Officers Aimee Duncan, center, and D.J. Reilly, at left, with Jenn Duncan, far right, conducted a Webutuck Little League organizational meeting Thursday, Feb. 9, at Amenia Town Hall. Photo by John Coston
Play Ball! Webutuck Little League sets opening day April 15
AMENIA — The Webutuck Little League board met Thursday, Feb. 9, to plan for the upcoming baseball season and set April 15 as opening day.
The meeting, held at the Amenia Town Hall, was attended by approximately 20 members of the league’s organization.
Plans call for opening day to be held in Amenia’s Beekman Park. The league had hoped to kick off the season with games at Eddie Collins Memorial Park, but President D.J. Reilly explained that the field in Millerton could not be ready in time.
“The field hasn’t been used in a few years and it needs work,” Reilly said.
Player registration for this season has started. To date, 29 players have been registered in the Tee Ball, Minor and Major enrollment categories.
Sign-up will remain open until March 9, but a late fee will be imposed after March 1.
Registration for players and volunteers can be found at leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1305306
The league plans to hold tryout and practice sessions in March.
Aimee Duncan, treasurer, made a plea for volunteers and for anyone interested in coaching.
The league also would like to start a practice softball team for girls.
League members at the meeting also discussed fund-raising ideas, including finding four or five business sponsorhips for teams and whether or not it would be feasible to hold a fundraising event such as a spaghetti dinner or car wash.
A new logo was approved that will be featured on player uniforms this year.
Duncan also discussed the need for the organization to plan for applying for grant funding. The Webutuck Little League received a grant from Dutchess County last year as part of the first group of awards under the county’s “Learn, Play, Create” program to be used for uniforms and equipment and to offset registration costs, among other items.
This year the Webutuck Little League has become affiliated with Little League Baseball, the international nonprofit organization that organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the world.
The next meeting is set for Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 178, 155 US-44 in Millerton.
