Owego Little League prepares for 67th season; volunteers needed

As winter slowly ends, the start of the 67th season of Owego Little League baseball and softball nears. Planning has been underway since the end of the fall season in October by the staff of Owego Little League, and under the guidance of President Scott Rollison. 

There have been many changes since the end of the 2017 season, with a majority falling under the Girls Softball banner. For the first time in its history, the softball program is chartered under Little League International in Williamsport, Pa. 

While this does not affect the way the softball program runs during the spring season, it does open the opportunity for the All Star teams to compete for a chance to go to the Softball Little League World Series. 

Vice-President of Softball Emily Crawford is expanding the program to include Modified-Tee ball. This program will now place girls, ages six to eight that would have previously played modified-tee ball on a co-ed team with a baseball, onto a team that will use softballs instead. 

Crawford stated that she wants to get the larger softball into a girl’s hand as soon as possible to get them used to it. She wants this to help strengthen the softball program here in Owego-Apalachin. 

Another move to help strengthen the program, Crawford has successfully helped merge the Apalachin softball program into the Owego Girls Softball program.

Perhaps the biggest change of all for the softball program is on the Dick Franz Softball field, as poles are now set for the addition of lights this spring. Just like Nick Raftis Memorial Field, the softball program is also getting lights. A celebration is in the planning stages; look for more information as spring approaches.

The baseball program at Owego Little League is also going through some changes. 

The change for baseball is new Vice-President of Baseball Eric Hawkins. Hawkins has hit the ground running and is currently looking for volunteers to be coaches, umpires, and to help around the park working on field maintenance. If you are interested in being a volunteer at Owego Little League, email to ehawkins1@stny.rr.com. 

Hawkins emphasizes that the winter baseball program continues every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Owego Free Academy gymnasium. Players only need to be registered for the upcoming season to participate. 

Volunteers that want to be coaches should attend the Owego Little League baseball kick off on Saturday, March 17, at Owego Free Academy. Guest speakers Gary Vail and Owego Free Academy Varsity Coach Phil Schofield highlight the program. RSVP to Eric Hawkins at ehawkins1@stny.rr.com.

New Player Agent Andrea Gregory is currently accepting registrations for all divisions in Owego Little League. Players need to reside or attend a school within the Owego Apalachin School District to be eligible to play in Owego Little League. 

To register, log onto www.owegolittleleague.com. If you have any registration questions or concerns, contact Andrea Gregory by email to agregory@stny.rr.com. 

Registration for the Little League portion (ages four to 12) will close on March 15.

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