Four County Little League

April President's Message

2014-03-30T16:29:00.001-04:00

Character, Courage & Loyalty

This month I'd like to talk about LOYALTY. One of the three pillars of Little League, the virtue of LOYALTY can be a great life lesson for all of us. LOYALTY is defined as the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations. Isn't that what we want our kids to learn is finish what we started.

In 2014, we want to recognize those LOYAL players who have played with our league from year to year faithfully. The board of directors recently met and agreed on several new awards to be awarded to some of our most faithful players. We call it the "Complete Game Award". In Little League, a complete game is 6 innings. In professional baseball a complete game is 9 innings. The two tiered award represents a players who has completed both 6 years with FCLL and 9 years with FCLL. That players next year with the league the award will be given to the player. Have you been LOYAL to the league? Then in 2014 be ready for your name to be called at opening day.

We are attempting to compile an accurate list of players who have played with the league for over 6 years. If you have not filled out the form, please click here and complete the longevity survey.

Our hope is that by awarding these "Complete Game Awards" others will be inspired to also be LOYAL to the league and strive to get their longevity award.

If you have any questions about the program, let me know.

Jim Gill
President
Four County LL

February President's Message

2014-01-30T16:39:00.002-05:00

Hi Folks,

Though it is winter and we find ourselves in the icy grips of a Polar Vortex with snow on the ground, the league's volunteers and board of directors are hard at work on the 2014 spring season. Opening day will be here before we know it...

As you have read in past newsletters or seen on our Facebook page, there has been many great change and improvement happening with Four County Little League.. Since we are turning TWENTY YEARS OLD in 2014, we have been dedicating a lot of time and resources strengthening the support of our mission statement to inspiring a stronger community through Little League baseball.

And because of FCLL's commitment to our community, we are proud to announce that our board of directors has created an annual scholarship prize that will be awarded annually to a player who exemplifies our league's support of the community, and the Little League International core values of Courage, Character, and Loyalty. The winner will be chosen by the league's scholarship committee, with the prize award intended to help fund former player's future higher academic endeavors.

Additionally, we are putting plans in place to honor and celebrate other players and volunteers who represent the best of FCLL Pride - Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Coach of the Year, etc. We are excited at the chance to reward the kids and folks in our community who are the best at what they do.

Stay tuned for more details on all of these new awards and other details that are set to make 2014 and EPIC season for Four County baseball!

Now, about that snow...

January 2014 President's Message

2013-12-30T19:46:00.001-05:00

As we begin the new year and our 20th season of Little League baseball in the Four Counties area, I wanted to bring you up to date on some exciting new initiatives and programs for 2014. As you know, the membership met in October and ratified our mission statement. It reads:

Four County Little League is committed to sustaining a culture in which coaches, parents, fans, umpires, and athletes work together to aspire to be an outstanding educational-athletic, community-based organization by upholding the virtues of character, courage, loyalty & community. Our program is designed to develop superior citizens for a stronger community through the great sport of baseball.

Building on our mission, the board has been talking about adding new and exciting awards for 2014. These awards are designed to promote, not only our best players, but the players who represent PCA and Little League. What I mean to say is, you don't have to be the most talented player to win one of these awards. One award we are especially excited about is our longevity award. We have yet to name the award, but the thought it to recognize players who have continuously played for the league. Nothing is set in stone as of yet, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak of these awards.

One other program we are going to try to get off the ground is a player/coach program which will partner older players with younger teams to help mentor and motivate the younger players. Much like our Junior Umpire Program, we are looking to provide opportunities for older players to get involved in Four County in other ways other than as a player.

Starting in 2014, Managers and Coaches will be required to complete a positive Coaching Alliance training as well as concussion training. The training will be good for several years, but the bottom line is, Four County Coaches all will be on the same page when it comes to our general philosophy of coaching.

As stated many times, our mission is to help our kids and our community. Four County will continuously strive to provide a great baseball experience and opportunities for community involvement. Our programs and initiatives are a small example of what we are doing to improve our program. If you know anyone interested in playing with Four County Little League, please don't hesitate to pass this on to them. The idea is to spread the good news of our mission and our commitment to our kids and community. Involving more families will not only make it easier to fulfill our mission, but will make us a strong and vibrant organization.

If you have any questions about any of the above information, don't hesitate to email me at president@fcllbaseball.org.

Jim Gill

President

Four County LL

December President's Message

2013-11-29T10:40:00.001-05:00

In 2014, Little League is celebrating 75 years of Little League Baseball. It is an exciting time for both Little League International and Four County Little League. Our league has been working behind the scenes to reevaluate, retool and ensure that we are continuing to represent Little League International properly. If you look back at the beginning of Little League in 1938 when Carl E. Stotz came up with the idea for organized youth baseball, you will find that even after 75 years Little League has stood the test of time. There is a reason that the organization has been so successful for so long. Its emphasis on community and volunteers make it a great social activity not only for the children playing, but also the adults and parents who are watching games, coaching teams and dedicating their time to enhancing the Little League experience. From a cost aspect, Little League strives to keep the fees associated with being an official Little League low. Through decades of research, our safety measures to protect our children on-field and off are unparalleled. The core values of leadership, citizenship, sportsmanship and teamwork are invaluable for our children, while enhancing the fabric of our community. Four County Little League is proud to be a Charter member of Little League and to represent the organization here in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

As President, I felt it was important to take a step back and look at our program and review our core values on the local level. A few key members got together to talk about what we thought was important at our local Little League. We then brought our thoughts to the most recent Annual Meeting. At the meeting, the general membership solidified our mission statement.

Four County Little League is committed to sustaining a culture in which coaches, parents, fans, umpires, and athletes work together as we aspire to be an outstanding educational-athletic, community-based organization by upholding the virtues of character, courage, loyalty & community. Our program is designed to develop superior citizens for a stronger community through the great sport of baseball.

Part of evaluate the league, we felt it was time for a new website. By now, you may have seen the new website. On the site, you will find a section on Four County history. As I was doing research for the history of the league, I discovered Four County has also stayed true to its core values over the past 20 years. I spoke to the founder of the league, Vincent "Skip" Rusbosin, and he told me he started the league because he saw things happening in other organizations that he did not feel was right. He saw the same players sitting on the bench, he saw coaches acting inappropriately and the organization was very loosely operated. He felt there was a better way. He reached out to Little League and chartered the first Little League in the Four Counties in 1994. Since then the league has continued the tradition of being a family oriented, community based organization. We do indeed stand for and always have stood for Character, Courage, Loyalty & Community.

So, where do we go from here? Well, we are headed in the right direction with our 2014 Board of Directors. We have great volunteers who are willing to go the extra mile to make Four County the best it can be. Our families are sure to have a great season. But the one thing you can do is recruit new families. Get the word out. Talk to the folks on your block and in your neighborhood. Today, parents have so many choices when it comes to youth sports. They even have choices for baseball. Some would have us believe that "Travel" baseball or "Select" baseball is the key to a great future. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some Travel/Select teams are full of coaches and players who have defected from their home town leagues. The minute they are not happy with a season, team or game, they leave. It happens every year. If you don't believe me, read this article (Put the Breaks on Travel Ball) published recently, this article entitled Elite or Bust Mentality not good for players or this article by Steven Keener (Too much baseball is not a good thing). Little League is community and the community is Little League. We have what our kids need and the more families we have involved in the mission, the better. Spread the word about our mission and our upcoming season.

A reinforced vision (November President's Message)

2013-11-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

creating superior citizens

I can't tell you how excited I am about the future of Four County LL. Over the past few months, we have seen new energy with energetic and enthusiastic volunteers. As your re-elected President, I am tasked with guiding this great organization to new heights and with these new enthusiastic volunteers, I have never been more excited about the outlook of our Little League. With that said, I have met with many of these new volunteers and we solidified a new mission statement which was proposed and accepted at the Annual meeting held in October. The new mission reads:

Four County Little League is committed to creating a culture in which coaches, parents, fans, umpires and athletes work together as we aspire to be an outstanding educational-athletic, community-based organization by upholding the virtues of character, courage, loyalty & community. Our program is designed to develop superior citizens for a stronger community through the great sport of baseball.

So with a new mission in hand, we move forward with the planning of the 2014 season. I want every member to know we are committed to "developing superior citizens for a stronger community..." and decisions we make in the future will have this mission at the heart of the decision making process. We are looking a some changes to accommodate this new mission. I can't tell you about any of these changes because they have not been approved by the board. This is why I invite you to come to the next Board of Directors meeting to get the inside scoop. I also invite anyone interested in being part of this new movement to volunteer where you can. We have directors positions, committee chairs and other volunteer positions so please don't hesitate to ask how you can help.

Superior citizens & superior athletes

I look forward to working with this great group and hope that you are part of it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me (president@fcllbaseball.org).

Jim Gill

President
Four County LL

September President's message

2013-09-03T14:53:00.000-04:00

This month I thought I would reflect and talk a bit about "Why Little League"?

To understand Little League is to appreciate why Little League is a cornerstone of

different and diverse communities throughout the world.

Parents believe in Little League because they expect a fair opportunity for their child to play baseball or softball and have fun with friends.

The mission of the Little League program is not to develop exceptional ball players. In the guise of the game, the essence of Little League teaches children how to accept success and deal with failure, while learning about sportsmanship, competition and accountability.

Moms and dads can look to Little League as a vehicle to expose their children to new experiences, and allow them to build a broad foundation with compassion and respect
for others as its cornerstones.

Little League would not be the largest youth sports organization in the world without
parents trusting the ideals of Little League and themselves being willing to contribute as
volunteers.

Whether supporting your child by getting him or her to practice and games, or
volunteering as a coach, umpire, board member, or in other volunteer capacity, parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends give of themselves and lead by example.
This is a call to action, and one that will serve your children now, while preparing them
for the challenges that lie ahead of them as they live their lives.

Remember, Little League is about perspective, not wins and losses, because today’s
Little Leaguers are tomorrow’s leaders.

Jim Gill
President
Four County LL

August President's Message

2013-07-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

Four County LL has been busy since the end of the regular season. Some folks don't realize, but we have events through the summer and the entire year. For this months President's message, I thought I would highlight some "goings ons".

The Majors Orioles competed in the 2013 Maryland District 2 Tournament of Champions.
The 10/11 All Star team competed in Little League International Tournament and finished 3rd in District 2.
Our very first Intermediate Division Team earned the District 2 Title and went on to compete in the inaugural Maryland State Intermediate Tournament. The team finished 2nd in the state.
The league hosted the aforementioned Maryland State Tournament at Summit Ridge and by all accounts it was a huge success. We heard nothing by compliments from the teams involved.
The 11/12 team competed in the Little League International Tournament.
The Minors All Star Team competed in the 2nd Annual Frederick American LL Minors tournament and finished 3rd.
The league had a "Night at the Key's" where they were recognized for attending.
The league participated in the Mt. Airy Fireman's Carnival Dunk Tank. The league operated the booth and got some great exposure.
The league participated in the Mt. Airy Fireman's parade and took 2nd place for "Best appearing float".

So as you can see, we have been very busy this summer. The fall will be no less busy. We will have a full schedule of games as well as the annual meeting and elections. Finally, we will participate in the Mt. Airy Fall Festival the first weekend in October. If you want to stay up to date with everything going on, log on to our website at www.fcllbaseball.org.

June President's Message

2013-05-30T18:02:00.002-04:00

I love these pictures. They say it all. I know I have said this before, but I will say it again, Four County Little League is about everyone in the family getting involved. Moms and Dads, don't hesitate to ask how you can help. Volunteer umpires is a big part of our organization. We need more of them. It is never too late to get involved. If you want to help out, just ask. We would love to show you how to umpire. Remember, you don't have to be perfect. And don't forget, the best place to watch the game is on the field. If you have any questions about umpiring, let me know.

June 2013 PCA Player of the Month

2013-05-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

Four County Little League is a Positive Coaching Alliance League. Our Coaches are Double Goal Coaches and our parents are Second Goal Parents. Our players are Triple Impact Competitors. Each month, we will highlight a few of our Triple Impact Competitors.

The Triple Impact Competitor has three main facets:

Personal Mastery: Making oneself better

Leadership: Making one's teammates better

Honoring the Game: Making the game better.

Each month we recognize players who live up to these three points. The coaches and managers nominate the player and then two are chosen.

This month we have one winner:

Jeremiah (Levi) Johnson

I have never seen a player more positive. I have seen him on and off the field. He cheers for his teammates and also cheers for the opposing team. As an adult, you expect a child to be polite, by Levi is VERY polite. He usually says "Yes Sir" and "Yes ma'am". He is a leader on his team and tries to keep their spirits up when they are down. He Honors the game with Respect for the rules, officials, opponents, his team and himself. He is truly a class act and other kids should look to him as a model of how to act not only as a ball player, but as a good person. Keep up the good work Levi. Submitted by Anonymous

PCA Player(s) of the Month (May 2013)

2013-05-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

The Triple Impact Competitor has three main facets:

Personal Mastery: Making oneself better

Leadership: Making one's teammates better

Honoring the Game: Making the game better.

Each month we recognize players who live up to these three points. The coaches and managers nominate the player and then two are chosen.

This month we have several winners.

Colin Gregowich

Colin is focused, supportive of his teammates, and opponents. He shows total respect for the umpire crews and the coaches from both his and the opponents team. Colin has 100% dedication and shows unwavering support for the team and individuals. Great Kid and perfect example of a FCLL PCA Player! Submitted by Coach Jason Love.

Paul Wells

this young man displays all the attributes you want to see in a ballplayer or a student. never gives up, takes the good with the bad with the same smile on his face, he is a pleasure to coach and I'm proud he's on the Spartans. Submitted by Coach Brian Johnson.

Trevor Zior

Trevor has proven to be a natural leader on the field as a defensive player, or when at bat. He is a great catcher, and often takes time in between pitches to encourage the pitcher to slow or calm down if things are getting off track. He is also frequently the first one in the infield to shout the number of outs and where the play is after a play has completed.

When at bat, he often leads the rest of the dugout in cheering for the team member at bat and is a big believer in that the Orioles only succeed as a team. Submitted by Coach Don Poorman.

May President's Message

2013-05-01T08:23:00.002-04:00

Usually, my President's Message is inspirational in some way and designed to help our parents, coaches and players be the best they can be. This month, I am reserving my space for a huge announcement It is with great pleasure that I bring you the following news.

The 2013, inaugural season, Intermediate Division Maryland State Tournament has been awarded to District 2 (Four County Little League) and will be held at Summit Ridge Park.

This is both a great honor and a great challenge. We have lots to do. We need a committee to get together very quickly to start to work on this. The event start on or about July 6 and should last about a week.

I am very excited about this on a number of fronts. This is a great opportunity to promote our league, our district and the town of Mt. Airy which is our center and our base.

This is going to be a big effort and we will need volunteers to help. Keep in mind, FCLL may not have a team involved, but it is still important to provide a great experience for all the kids from around the state. There should be about 5 districts involved and one of our goals is to make this successful so that leagues want to expand their Intermediate programs for next season. The winner of this tournament will go on to the Regional tournament held in New York. The winner of that tournament will then go to the World Series held in CA.

Many folks don't realize that FCLL is more than just a great place to play baseball in the spring. We are part of Little League International. Little League, each summer, operates numerous International Tournaments that FC competes in. This year is the inaugural season for the Intermediate Division and we are so excited to promote both the league, the division and our district by hosting this event. If nothing else, mark your calendars for that week and stop by and see some very high level baseball. Keep in mind, one of the teams that wins could make it to the World Series.

If you are interested in helping with the event, please email president@fcllbaseball.org

2013 Hit-A-Thon / Picture Day...

2013-04-19T17:46:00.002-04:00

For those new to FCLL the "Hit-A-Thon" may be new to you, but this is our 13th year for this very fun day. This fund-raiser allows the players to actively participate in fundraising. This is a great opportunity to let the players showcase the hitting skills they learned throughout the season and will be a fun day for the whole family. This fundraiser is our only major sources of income that pays for most of our operating expenses and we need your support. The Hit-AThon will take place on Saturday, May 11th at Russell Windsor Field. This is in conjunction with Pictures, so you don't want to miss this event. A full schedule will be provided very soon.

Our Goal is $100.00 per player, $1000.00 per team & $29,000 for the league...Lofty goals, but it can be obtained.

The rules are as follows:

Players earn hits for every $10 in flat donations obtained (click here for donation form) or (click here to set up your online donation site). For example: a player obtains $35 in donations; this player would earn 3 at-bats. There is no limit to the amount of contributions the player can collect but a maximum of 10 at-bats can be obtained due to time considerations.
An at-bat consists of hitting a fair ball a minimum distance of 20 ft. (The fields will be lined) For T-Ball Clinic/T-Ball/Rookie/Minor divisions, a tee will be used. The distance measured will be how far the ball travels until it stops rolling. For Major/Intermediate/Juniors divisions, a front soft toss be used. The distance measured will be determined by how far the ball travels in flight.
A time schedule for each division and team will come out prior to the event. If you cannot make your assigned time please let us know ASAP to see if other arrangements can be made.

For every player who earns $30.00 or more, he/she will recieve an awesome surprise gift. Other prizes could be earned as well. Prizes will be awarded for the most earned, the longest drives, etc.

Top Earner Prizes

$200.00 Gift Card to Extra Innings
$100.00 Gift Card to Dick's Sporting Goods
$50.00 Gift Card
$25.00 Gift Card
Throw out first pitch at the FCLL Keys game in July.

For the teams who raise $1500.00 or more, we will provide a gift card for a pizza party for your team...

These prizes will be awarded during the End-of-Year event

The concession stand will be open all day.

We need volunteers to make this day be a success. Email volunteer@fcllbaseball.org to help.

Click here if you need a donation form.

Click here to sign up for the "Online Donations" site.

Click on Fundraise
Enter your players name into the space provided

April President's Message

2013-04-01T20:09:00.001-04:00

Every month I try to come up with a topic that is relevant and important for our players and parents and this month, like last, I can't say it any better than the folks at PCA have already said it. Below are some great tips for "Honoring the Game".

Here are ways that parents can contribute to a positive youth sports culture so that children will have fun and
learn positive character traits to last a lifetime.

Before the Game

Commit to Honoring the Game in action and language no matter what others may do.
Tell your children before each game that you will be proud of them regardless of how well they perform.

During the Game

Fill your children’s “Emotional Tanks” through praise and positive recognition to help them play their best.
Fill their teammates’ tanks, too!
Do not instruct your child during game action or at breaks; let the coaches coach.
Cheer good plays by both teams.
Mention good calls by the official to other parents.
If you disagree with an official’s call, Honor the Game – BE SILENT!
If other spectators yell at officials, gently remind them to Honor the Game.
Don’t do anything in the heat of the moment that you will regret after the game. Ask yourself, “What do
I want to model right now for my child?”
Remember to have fun and enjoy the game.

After the Game

Thank the officials for doing a difficult job for little or no pay.
Thank the coaches for their commitment and effort.
When reviewing the game with your children, ask rather than tell. Instead of immediately sharing your opinions or telling them how they can improve, ask questions such as “What did you learn

from that game?” or “What was your favorite play?” or “What was the most fun part of that game?”
Remember to give your children truthful and specific praise…not just the typical “good game” but, for example, “I saw how well you moved your feet on defense.”
Tell your children again that you are proud of them whether the team won or lost.

March's President's Message.

2013-03-09T14:10:00.000-05:00

You know, every once in a while you come across a book, sign or article that you say to yourself, "I could not have said it better." Well, this month, I noticed an article on the Little League website that says what I have been feeling and thinking for a long time. This come from Darrell J. Burnett, Ph.D a sports psychologist who gives talks on family life, youth coaching and other relevant topics. These are my thoughts through his words...Enjoy...

PROFANITY IN YOUTH SPORTS: Kids, Coaches, & Parents: An “Attitude” Problem

Written By: Darrell J. Burnett, Ph.D.

During the past year I witnessed three youth sports players overreacting to an official’s call. A female volunteer umpire called a third strike. The batter glared at her and said, “That was a ball, B *** h!” A soccer official flashed a yellow card at a player, who hunched his shoulders, pursed his lips, got up in the official’s face and said, “You’re full of s..t!” A basketball referee called a 5^th foul on a player, who then furiously stomped off the court making an obscene gesture with his finger.

The three players had one thing in common: they were all nine years old!

Adult “Profanity” Role Models

Profanity is creeping into youth sports. I guess it was just a matter of time until the kids picked up what they’ve been seeing and hearing from adults in televised sports.

* Professional athletes “lose it” on TV, with sizzling interviews liberally interspersed with “Bleeps.”

*TV cameras zoom in on coaches who lose their cool and get in the face of officials, flailing away with a stream of four-letter words.

*TV close-ups show college athletes mouthing obscenities in reaction to an official’s call.

The media love to show an adult who is out of control. It makes for great ratings.

But we can’t lay all the blame on the media. Go out to a local youth sports event, and listen to the adults involved, whether coaches or parent spectators. With veins bulging in their necks, some yell out obscene remarks at the officials, at the opponent, and sometimes at their own players!

An “Attitude” Problem

When I see profanity creeping into youth sports I get concerned because it indicates an attitude. People don’t usually use profanity unless they are considerably upset about something. Profanity seems to have developed as a way of underlining how angry or frustrated or hurt we are. It usually occurs when a situation is tense, threatening, unsettling, etc. It doesn’t usually occur when people are having fun. Attitude is defined as “a person’s behavior, which indicates his/her thoughts, feelings, or opinions.” How is it possible that profanity appearing is in youth sports, where the major focus and “attitude” is supposed to be fun?

You can tell kids’ attitudes toward youth sports by watching their behaviors during practice or a game. If they see a game as a game, with an opportunity to learn skills, compete, increase confidence, and have fun, they’re able to “go with the flow,” have fun, and relax. They’re able to show a sense of humor and a sense of sportsmanship, winning without gloating, and losing without complaining. They’re able to handle and learn from their mistakes. If kids see a game as a game, there will be no reason for profanity.

When I see kids using profanity in reaction to an official’s call in a game, that tells me they have a whole different attitude toward youth sports. Show me kids who use profanity, and I’ll show you kids who see the game as a pressure-filled event, with winning as the only acceptable outcome. I’ll show you kids who are spending most of their energy trying not to make mistakes. I’ll show you kids who, if they make a mistake (which is inevitable in youth sports), will waste lots of energy making excuses and blaming others.

Message to Adults: “Your Attitude Is Showing!”

Why is profanity starting to show up more in youth sports? We know how kids learn to use profanity. They see it; they hear it; they try it. Kids have had their “mouths washed out with soap” for generations. Most youth sports have rules and consequences for using profanity. Some kids will respond. Some won’t.

N.Y. Little League Mother Arrested ...

A more important question is, how did the nine-year-olds quoted above develop an attitude toward youth sports that got them so upset, frustrated, and stressed out, that they reacted with profanity?

As adults, we often tend to focus on the “end product,” rather than the “process.” When an adult arrives at game’s end, and sees the kids coming off the field, what is the first word out of his/her mouth? It’s usually, “Who won?” or “Did you score any goals (get any hits, etc.)?” With our emphasis on the end product, we run the risk of teaching our kids to focus strictly on outcome rather than process. Their idea of success then becomes based upon outcome (winning) rather than process (skill improvement). Mistakes are no longer viewed as opportunities to learn. They are seen as occasions of failure, setting the scene for profane overreactions.

Research has shown that elite athletes focus on tasks, not trophies. That is, they focus on the process of their skill development, measuring their progress in terms of frequency, duration, or intensity. They have an intense desire to win, but most of their energy is spent competing against themselves. They don’t overreact to their mistakes, to their opponent, or to questionable calls by the official. Success in their eyes is measured by progress, not trophy size. They learn to control their anger, and stay focused, regardless of the situation. They take sole responsibility for their athletic performance, blaming no one. These are solid goals for parents to set for their young athletes, and profanity can only get in the way.

So, if you’re an adult involved in youth sports, and you come across one of those mouthy nine-year-olds mentioned above, it’s not enough to go for the soap. You’ve got to change the attitude. And it might involve changing your own. Parents, if you’re looking to develop a positive attitude in your kids, you would do well to watch your own behaviors at athletic events. Next time you go to a game, remember, your attitude is showing, and your kids are watching.

Dr. Darrell Burnett is a clinical psychologist and a certified sports psychologist specializing in youth sports. He has been in private practice in Laguna Niguel, California for more than 25 years. He is a member of the Little League International Board of Directors. The Institute listed him among the “Top 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” for International Sport. His book, IT’S JUST A GAME! (Youth, Sports, & Self Esteem: A Guide for Parents), and his Sportsmanship Card Game, GOOD SPORT! are described at his website, www.djburnett.com, along with his other books, booklets, and CDs on youth sports and family life.

2013 Safety Program

2013-02-22T11:30:00.002-05:00

The season is fast approaching. Little League takes pride in the fact that we have a safety track record second to none. Some of the safety innovations you see in other youth sports got their start here in Little League.

Part of our Safety plan is that ALL of FCLL's volunteers go through a background check prior to interacting with our children.

If you are a Managers, Coach, Umpire, Team Parent, or have any other continuous contact with the players of FCLL, you MUST complete a volunteer application and submit it with a copy of your driver's license. This needs to be done each year you volunteer. Even if dad want's to help the manager at practice for a few practices or games, you must complete the form. It only takes minutes and only needs to be done once a year.

Please take a minute to download the form by clicking here. Then you have a few options to turn it in.

Scan it and email it to safety@fcllbaseball.org (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must scan your driver's license as well - Note: this is the preferred method of turning in your form)

Fax it to 866-741-4123 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must fax your driver's license as well)

Mail it to: P.O. Box 512, Mount Airy, MD 21771 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must mail your driver's license as well)

Hand it to a league representative (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must provide your driver's license as well)

The league receives discounts and incentives for being 100% compliant. Last season we were 100% compliant. Let's do it again in 2013. We need to have all the volunteer forms to a league official by March 1. If you have any questions, you can email safety@fcllbaseball.org

If you even think you will help out, please submit the form.

New for 2013...ALL MANAGER, COACHES AND TEAM PARENTS are required to take online concussions training.

Thank you for your help.

The season is upon us...

2013-02-07T12:07:00.002-05:00

The 2013 season will be here soon. As you pull into Russell Windsor Field, the grass is freshly mowed, the infield is dragged, the lines are drawn and the kids are all dressed in their brand new uniforms. You can smell the hot dogs and hamburgers grilling at "Dugout Delights". You can hear the music playing as we all line up for the opening ceremonies. Like magic, everything is ready to go. Well, not quite...

Preparations for the 2013 season began back in December. The Board of Directors and other volunteers have been working feverishly to make this upcoming season the best ever. We have so much to look forward to. Our Juniors division is going to be the best ever and we have added a new division for our players 11 to 13. We are welcoming our friends from Montgomery County LL and by all accounts, this is shaping up to be a great season.

You can help make it the best ever. There are so many opportunities for you to help.

Opening Day, the Hit-A-thon and our end of season celebration are all opportunities to help. Reach out to our volunteer coordinator and ask how you can help.
Each one of our fields need constant attention. Can you help? Sure you can. Email our field director and let him know you want to help.
Each Little League game can not be played unless we have umpire. Umpires are as much a part of the game as the kids playing, so we need umpires to help. Email our umpire in chief and let him know..."I'd love to help".
Do you know how to score a baseball game? Well now is your chance to learn. You can be one of our scorekeepers. Click here to learn how to score a LL game.
Ever had a mom or dad sitting near you that is saying something inappropriate? We all lose it once in a while. You could be a culture keeper and help us all keep our cool while watching our kids play.
We need great fans. Come to a game other than your childs, eat a hot dog and enjoy our kids play...

So as you can see, there are many opportunities to help. When we come calling, don't just delete the email. Think about how you can help and make the experience better.

Thanks for reading.

Jim Gill
President

Four County Little League

Volunteers: a key to our community and our success

2013-01-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

This month's President's Message focuses on the importance of volunteers. Now before you click off this page, take a minute to read how important volunteers have been in our society and will continue to be as we move forward in the coming years. Our league is 100% volunteers. We rely on volunteers to make the program a success. But volunteerism is so much more than providing baseball to our youth. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. In many cases, volunteers “improve citizenship” and serve as an effective conduit “to educate” individuals outside philanthropic and governmental circles as to the merits of public service. Governments have utilized volunteers for years. For example, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), during the 1930s, worked to plant trees, build bridges and roads, and restore public lands and buildings throughout the United States. In the 1960s, the Peace Corps began work to assist the poorest countries in the world by constructing schools, treating the sick, and assisting in agricultural needs. Additionally, most communities would not economically be sustainable without volunteers. Take the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company here in Mt. Airy. Our town taxes would go sky high if we have to field a full time paid fire department.

Carl Stotz (1939)

Our youth and our society need our help. The family unit is ever eroding. Divorce is on the the rise and more and more of our youth are spending more time in front of TV's, Ipad's or video games rather than playing sports together as a team. Our youth (and some parents) have difficulty with the concepts of loyalty, honor and citizenship. Everyday we hear horror stories on the news involving our youth. I won't mention any examples as I'm sure we could all come up with several. It is an epidemic and something needs to be done. I believe that one way to reverse this downward spiral is to strengthen the family by participating is activities and organizations like ours. In 1939, Carl Stotz created Little League as a way for his nephew and his friends to play baseball together. Little League Started with three teams and now after almost 75 years, we have over 7,000 leagues with over 2.5 million children participating annually. The Little League Mission says in part: Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, the Little League program assists children in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, the Little League Baseball and Softball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes.

Our program is Mt. Airy's home for Little League Baseball and we are the local extension of Little League International's mission statement. Four County Little League provides our players with the avenue to become better citizens and athletes. As it says in the Little League Pledge, we will "play fair & strive to win" and we will always push forward and teach the aspects of our partner program through the Positive Coaching Alliance. Don't think for one minute, we do not compete. We do indeed compete and have fun doing so, but our main goal and always will be is to "develop superior citizens...".

Each year at the Little League World Series, there are hundreds of volunteers who help run the international event. Even the Umpires (yes the umpires) are volunteers. There are volunteers at every level of tournament play. From ushers to team aunts and uncles these volunteers are essential to making the events happen. Our league is part of Maryland District 2 and we compete in the International Tournament each year. There are volunteers who work year round to make sure our Maryland District 2 is alive and well. We have a vibrant district and it's because of dedicated volunteers. Could you imagine if there were no volunteers to run Maryland District 2? Our league is no different we have a vibrant league with many great volunteers, but I believe we can do better. This entire article was written to give parents an understanding of how important it is to volunteer in the upcoming season.

As it says in the Little League Rule Book: "The parents of millions of Little Leaguers, combined with their youngsters, league officials, umpires, managers, coaches, auxiliary members and countless volunteer agencies including sponsors, represent an imposing cross section of this nation. Parents should accept the fact that they must shoulder the responsibility and take initiative to make the local program successful. Little League is not a club in which membership implies baby-sitting benefits and entertainment privileges for your children. Practically speaking, Little League is an adult, volunteer work project constructed, supervised and assisted by parents who desire to make its benefits extend to their children. Each parent should join in the total effort. There is a place and a job to do for all. The burden of operating the League should not fall on a few. The parent who shirks this responsibility cannot, in turn, expect others to assume the burden."

Recently, as you know, Maryland law mandated our youth participate in a required amount of "volunteer" hours prior to graduation. I think this law is silly and unnecessary. The government should not have to mandate common sense and what is "the right thing to do". We should not have to be told to volunteer, but I guess our government felt like our parents were not instilling a sense of volunteerism into our youth, so the law was created. I have always volunteered from as far back as I can remember. When I was a child, my parents were involved in our youth activities and as I got older, I too was expected to volunteer. Now as an adult I am active at my church, the league and the district. As my son gets older, he too has started to volunteer. Not because of some law, but because it is the right thing to do. As a league, we introduced the Junior Umpire Program last season and I was so encouraged to see so many youth wanting to help. We offered service learning hours, but most did not care about that, they simply wanted to help. Our youth are like sponges. They want to be just like us. When they see us volunteer, they too will want to volunteer, so you are not only helping the league, you are instilling a sense of community and belonging as well as responsibility to our youth. This will leave a legacy of volunteerism, loyalty and commitment that would not have been instilled while sitting on the side lines.

Now some may say, I don't have time. I'm going here with this family member or going here with that family member. Your family is no different than any other family, but we all have to think ahead, make sacrifices and do what we can when we can, but do something. The bottom line is that volunteering is at the core of our organization and we need your help. Ask how you can help or when the call to action comes, please speak up. There are opportunities at every level of our organization. This isn't about money as much as it is about strengthening our league so that it will be strong and vibrant for the future of the kids in our area. There are plenty of opportunities to help with our league. Click here to read more about the opportunities our league offers.

I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have given up countless hours to help the league. I especially want to thank those who work year round (you know who you are). Folks think that the league runs from April to June, but the fact is that everyday of the year something is being done to help the league for the season or the upcoming season. Please help us instill a sense of "Character, Courage & Loyalty" by volunteering with your local hometown Little League.

Jim Gill
President
Four County LL

References:

Little League Mission

Be a Little League Volunteer

May PCA Players of the Month

2012-05-30T07:57:00.002-04:00

Each month we will recognize players that exhibit the qualities of our Positive Coaching Philosophies. We teach the kids about the ELM tree (Effort, Learning & Mistakes) and ROOTS (Respect for the Rules, Officials, Opponents, Team & Self). The players selected were nominated by their coaches and selected by a the PCA committee. These players exemplify our values and are being honored for the month of May.

PCA Players of the Month for May 2012

Shane Mummey
Minors AAA, Tigers

Shane is one of the kindest most supportive players I have ever coached. He always supports his teammates and never has anything negitive to say. Not once has he asked to play a certain position in the field even though he is one of our best pitchers. During one of our games, he was playing catcher. I noticed he was shaking his hand behind his back, (as he was crouched down behind the plate). I asked him if he was ok. He looked up with tears in his eyes and said that he could not feel his hand, (he never complained and was trying his best to stay in the game even though he was in obvious pain.) We pulled him from the game and the next thing I see (as I am coaching 3rd) is Shane putting on his batting gloves. He is truly a teammate and player who I am grateful is on our team. He is one of the many great kids playing for FCLL.
Submitted by, Rob Lewis, Manager, Minors AAA - Tigers

Andrew Schreffler
Juniors, Lugnuts

Andrew always shows ROOTS. Even though he plays for his school team, he is always ready to give his all for his FCLL Lugnuts team. He shows great respect for the game and all of his teammates at practice and games. Andrew is truely a great kid to coach and have on your team. He is always positive and gets along well with all his teammates. He is always a positive and fills the emotional tanks of all.
Submitted by, Mike Money, Manager, Juniors - Lugnuts

Coaches can submit their nominations for June 2012 by clicking here.

Opening Day Press Release...

2012-04-09T07:05:00.002-04:00

For immediate release

Four County Little League 2012 Opening Day…Rising from the Ashes…

Mount Airy, Maryland – April 9, 2012 – Four County Little League will celebrate 18 years of Little League baseball on Saturday, April 14, 2012. This year is like no other. Not only will the league be celebrating the opening of the 2012 season, they will dedicate their new buildings built with the help of several generous donations. On April 10, 2011, the league experience what could have been a huge set back. Instead, it turned out to be one of the greatest blessings the league has ever been given. Immediately after the fire, several large donors emerged. Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, heard about the tragedy and wanted to help. Snyder contacted League President Jim Gill and committed $10,000 to help rebuild. At the same time, Joe Degiorgi, Managing partner of Century Ford of Mount Airy, called the President of the league and also wanted to help. Degiorgi and Gill met at the Century dealership in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Degiorgi surprised the league president with a gift of $10,000. Jim Gill said, “I was floored with the outpouring of support from our community. When I found out that our normal Little League insurance would not cover our loss, I was not sure how we would rebuild. I knew we would be ok and some how come back, but I never imagined we would receive so much in such a short time”. After receiving the generous gifts, the league reached out to Myer’s Mini Barns in Woodbine, MD to put the money to good use and they too wanted to help. Myers’ Mini Barns donated an entire concessions stand. Since then, the league has been planning and preparing for the new buildings. They took the opportunity to turn the loss into something bigger and better. “We decided to expand a bit and build a bigger shed which will allow us to keep our equipment and uniforms all at one location. Instead of having equipment and uniforms at several locations around town, we can have them all stored at one central location here at Russell Windsor Field”, Gill said. “Now we have an opportunity to thank these folks at our opening day on Saturday”. Gill said this Saturday’s opening day ceremony will be special in many ways. He said, last year the ceremony was rained out and the league was unable to celebrate the life of their beloved Coach Al Gordon who died early in 2011. This year, they will thank their donors, celebrate the life of Coach Al and begin a great season of baseball.

The league will also partner with the Oriole Advocates and participate in the Cardboard to Leather program™ (affectionately called C2L™), whereby good, used baseball and softball equipment is provided to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Collected equipment has been distributed in Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Four County Little League is asking the players and the community to bring their used, but usable baseball items, to Russell Windsor Field on Saturday where an Oriole Advocate will be on hand to help collect the used equipment. They will be there from 9am until 3pm. The field is located at 12350 Jessie Smith Road.

About Four County Little League - Four County Little League, a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, is chartered with Little League International. The league is based in Mount Airy, Maryland, but serves families in all of the four county areas. The league provides a supervised program of youth baseball instruction and games for players between the ages of 4 through 15 under the rules and policies of Little League International. Each summer the best players are chosen from the league and play in the Little League International Tournament culminating in Williamsport, PA at the Little League World Series.

Four County Little League

www.fcllbaseball.org

information@fcllbaseball.org

P.O. Box 512

Mount Airy, MD 21771

866-741-4123

###

Cardboard to Leather

2012-04-02T21:23:00.000-04:00

On opening day, April 14, 2012, Four County Little League, in cooperation with the Oriole Advocates, will be collection used baseball equipment. The program is called Cardboard to Leather. Please start collecting your used baseball equipment and bring it to Russell Windsor Field on April 14, 2012.

Be Local...What's it all about?

2012-01-26T10:42:00.001-05:00

Recently I was contacted by one of the league parents and was asked to mention the BeLocal survey. At the time I said I would offer a link to the survey in our monthly newsletter. Well, here is the link. In the process of setting up the link, I made an Interesting discovery. The BeLocal website's about us page says...

BeLocal Mt. Airy is local citizens group in Mount Airy, Maryland actively seeking to strengthen our town’s sense of community, sense of place, and local self-reliance. Our motto is “Grow. Play. Shop. Act.” which encompass both the local-first thinking and the wide-range of initiatives which emerge from a grass roots approach to listening to the residents of Mount Airy, MD.

As I read their website, I began to realize that BeLocal and Four County Little League have some of the same goals and dreams. If I read it correctly, their idea is to "think local first" and in doing so will strengthen our community as a whole on many levels. What does this have to do with Four County Little League, you might ask? Since I started with FCLL, I have been proud of the fact that the organization is family oriented and stands apart from others by doing more than just teach baseball. We teach our players life lessons through baseball. Most of the players in Little League will never play past high school baseball, but all of them should grow up to be productive citizens and contribute in some way to our society. Having said that, the goal of teaching them how to together be a team, overcome adversity and winning with honor is our legacy.

There are three words on the Little League Logo; Character, Courage and Loyalty. Loyalty is defined, "as state or quality of being loyal...a feeling of allegiance." Belocal is saying, Be Loyal. Be Loyal to the local shops in Mt. Airy or Be Loyal to the architect in town. Well, Four County is saying, Be Loyal and Local to our league. We have so many incredibly talented players who's parents have sold them this glorious notion that they will go further if they play for this team or that team. We have players in Mt. Airy living in Carroll County who play in Frederick. We have other players in Mt. Airy on the Frederick County side who play for Howard County. Some have even been recruited to play in Finksburg. This does not make any sense what so ever. Why are these talented players not playing for the local Little League?

Playing for teams outside of your local reach has so many negatives and so little positives. Some folks feel that playing with a select team will give them a better opportunity to get a college scholarship. What do our friends at the Positive Coaching Alliance say about this? Well, if you have been to the training, you will know that the average athletic scholarship is somewhere in the $2000.00 range, so I don't think that is going to work. Your best bet is to study harder and go for an academic scholarship. The fact is that college recruiters are not watching our 10 to 14 year olds anyway, so what's the deal? If the players stayed local and played with their home town team, they would increase the talent and make their home town team the select team. Stephen Keener, President and CEO of Little League Baseball, says...

Because of the misleading comparison between tournament-hopping travel teams, and the “Road to Williamsport” traveled by Little League International tournament teams, critics claim the tournament is detrimental and contradictory to Little League’s mission.

In reality though, those who support travel ball are in many cases fulfilling a self-serving goal by seeking out a “higher level of competition” for the expressed purpose of supposedly increasing their child’s chances of landing a major college scholarship, or professional contract. (taken from "Too much baseball is not a good thing")

What does it say about a coach who will go to the ends of the earth to pick up or find a player? What happens when he finds a new and improved better performing player? Guess what, your player is out. If you stay local and play for your local Little League team, you never have the chance of being pushed out by a "ringer". Most of the select or travel teams have no rules about playing time, so in some cases you spent all this time and money to travel to all these different games and your young player might not even get a chance to play. How is that going to help him/her get a scholarship? You are better off having him/her play with Little League which has playing rules which ensures every player plays on the field.

Look at what these teams are doing to our ever eroding family life. Many of these select teams play in tournaments which are several hours away and often times require over night stays in hotels. This requires more money, time off of work and days away from our family. Oh you are going to bring the whole family? What happens when your 13 year old and your 9 year old both want to play sports. Guess what...you are going in separate directions. By playing for your local Little League team, you have a better chance of ending up at home in the evening laughing and talking about the game that day while having a burger with the entire family.

When you go to the Mount Airy Fall Fest and see Knill's farm market selling their fruit, we often times feel good about the local fruit being produced. Mr. Knill did not go to the port of Baltimore to get his fruit. He got it from his own farm. He cultivated the land, planted the seeds and grew local fresh fruits and vegetables. There is a sense of pride in what the Knill's have accomplished. This might sound strange, but Four County Little League is no different. We cultivate our young players. As they grow, they learn more and get more competitive. We don't travel around looking for other ball players to play with us. We harvest the best fruit here in our area. Then we showcase our talents each summer. Last season our 9/10 team placed 3rd in the state. Every one of those players came from our local area. We have boundaries that we can not cross. We can't take a player from Frederick who is best friends with one of our coaches and ask him to play. It just can't happen. Other organizations have no rules. They take what they want and leave the rest. This attitude by others hurts every one of our local players, the teams and our league. The idea of Being Local makes complete sense in so many ways.

This article came about because of information provided to me by someone at BeLocal. It makes total sense to me and I can see how thinking local first should be primary. I know some might be offended by some of my words. For those who are inside our local Four County Little League Boundaries, I encourage you to think about the possibilities of what we can do as an organization if we come together. You have a choice to look outside for answers or BeLocal and Be Loyal. Four County Little League is Mount Airy's home for Little League Baseball. We are proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to the day when everyone can BeLocal.

Important 2012 Safety Information

2012-01-07T14:57:00.002-05:00

2012 Safety Program

The season is fast approaching. Little League takes pride in the fact that we have a safety track record second to none. Some of the safety innovationsyou see in other youth sports got their start here in Little League.

Part of our Safety plan is that ALL of FCLL's volunteers go through a background check prior to interacting with our children.

If you are a Managers, Coach, Umpire, Team Parent, or have any other continuous contact with the players of FCLL, you MUST complete a volunteer application and submit it with a copy of your driver's license. This needs to be done each year you volunteer. Even if dad want's to help the manager at practice for a few practices or games, you must complete the form. It only takes minutes and only needs to be done once a year.

Please take a minute to download the form by clicking here. Then you have a few options to turn it in.

Scan it and email it to safety@fcllbaseball.org (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must scan your driver's license as well - Note: this is the preferred method of turning in your form)

Fax it to 866-741-4123 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must fax your driver's license as well)

Mail it to: P.O. Box 512, Mount Airy, MD 21771 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must mail your driver's license as well)

Hand it to a league representative (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must provide your driver's license as well)

The league receives discounts and incentives for being 100% compliant. Last season we were 100% compliant. Let's do it again in 2012. We need to have all the volunteer forms to a league official by March 1. If you have any questions, you can email safety@fcllbaseball.org

If you even think you will help out, please submit the form.

Thank you for your help.

Paul Reddick Press Release

2011-12-16T11:11:00.002-05:00

For immediate release

Four County Little League to offer coaches top notch instruction

Mount Airy, Maryland – December 15, 2011 – Four County Little League will host a youth pitching clinic with Paul Reddick, the Director of The Yogi Berra Museum baseball camp and the Co-Author of the best seller "The Picture Perfect Pitcher". The clinic will be held on February 4, 2012 from 9am until noon at the American Legion Gold Star Post 191. The clinic will focus on helping volunteer coaches learn how to be better pitching coaches. Scott Simpson is the Coaching Director for Four County Little League and he explained at the leagues December Board of Director’s meeting that he thought the league should expand upon some of the great things that the league does with respect to coaching. He noted the fact that Little League provides literature and videos that improves the quality of coaching and at Four County Little League they offer the Positive Coaching Alliance training for their coaches as well. Simpson said that he thought that the league could do even more, so he contacted Reddick. Reddick agreed to travel to Mt. Airy from his home in New Jersey. Reddick, who has helped countless players with his Paul Reddick Baseball programs, said "At Paul Reddick Baseball we are on a mission to re-invent the way we teach baseball. We're going make it easier for coaches to make their players better. I'm excited to share our breakthroughs with the baseball community in Four County. These guys are dialed in and doing what's right for the kids. That's what we are all about"

The current Four County Little League President, Jim Gill, said, “we are extremely excited to have Paul come talk to our folks. I have been getting his 90MPH emails for quite some time so I was familiar with him right away. I knew his philosophies and coaching style would fit right in with what we do here at Four County. Four County is known for great baseball, but more than that we are known for teaching young people life lessons through this great sport of baseball.” Gill said that they will open the clinic up to all coaches in and around the four county areas in hopes of spreading Reddick’s positive methods of coaching.

To find our more about information or to register for the clinic, visit the league’s website at www.FCLLbaseball.org. There will be a $20.00 fee for each coach attending to cover the cost of the room and a small continental breakfast which will be provided.

About Paul Reddick - Paul Reddick helps pitchers throw harder. Because of the results of the pitchers that use his many books, courses and instruction Paul is known as the Master Of MPH. Paul has served as a scout for Pittsburgh Pirates, a state delegate for USA Baseball and coached in the Montreal Expo farm system. His signature velocity getting course The 90mph Club is used by more pitchers than any other single pitching training program. For more information about Paul Reddick visit www.paulreddickbaseball.com.

Four County Little League

www.fcllbaseball.org

information@fcllbaseball.org

P.O. Box 512

Mount Airy, MD 21771

866-741-4123

###

Proud of Keystone Little League...

2011-08-25T22:54:00.000-04:00

Last Week, my son, his friend and I set off for our annual trip to Williamsport to take in the first weekend of the Little League World Series. We watched so many games and all the players and fans were great. On Friday we sat next to the West parents and they were all fabulous. We knew it would be hard to get seats for the big game at 8pm, so we decided to head out onto Little League Hill to take in the night game. Already there were thousands of fans who had shown up to get a seat to watch the game. We made our way through the crowds and found a nice spot in left center field about half way up. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is a ton of people...". It rained that day and the ground was wet. Immediately a couple, who had nothing to do with Little League baseball offered up their blanket. These folks came out to support their boys. I looked around and all I saw was a sea of blue "Keystone" shirts. I thought, "Wow, if they don't win this could be one ugly crowd". That evening I heard nothing but great comments and positive cheers. The boys lost that night and in the end all the fans stood up and cheered their good effort. Do you think they know the Little League Parent Volunteer Pledge? "...I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game". I doubt it. They were just good folks who where just happy to have their boys playing in the Little League World Series. The Keystone kids went on to win the next three and each time it was the same thing. The fans were great. You would have thought they all graduated from the Positive Coaching Alliance Parents course. Well tonight was the Keystone Little League's final game. They lost in a 2-0 game against the California team representing the West region. Once again, the same thing happened. The fans stood up and cheered for their boys. It was a great site to see. What happened at the game tonight should be the norm not the rarity. More and more we are seeing youth sports get out of hand. Parents yelling and screaming. Players being ejected. When does it end? I am so proud to be affiliated with Little League and Keystone Little League represented our organization well. All the teams have, but especially Keystone. Over 150,000 people watched them play their games in the last week and not once did it go to their heads. They brought their small town together, their county together and I dare say they are helping to bring goodness back to youth sports. One day my hope is that my league, Four County Little League, can also help it's small town of Mount Airy, Md the way Keystone has helped Clinton County. Not by winning the Little League World Series, but by showing the world that Little League is more than just baseball. We are teaching kids life lessons through this great sport of baseball and that those lessons will shape our youth and make a better tomorrow for all of us. It is hard to think that a little game of baseball could do that, but I believe Little League baseball is one way that we can.

Year in review...2011 Four County Little League recap

2011-07-25T11:31:00.001-04:00

This year has been a whirlwind...The goal for this season was to build up our numbers and strengthen the organization. We conducted an extensive campaign to get the word out that we are "Mount Airy's home for Little League Baseball". Starting with 17,000 post cards delivered to every home in Mount Airy and the surrounding areas, our goal was to get folks to join FCLL. Well...our numbers last season were 287 and our numbers this season was 349. I'd say all the hard work paid off. As the season got underway, we started out with many new upgrades being made to Russell Windsor Field. Our cage was upgraded, we added some new sod around home plate and began construction on a new press area behind home plate. Then opening day arrived...Well, needless to say it was a wash out. The rains came and we could not have our annual celebration. We were able to play a few games that day and the season seamed to be headed in the right direction. Then, that night, someone decided to have some fun and burn down our port-a-pots. If you remember, they did not just burn down the port-a-pots...they destroyed our entire shed and all the contents. Some good things came out of that. The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and Century of Mount Airy both donated $10,000 to help us rebuild. The progress was slow going because the season was upon us. The season moved on from there and we were excited to have two Juniors Division teams this season. Last season, Thurmont decided to leave Little League leaving us with no one to play. Our folks got out there and found some other teams to play in Elkton and Arbutus. The Juniors Division was the best it has been in years. As the season progressed, we had two Majors division teams rise to the top. With top flight pitching, these two teams dominated the Majors division. In the end, our Majors Tigers took home the title and headed to the Maryland District 2 Tournament of Champions which was held in Thurmont this season. In our Minors division, the Seadogs crept up and won their tournament despite a great effort from the other teams. This year was the first year we had a "Clinic" division in a number of years. Some younger players got the chance to learn some fundamentals as well as have some great fun every Saturday morning. Our hope is, those players come back next season and enjoy some more Saturday fun. This season we implemented a new technology to our league called GameChanger. GameChanger allows folks at home to "Follow" the games real time just like they were sitting watching the game. We scored about 50% of our games live and our hope is that next season we score 100% live. Wifi has been added to the field in part so that we can accomplish this goal. Out Hit-A-Thon was a huge success. Despite the economy, we raised over $5,000.00 more than last season. Our player, managers and coaches are the best. We can't thank them enough for making it a great Hit-A-Thon. Then along came the end of season Carnival/Picnic/Movie. What a great way to end the regular season. The movie Mickey was a true Little League inspired movie.

9/10 team dog piles
after being crown the
District Champions

For some of you, that was it...for others, we were just getting started. On June 15, the announcement of the All Star teams were made. A selection of five teams was made to represent the league in post season play. Our 9/10 All Stars were up first. They pulled an excellent draw and only had to win two games to make it to the championship round. They did just that and on July 2, 2011 were crowned the 2011 Maryland District 2 Champions and earned a berth in the 2011 Maryland State Little League Tournament. The team went on to win three and lose two in the state tournament giving them an impressive 3rd place finish in all of Maryland. This team was a scrappy little team who continued to fight until the very end. Up until the 6th inning of their last elimination game they did not give up. We are very proud of our 9/10 year old teams run and wish them well in the future.

The 10/11 team was next and despite trailing in their first game came from behind to win. They would go on to lose their next two, but gave it a great fight non the less.

The 11/12 team or Little League All Stars as it is commonly referred to also represented well. They went deeper in the District tournament than any other Little League team in FCLL history. They played great baseball until the end when they were out hit by Frederick National in their final match-up giving them a solid 3rd place finish.

Our Juniors were named the District 2 Champions right away because all the other leagues in our District have left Little League (we hope to change that in the future). They completed in the State Tournament and although did not win, they fought hard the entire time. We look to build on this experience and improve our Juniors program each year.

Our Minors All Stars competed in the 30th Annual Emory Frye Memorial Tournament and won their first two games and then lost two. They ended up in third place over all and we were very proud of their efforts.

As I said before, this season has been a whirlwind. For some, the season started in January (at our indoor facility) and did not end until the third week of July. That is a long time to play baseball. It takes alot to run an successful organization like ours. It can't be done without volunteers. The volunteers in Four County LL are great. This year we have asked our folks to do more than ever before and because of that our league has benefited from it. The season is not just April to June...for some volunteers it is 365 days a year. At this point, planning is already under way for next season. One thing that is on the agenda is fields. We need land to call our own. We are actively looking for land we can expand on. We are grateful for what we have been given at Russell Windsor Field, but we can not continue to grow without looking at the possibility of finding our own land.

We hope you have enjoyed the 2011 season. Our fall baseball season is just around the corner and then we go into the planning for next season. Our annual elections for Board Members is in October and Nomination are in September. If you would like to help shape the league and be a part of the Board of Directors, you need to be nominated in September and be on the Ballot in October.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to wish every family in FCLL a very happy and safe summer. We can't wait to see you for the next season.

For more information about the league and or registering for Fall Baseball, click on our website...www.fcllbaseball.org