House. President Bush recited this pledge at little league games in Midland, Texas in 1955. Today local little leagues sometimes choose to recite the pledge at the beginning of each game, while others choose to play and sing the National Anthem. This is up to each individual organazation within Little League Baseball.
This story was adapted from a story "Pledge" found on www.littleleague.org
