Register Online for the 2014 Spring Season

Online registration for spring baseball, softball and tee ball has begun at Myers Park Trinity. Today is only the first day of winter, but baseball and softball season will be here before you know it. Sign up today at the newly designed MPTLL.org. The registration information is here and an updated league calendar is here. Little League tryouts are scheduled for February 22nd and 23rd.

Please help us spread the word about MPTLL as we kick start our 2014 registration drive. We hope to bring in many new families every year so that we can continue to grow and do great things.  Sharing this message or the registration flyer on the left is an easy and effective way to spread the word. Thanks for supporting Myers Park Trinity.

New Little League Boundary Rule Involving Schools

There is a new Little League regulation for parents to be aware of. Beginning this year, a player's geographic school location may be used in determining which local Little League he or she is zoned for. In the past, a player's home residence was the only factor involved - if your address was within our league's boundary, you could sign up at MPTLL. That regulation still applies. However, players may also now register if their school is within our boundary, even if their residence is not. Keep in mind that this applies only to our Little League baseball divisions (TB, AL, NL, ML). Our softball program is not affiliated with Little League.

This new regulation means that players who might have been previously considered "out of territory," but attend school inside the MPTLL territory, may now register with us. This option may come into play in the case of students attending various private schools within our boundary, that have no boundary of their own, like Charlotte Country Day, Providence Day or Charlotte Christian, or magnet schools like Myers Park Traditional, Elizabeth Traditional or Chantilly Montessori. Or it may apply to some students attending neighborhood schools near the edges of our territory like Selwyn, Greenway Park or Olde Providence.

If you know of any families in this situation who may want to play at Myers Park Trinity, please share this information with them. Our online registration for the spring 2014 season begins very soon. It will include a new question regarding where each player attends school.

For more information, here is the article from Little League on this subject. And here is the amended regulation itself, relating to eligibility requirements. Click here to see the MPTLL boundary map. Please contact someone with the league with any questions.

Calling All Volunteers

MPTLL is run 100% by volunteers. We are always looking for additional help. Currently, we are seeking a Photography Coordinator, an Assistant Treasurer, an Assistant Sponsorship Coordinator and a Tryout Coordinator. We are also in need of additional grounds crew members and marketing help for our upcoming registration drive.

Please send an email to mptllpres@gmail.com if you would like more informtion about these important roles. Thanks!

Leaf Day 2013

This Saturday, December 7th, is the annual MPTLL Leaf Cleanup Day at the fields at Randolph Park. The festivities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue into the early afternoon. This event calls for any and all Myers Park Trinity supporters - moms, dads, coaches, players, siblings, board members - anyone who can work a rake, gas blower, tarp, etc. The more the merrier.

The work we accomplish on Saturday will pay dividends down the road and free up time for our volunteer grounds crew to work on other projects. Please plan to attend and bring the entire family. Don't forget to bring any rakes or other tools that may be helpful. Make sure to mark your name on anything you bring.

The weather forecast for Saturday is iffy. Any changes will be announced on MP Twitter, Facebook or Blog. If necessary, the make up date would be the following Saturday, December 14th.

Much To Be Thankful for in 2013

2013 has been a big year for Myers Park Trinity. We are truly blessed to have so many great people supporting our kids. A big "thank you" goes out...

To Tony and Boyd for always being there, morning, noon or night, working hard to make our park so nice; and to Paxton, Harrison, Kip, Hank, Preston and our entire volunteer grounds crew for their help that often goes unseen;

To Kaaren and Ashley for ensuring the continued service of our concession stand, whether or not their kids are playing games at the time; and to Barbara for doing it for so many years;

To Rich, Steve and Kris for guiding our ship with a steady hand;

To Tom and Kip for representing MPTLL behind the scenes to ensure that we have a firm footing in our community for years to come - we wouldn't have our park without these guys;

To Jake, Robert, Barry, Barbara and others for holding us true to the traditions that have made our league work for over 60 years;

To Rex and Kevin for being our tech guides and creating so much convenience for us all;

To Lauro for placing a priority on taking the MP experience to our closest neighbors and the kids who need it so much;

To Steve for keeping us financially secure today, and to Ed, Rich and Joe for leading us into the future;

To our loyal sponsors for believing in MPTLL and providing for our players;

To the coaches for, whether they know what they're getting into or not, becoming dedicated and passionate teachers of the game and positive role models for our children;

And to the parents, for entrusting their kids with us, cheering them on and supporting us all in so many ways;

It takes a village... so that moments like these are possible....

Keep Battling, Adam

We have a parent and coach in our league who has taken a turn for the worse. He has been fighting cancer valiantly for two years. He is a great guy and has a nice family, like we all do. But he has been battling for two years, although holding his head high with a smile on his face. I tell my players, "Keep your head up." Adam Schmitz has done that.

I've spent time with Adam and his son at the batting cages. Adam watches closely as his son hits ball after ball, making an adjustment here and there. Adam's eyes are bright and wide. He soaks it all in, loving every minute of it - just as he does any time he's at the park, either watching Zeke play or just talking to friends. He has the perspective on life that allows him to take in and appreciate his experiences. He wants more knowledge, more friends, more swings, more time.

Adam loves to talk and he is a good listener too. We discuss hitting and pitching, Majors and Minors, McGwire and Sosa, the Mets and Yankees, dogs and cats, whatever. We want to talk for longer, but I can't match his enthusiasm. And it's getting dark and the lights aren't coming on.

It's hard to know that someone like Adam with so much goodness in his heart and so much enthusiasm for life is struggling. It doesn't seem fair. But he is battling. That's another thing I tell my players: "Keep battling. Battle to the very end. No matter the outcome, you'll be proud that you did." Adam Schmitz has done that. He will continue to do it. And we are all proud.

Adam's family needs our help. Myers Park Trinity is a larger family of sorts. We support our own when they need us. If you would like to help the Schmitz family, please go to the following link and show your support. Show them how much we all appreciate Adam. Please visit:

The Adam Schmitz Cancer Fund

MP 12's Head to the Southeast Regionals

The Myers Park Trinity 11-12-year-old All-Star team leaves Thursday for the Little League Southeast Regional Tournament in Warner Robins, GA. We begin play on Friday morning at 10:00 vs Martin County North LL from Palm City, FL. It is a pool play format, with each team playing 3 games to try to advance to the medal round.

The best place to get a first-hand inside look at what the 12's are up to this week will be on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mplittleleague

You can also check this blog, as well as the MPTLL website and Facebook page for updates.

The official tournament website is located HERE. Tournament staff will be scoring our games on GameChanger HERE. And HERE is some information about GameChanger pricing plans, in case you want Premium Fan Access for $7.99 per month.

The tournament site is located at 439 Snellgrove Drive in Warner Robins, if you plan to make the trip from Charlotte. We'd love to see some of the MP faithful in Georgia.

They may call us "North Carolina," but we won't forget that... "WE ARE.... MYERS PARK!" If you don't believe, you don't belong. GOMP!

MP 12's Car Wash Fundraiser

The Myers Park Trinity Little League 11-12-year-old NC State Champs will host a car wash fundraiser on Tuesday (7/30) from 6:30-8:00 pm at the MPTLL fields at Randolph Park (101 Billingsley Rd). Proceeds will help cover travel expenses for players in need of financial assistance during the team's trip to Warner Robins, GA for the Southeast Regional Little League Tournament.  The 12's will leave early Thursday morning for Georgia, where they will play 3 games of a pool play format on Friday, Saturday and Monday, before the consolation and medal rounds begin.

Please come out to the fields on Tuesday night and help support the 12's. The team will be washing cars and accepting donations of any amount. You can also make a contribution online via the MPTLL store. All donations are tax deductible.

Myers Park 12's Win NC State Title

The Myers Park Trinity 11-12-year-old All-Star team won the North Carolina State Little League Championship on Saturday at Myers Park with a 5-3 victory over Greenville Tar Heel. Their state title is MPTLL's first Major League state championship in baseball in the league's long history. It came less than a week after MP's first state championship of any kind at the Little League Baseball level, when the 10-11-year-old team won its tournament in Forest City.

Myers Park took the lead for good in the 2nd inning on a 2-run HR by Patrick Alvarez. Alvarez also pitched the game's last 4 innings, striking out 8 - including the final 6 outs of the game - allowing no runs on 2 hits. Pres Cavenaugh, Britt Fuller and Alvarez led the MP offense with 2 hits apiece.

Next up for the 12's will be a trip to the Southeast Regionals in Warner Robins, GA. The winner of that tournament goes to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

MP 12's Game Moved to 10:00

The Myers Park Trinity 11-12-year-old all star team will play Greenville Tar Heel on Saturday at 10:00 am. If Myers Park wins, they are state champs. If Greenville wins, the teams will play again on Sunday since that would be MP's first loss. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE TO 10:00 am on Saturday. The game will be scored live on GameChanger.

MP 12's to Play for the State Title

The Myers Park Trinity 11-12-year-old All-Star team has advanced to the NC State Final. The 12's are the last remaining team in the winners bracket after beating Bull City, Mint Hill and Greenville Tar Heel. Myers Park will play the winner of tonight's game between Mint Hill and Greenville Tar Heel. The championship game will be played on Saturday at 10:00 am at Myers Park. If MP were to lose, the two teams would play again on Sunday at 1:00.

Come out and support our 12's on Saturday. And check the MP Twitter feed, website and Facebook page for updates and announcements. GOMP!

MP 11's Head to the Southeast Regionals

The Myers Park Trinity LL 10-11-year-old All-Star team has earned a trip to the Southeast Regional Tournament of State Champions in Greenville, NC. The team leaves on Friday morning and will stay at the tournament for at least three games. The TOSC website is here. They have a write-up about MPTLL and Charlotte here. And the TOSC has it's own Facebook and Twitter pages.

Many thanks to all the great sponsors and families that have contributed to the all-star travel fund! If you'd like to join in the effort of sending our boys to Greenville, you can leave a donation via credit card by using the MPTLL store. You can also mail a check payable to MPTLL at P.O. Box 11556, Charlotte, NC 28220. Please note in the memo line item that the donation is for "All Star Travel". No amount is too small to support our players and remember your donation is tax deductible since MPTLL is a 501c3 non-profit organization. As always Myers Park appreciates the tremendous support from our families and wonderful sponsors.

 

11's State Championship Photo Album

MP fans - you don't want to miss this. Here is the photo album from the MPTLL 11-year-old all-star team's state championship victory on Sunday over Greenville North State in Forest City. The emotion shown in these pictures is just incredible. Thanks to Catherine Bolin for her amazing photos and to the 11-year-old team parents for allowing us to share them with the league.

Myers Park 11's Win NC State Title

The Myers Park Trinity 11-year-old All-Star team has won the North Carolina State Championship with a 6-5 victory over Greenville North State. This is the first state title for any MPTLL team at the Little League baseball level - a truly historic moment in the long history of our league. As usual, the team did it in dramatic fashion, with a 6th inning rally from being down 5-1. The game was capped by a walk-off 2-run HR by R.J. Scholtus. The MPTLL Twitter feed tells the story, as this is how many of the MP faithful followed the game....

- MP takes the field. Scholtus gets the start, Atwell behind the dish.
- Scholtus retires GNS in order in the top 1st. MP coming to bat.
- Evans doubles. Shaw singles him home from 3b. End 1, MP 1, GNS 0.
- GNS doubles, but Atwell to Bolin erases the runner on an attempted steal. Scholtus looks great on the mound. Still 1-0, MP up. Bot 2.
- Minges singles, but MP can't move him over. Still 1-0, end 2. GNS sending 7-8-9 to plate.
- Single, error, walk. GNS has bases loaded and one out.
- GNS gets 2 runs. 2 on, still one out.
- Intentional walk to GNS 3 hitter loads the bases. One out.
- Scholtus gets the K. Bases loaded, 2 out.

Myers Park 11's Play For the State Title Today

The Myers Park Trinity 10-11-year-old All-Star team is making MPTLL history. They play Greenville North State today at 11:00 am in the NC State Championship at Forest City Little League's Dunbar Park, 286 Learning Parkway, Forest City, NC 28043. The game will be "live casted" by the kind folks at Greenville on Game Changer. Follow the MP Twitter feed for additional commentary from Forest City. Good luck to the MP 11's. The whole league is with you.

Later today, don't miss the MP 12's, as they take on Mint Hill at Myers Park at 3:00 in the 11-12 State Tournament. 

State Tournament Heroics for Myers Park

We sat together on our porches or in the den. Quality time with the family on a Friday night. But there were no board games or movies or even much talking. This time we gave in to staring at our phones, tablets or laptops. And we loved every gut-wrenching minute of it.

That's how you "watch" a ball game at MPTLL in the summer of 2013. At least when you can't be there in person. You sit and stare at Twitter and hit the refresh button every 30 seconds. 

The Myers Park Trinity 11-year-old All-Star team thrilled us all with a 20-15 victory over SW Forsyth in the NC state semifinals, a win that takes them farther than any other MPTLL team in recent memory. They used 8 pitchers and hit 4 HR's - 3 by R.J. Scholtus, 1 by Jack Shaw - in this 3-hour game. Our boys have survived and advanced to the state finals, where they must beat the thorn in our side, Greenville North State, twice this weekend to reach something beyond their wildest dreams. 

Great job by the players and coaches (Scott Warfield, Drew Mansfield and Arthur Morehead). Good luck this weekend. We are a proud league, no matter the final outcome. MP 11's at 11:00 in Forest City. MP 12's at 3:00 at home. Be there on Saturday.
 

Myers Park 12's Win District 3

The Myers Park Trinity LL 12-year-old All-Star team has won the District 3 Tournament and will be heading to the NC State Tournament. After a 1-run victory over Dilworth in the opening round of the tournament, Myers Park had a bye on day 2, followed by a convincing 12-2 win over Lake Norman to clinch the district championship.

The final game featured some quality pitching by Pres Cavenaugh (3 innings, no runs) and Henry Merchant (2 innings, 2 runs) and a 9-run 1st inning for MP on several hits, walks and errors. The game ended in style with a 3-run walk-off HR by Hayden Malchesky in the 5th inning to seal the 10-run victory.

The Little League Class of 2013 has now won its 3rd District 3 title and 4th banner overall. They will play in the state tournament for the 2nd straight year. This year it is being hosted by MPTLL and begins this Saturday, July 20th. Myers Park will face last year's 11-year-old state champion, Bull City, in round 1 on Saturday at 3:00. The tournament will use a double-elimination format.

Come out to the fields this weekend and cheer on the 12's, and follow along on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mplittleleague.

Myers Park 11's Head To the State Tournament

The Myers Park Trinity 10-11-year-old All-Star team has won District 3 and is headed to the NC State Tournament. Games begin this Saturday, July 13th in Forest City, NC. The bracket is posted here. Myers Park plays at 2:00 on Saturday against the host team from District 1, Forest City Little League. If they win, they will play the champion from District 1, Chase Little League, on Sunday at 2:00. State tournaments use a double-elimination format.

The tournament will be hosted by Forest City Little League at Dunbar Park. It is located at 286 Learning Parkway, Forest City, NC 28043, which is less than an hour and a half drive from MPTLL. So consider a road trip to Forest City on Saturday to cheer on the 11's. They need our support. And stay tuned to Twitter for updated tournament info.

12's District Tournament Hosted by MPTLL

The 11-12-year-old NC District 3 Little League Tournament is being hosted by MPTLL. Games begin Saturday, July 6th. The updated bracket is here. Myers Park begins play vs Dilworth at 12:00 on new field on Saturday.

Join us in supporting the 12's as they try to defend their district title from last year. Come watch a game, or volunteer to help man the concessions tent by the field. MP needs your support. We are also hosting the 11-12-year-old NC State Tournament beginning July 20th.

Myers Park 11's Are District 3 Champs

Congrats to the MPTLL 11-year-old All-Star team for winning the NC District 3 Tournament. The 11's rolled through the tournament in three games, with wins over Coul Oak, Mint Hill and Dilworth. The championship game was dominated by Reed Bolin on the mound (1 hit, 1 run, complete game) and R.J. Scholtus at the plate (3 doubles) in a 6-1 victory over Dilworth.

The 11's are managed by Scott Warfield, with coaches Drew Mansfield and Arthur Morehead. Players are William Atwell, Reed Bolin, Kyle Evans, Carter Flanagan, Wyatt Hodges, Jackson Krisko, Henry Minges, Ben Morehead, Chase Rohr, R.J. Scholtus, Jack Shaw, and Robert Stone.

 

The team will now head to the 10-11-year-old NC State Tournament in Forest City. The bracket is here. Games begin Saturday, July 13th.

 

MP 11's to Play for District 3 Title

The MPTLL 11-year-old All-Star team will play Dilworth tonight at 7pm in the 10-11-year-old NC District 3 Tournament Finals at CoulOak. Myers Park is without a loss in this double-elimination tournament, so if they were to lose tonight, the two teams would play again at the same time tomorrow night.

A win would mean back-to-back 10-11-year-old district titles for Myers Park. And it would be a second banner for this team, coming on the heels of their recent TOC win. The last time Myers Park played Dilworth in a Little League district final, things went well for MP, with the 2010 12's winning 7-0 and going to Morganton for the State Tournament. This year, the 11's State Tournament will be played in Forest City.

Tonight is what MPTLL summers are all about. So come out to CoulOak and cheer them on. It's an easy drive, so let's get a big MP crowd out there to support the 11's. The park is located at 170 Coulwood Park Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214, just off Bellhaven Blvd. in northwest Charlotte. Anyone unable to attend can follow the game on Twitter.

District Tournament Brackets

The official NC District 3 Tournaments begin this weekend for our 9, 10 and 11-year old All-Star teams. This is the start of the official Little League tournament path for each age group. Survive and advance. So check out the schedules linked below and go support our MPTLL teams.

The 11-12-year-old District Tournament is scheduled for July 6. Myers Park is hosting both the District and State Tournaments for the 12's.

11-12-year-old District Tournament - July 6 at Myers Park
10-11-year-old District Tournament - June 22 at Coul Oak
9-10-year-old District Tournament - June 22 at Mint Hill
9-year-old District Tournament - June 22 at Weddington

MP 8's and 11's Win 2013 TOC

Congratulations to the Myers Park 8- and 11-year-old TOC teams for winning the Tournament of Champions. Myers Park had all five age groups make the semifinals this year. Three of them made the finals and two won their tournaments. These teams had a lot of support from the MP faithful - many were following the games on Twitter if they could not attend in person.

Updated TOC Schedules

Come out and support our Myers Park Trinity Tournament of Champions (TOC) teams. Schedules are below. Check here or on Twitter for updates.

12-year-old TOC at Coul-Oak 
11-year-old TOC at Myers Park
10-year-old TOC at Mint Hill
9-year-old TOC at Weddington
8-year-old TOC at Steele Creek

Follow MP Games on Twitter

Myers Park Trinity fans, if you're ever going to join Twitter, now is the time. Summer baseball tournaments are what we created our league account for. Get live TOC and All-Star game updates delivered straight to your smart phone, tablet or computer as they are happening at various locations across our district and hopefully beyond.

It's very easy. Go to www.twitter.com and sign up for your own personal account. Then go to www.twitter.com/mplittleleague and click "Follow." Or you can just search for "mplittleleague" and follow. Downloading the Twitter app to your smart phone is a highly recommended next step. It's simple and convenient, and you don't have to post anything yourself. Just sit there and get the info you want delivered to you instantly. 

This is the best way to follow all the action. And there is so much that is not on the league website or this blog - pictures, scores, commentary, announcements.... So sign up today. Tournaments are about to begin. Let's have another great summer of baseball. GOMP! 

MPTLL Postseason League Tournaments

It's tournament time at Myers Park Trinity. Click on the links below for the updated brackets for each division. Final games will be played at 12:00 on Saturday, just before Closing Ceremonies. Good luck to all the teams.

Major League Tournament

National League Tournament

American League Tournament

Al Browne Wins Major League Title

Al Browne clinched the 2013 Major League championship on Wednesday with a 16-4 victory over Christ Church in the final game of the regular season. The offense was led by Avery Schwartz, who went 4 for 5, including his 2nd HR of the season.  Raul Beltran had 3 hits and his 3rd HR, while Darnell Craig added 2 hits, including his 1st career HR over the left field scoreboard. Henry Merchant handled the bulk of the pitching, allowing 2 hits over 5.1 innings.

Congrats to the players of Al Browne, who led the team out of a late season slump to finish on top. This is the team's 6th league title in the last 9 years.

Cooperstown Team Fundraiser

Stop by the table set up at the center of the park on Wednesday night to support the MP Cooperstown team fundraiser. They are selling entries for a "golf ball drop" that will take place on Closing Day, June 1st. All of the balls purchased will be loaded into a container, which will be raised above the outfield at closing ceremonies. The balls will be dropped at once over a golf cup cut into the field.

Closest to the pin wins up to $3,000. Furthest from the pin wins up to $400. Entries / golf balls cost $20 each. If less than 1,000 balls are sold, prizes will be 15% and 4% of the total proceeds respectively. The balance of the proceeds after payouts will help fund the MP team's trip to Cooperstown Dreams Park for a week of tournament baseball against 100 other 12U teams from around the country.

So stop by on Wednesday and support the team.

T-Ball: Still the Same After All These Years

Legendary Charlotte sports writer, Bob Quincy (left), was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame last night. He was a World War II veteran, five-time N.C. Sports Writer of the Year and spent a long and distinguished career in sports media.

But he was also part of the MPTLL family at one time. While he usually wrote about bigger and better things, back in 1980 he wrote about us. More specifically, T-Ball, which at the time was still being played on the Eastover Elementary School playground. There were winners and losers back then. Only two years prior, there had been an actual championship game - played on our crown jewel, E.C. Griffith Field on Randolph Road, no less. I know - I was a 5-year-old on that team and we cut our beach vacation short to come back and play in it.

Otherwise, it's amazing how little has changed about T-Ball in 33 years - the tears and tantrums, the clover picking and helicopter watching. And as Quincy said, "...unless one has the patience to deactivate a time bomb, he never should consider running a T-ball team." Still true. Enjoy, straight from the scrapbook: "No One Left Holding The Bag In T-Ball" - Bob Quincy, Charlotte Observer, 1980.

Concessions Duty

Like prepping the fields and cheering at games, concession stand duty is another essential way we support our children and our league. It is a fun and gratifying community service for all. Team moms will be reaching out via email to fill spots for each team.  Teams are assigned a specific week and they will need one adult for each night during that week.  We need your help so please volunteer.  Below is a schedule of when teams are responsible for coverage. Thanks to Kaaren Schultz for her hard work and dedication at the concession stand.

Week 2 - April 20, 23, 24          BS, NL2

Week 3 - April 27, 30, May 1     CH, NL3, AL4, AL8

Week 4 - May 4, 7, 8                CC, NL4, AL5, AL9

Week 5 - May 11, 14, 15           T, NL5, AL6, AL10

Week 6 - May 18, 21, 22           CP, NL6, AL7, AL11

Week 7 - May 23, 24, 28           AB, NL7, NL9, AL12, AL14

Week 8 - May 25, 26, 27           TBD, TBD, TBD

Week 9 - May 29, 30, 31, 6/1     RB, NL8, NL10, AL1, AL13

Picture Day - Saturday, April 20, 2013

MPTLL Picture Day is this Saturday, April 20. Make-up pictures are Monday through Thursday, April 22-25. Each team is assigned a picture time. The schedule is HERE (updated 4/19).

The league will provide each player with an 8x10 team picture. So there is no need for parents or coaches to purchase those. Team pictures will be distributed to the teams at the park when they are ready.

Parents wishing to purchase individual pictures can review the order form HERE. Please bring your completed form and a check payable to Classic Photography to your scheduled picture time. Individual pictures that are purchased will me mailed to each player's home when they are ready.

Pictures will be taken on the hill above the main batting cage area at the center of the upper park. Please arrive early.

Opening Ceremonies - Saturday, April 13

Opening Ceremonies are this Saturday, April 13^th. It will mark Myers Park Trinity's 61^st anniversary and 62^ndconsecutive year of baseball. The ceremonies will include a bagpiper and Boy Scout Color Guard. We will honor our winning all-star teams from last year and display their championship banners. Information will be given about the launch of our 2013 Capital Campaign. And of course there will be the ceremonial first pitch.

The day begins early with AL and softball games at 9:00 before Opening Ceremonies. Coaches and players not playing at 9:00 are asked to arrive for Opening Ceremonies in uniform by 10:00.  Major League and National League players are asked to line up on the outside of the fence on the 3rd base side.  T-Ball, American league, and Softball teams are asked to line up on the outside of the fence on the first base side.  Teams will parade in together starting at 10:15 and Opening Ceremonies will begin at 10:30. Games will continue at 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00. 

The MPTLL Capital Campaign video will be shown at the park under a tent on a widescreen TV, running on a continuous loop throughout the day. It is a brief, but well done documentary about Myers Park Trinity produced by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. For the first time, you will see what our facilities could look like after a successful Capital Campaign. It is quite impressive, and exciting. You will probably recognize some familiar faces from among the MPTLL family of players, coaches, parents and other volunteers talking in the video about why Myers Park is a so special to them.

Arrive early because parking could be difficult. Please park in either our main upper lot on Billingsley Road, the large overflow lot at the Department of Social Services next door, or down at the Grier Heights fields. Do not park across Billingsley Road in the Annuvia lot, next to the new field at the county gas pumps or drive through area, in any unmarked spaces, or on any grassy areas. Cars could be ticketed and possibly towed for parking in unauthorized areas. 

Finally we would like to make you aware of the 2013 Charlotte Racefest, a road race scheduled for this Saturday, April 13th.  A link to the race’s route map is below.  The race could cause delays and/or detours and we wanted to provide the link below to help you plan accordingly.  

http://www.charlotteracefest.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=site.display&page_id=3592

Join us for Opening Ceremonies and come check out the Capital Campaign video while at the park. This is a big day for Myers Park Trinity Little League. 

Park Etiquette

MPTLL Families,

The league would like to provide the following reminders about a few park related issues. If we all follow these guidelines, our park will be a better place than it already is.

PARKING - Parking is allowed only in marked spaces. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police will ticket your car if it is parked outside of a marked space. They do come to our park often, sometimes driving through looking for cars to ticket. If it is deemed necessary, your car may also be towed. Our primary lot is by the main gate at the upper fields. Please do not park on the grass, by the gate or fence, in front of the dumpster, in the handicapped spaces without a pass or beyond the end of a row of spaces. If the marked spaces in the main lot are full, you may park in the Grier Heights lot down the hill or in the Department of Social Services lot next to the main lot on the park side of Billingsley Road. The DSS lot is huge. There are always plenty of available spaces, and there are pathways to New Field, Founders and GH2 from there. Do not park anywhere near the county gas pumps or across the street at the Chemical Dependency Center - they will tow your car.

DOGS - Dogs are allowed, but they must be on leashes. Some people are not comfortable around dogs, and especially those not on a leash. Also, as you would anywhere, please bring a bag and clean up after your pooch when he does his business.

SMOKING / TOBACCO - Randolph Park is a tobacco-free zone. Please refrain from smoking or using other tobacco products anywhere at the park.

TRASH - Myers Park Trinity does not have a cleaning service. Please use the trash and recycling bins located around the park. And if you see something on the ground, please take a second to pick it up and throw it away. Bleacher areas should be cleaned by the parents and fans and dugouts should be cleaned by the players after each game and practice. It's not hard to look at the schedule and see who left the mess.

CHEERING - Keep it positive. Remember that this is a youth activity. It is a game played by children. The children should be able to relax and have fun playing the game without being distracted by excessive noise, negative comments or coaching from outside the fences. The players, coaches and umpires are all doing their best. No one wants to do anything less. Just show that you support them and that you enjoy watching. This is rarely a problem at Myers Park. We have a great group of families. This is just a reminder.

Thank you for your help in these areas. And thank you for supporting MPTLL.

MPTLL Capital Campaign Video To Be Shown Saturday

Sunday was Opening Day, but due to time constraints, Opening Ceremonies will take place this Saturday, April 13 at MPTLL's Randolph Park at 10:30 am. Join us for our annual celebration of Little League Baseball and Myers Park Trinity. A full day of games will immediately follow the ceremony.

Also, there will be a very special presentation:  The MPTLL Capital Campaign video will be shown at the park under a tent on a wide screen TV, running on a continuous loop throughout the day. It is a relatively brief, but very well done documentary about Myers Park Trinity produced by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. For the first time, you will see what our facilities could look like after a successful Capital Campaign. It is quite impressive, and exciting. You will probably recognize some familiar faces from among the MPTLL family of players, coaches, parents and other volunteers talking in the video about why Myers Park is a so special to them.

So join us for Opening Ceremonies and come check out the Capital Campaign video. This is a big time in the life of Myers Park Trinity. Be part of it.

Little League Opening Day - Sunday, April 7

Games begin this Sunday at Myers Park Trinity in the Major League, National League and American League divisions. This will be the 62nd Opening Day in our league's history. The traditional Opening Ceremonies will take place on Saturday, April 13th at 10:30 am.

Check this site throughout the spring season for pictures, game news, standings and announcements. Or have it delivered to you via Twitter. And parents and coaches - help us gather the latest game info. Tweet your highlights and pictures to @mplittleleague to share with the rest of the league. We will retweet any game news we get. If you're not on Twitter, you're missing part of the experience. Sign up at www.twitter.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/mplittleleague.

Here is the schedule for Sunday's opening day of games.

Major League:
Al Browne @ Harry & Bryant - 5:00 - New Field
Christ Church @ Regions Bank - 5:00 - Founders Field
Cameron Harris @ Carolina Pad - 7:00 - New Field
Trinity @ Bryant Supply - 7:00 - Founders Field

National League:
JW Demolition @ Baird - 3:00 - Wade Field
Charlotte Roofing @ TR Lawing - 3:00 - Founders Field
JJ's Red Hots @ Raymond James - 5:00 - Wade Field
Urban Building Group @ B. Whittington Construction - 7:00 - Wade Field

American League:
Sunset Slush @ JE Dunn Construction - 1:00 - Randolph East
Andrew Roby @ Bradley Arant - 1:00 - Kiser-Chapman Field
Blythe Development @ Bray & Long - 3:00 - Randolph East
US National Whitewater Center @ MedChex - 3:00 - Kiser-Chapman Field
Empowered Benefits @ Cotswold Barber Shop - 3:00 - Grier Heights #1
Chick-fil-A @ Griffith Real Estate Services - 5:00 - Randolph East
Mama Fu's @ Leroy Fox - 5:00 - Grier Heights #1

Last Day to Register for Junior League Baseball

Friday, April 5th, is the last day to sign up for MPTLL's 13-14-year-old Junior League baseball program. This age group plays on a full size field (60' mound and 90' bases) at Independence Park, located across the street from Memorial Stadium. "Inde" is a great venue to watch and play a baseball game. If interested, please email Mark Mensheha at mmensheha@yahoo.com.

How To Help Maintain Our Fields

The following is a message from our grounds crew to our coaches. Please read it carefully and share it with anyone that uses our fields......

There are two general categories of field maintenance: prevention and repair. Coaching staffs should be concerned with the prevention of damage to the fields. The maintenance staff should handle the repair of damage. Obviously the prevention of damage is key to maintaining a field in prime condition, and it is relatively simple if the proper steps are embraced by everyone. Without prevention, there is repair, which is time consuming, sometimes expensive and occasionally an inconvenience to all - an example of which was the unavailability of Founders Field for several weeks.

The following steps should be taken in order to prevent damage to our fields and avoid costly repairs:

Mats - Green artificial turf mats are located at each field to protect the grass and dirt areas from damage caused by repetitive motion during practices. Worn grassy areas take time to grow back. Holes dug into the batter's boxes or pitcher's mound create avoidable busy-work for the grounds crew. Coaches should always make sure to: use mats in the batter's boxes during batting practice; pitch batting practice from a mat; hit infield/outfield defensive practice from a mat - if you hit from the sideline, move a mat to the sideline; return mats to the batter's boxes and pitcher's mound at the end of practices and games - get the players involved and make it a routine.

Wet Fields - Never practice on a field that is wet and soft. It takes a considerable amount of time to repair the craters caused by players using a soft infield or base paths. The damage caused directly affects the quality of the playing surface for your infielders. It is also a safety issue - a player can get hurt by a bad hop or by slipping on a wet field. Get approval before using any rapid-dry or soil conditioner. The fields shouldn't have too much of those products. And they are expensive. When using them, be careful to avoid contact with the grass. They are for dirt areas only.

Pre-game / Post-game - The home team is responsible for raking and lining the field before each game. But it is often a group effort by both teams. Use paint on the grass and chalk on the dirt. Chalk will damage the grass. Use the string and batter's box frame to ensure straight lines. If you are unsure about how to properly line the field, ask someone for help. There are also specific guidelines in the Little League Rulebook. After the last game of the day, be sure to return the mats to the batter's boxes and pitcher's mound. It would also help to rake dirt back up onto the mound and away from the infield "lips." And please remind your team's parents to throw away any trash from the bleacher areas at the end of each game.

Debris - Be on the lookout for rocks, gum balls, weeds, leaves, trash or other debris when your team is using a field. It only takes a couple of minutes for your entire team to do a quick rock or gum ball collection during practice. It takes a single grounds crew member much longer. It would be good for the kids to take part in helping to maintain our fields, and this is an easy way for them to pitch in.

Digging - Be on the lookout for any player that is digging at the ground with his feet. It is often done by a pitcher trying to "fix" the mound, a batter trying to "get his feet set" or a bored outfielder that can't stand still. It may seem like a harmless baseball habit, but it causes damage to our fields. Please speak up to the player when you see this happen.

Thanks for reading this message and getting on board with the above guidelines. We are all volunteers and must help to keep our great ballpark in great condition. We love our league and the work we do at the park. But it needs to be a team effort, with the coaches, players and parents taking part. The MPTLL maintenance staff truly appreciates your support.

2013 Summer TOC and All-Star Dates

NC District 3 has announced dates and locations for summer Tournament of Champions (TOC) and All-Star play. Myers Park Trinity is slated to host the 11-year-old TOC, the 11-12-year-old District 3 Tournament and the 11-12-year-old North Carolina State Tournament. See below for start dates and locations of the baseball tournaments relevant to MPTLL. Each could last about a week. Tournament teams are selected for each age group by a vote of the coaches, based on availability and playing ability.

9-year-old TOC:  June 8 - Lake Norman
10-year-old TOC:  June 8 - Mint Hill
11-year-old TOC:  June 8 - Myers Park Trinity
12-year-old TOC:  June 8 - Coul-Oak

9-year-old District 3 Tournament:  June 22 - Lake Norman
9-10-year-old District 3 Tournament:  June 22 - Mint Hill
10-11-year-old District 3 Tournament:  June 22 - Coul-Oak
11-12-year-old District 3 Tournament:  July 6 - Myers Park Trinity

Survive and advance to....

11-12-year-old NC State Tournament:  July 20 - Myers Park Trinity

Scheduling Information

The league schedule has been posted online for the majority of the spring season. Thanks to Rex Brietz for doing such a great job on it again this year. The Master Schedule can be found here. It can also be found pretty easily at mptll.org. Individual team schedules are also posted. The schedule is updated on a daily basis. But make sure to go by what your child's individual coach has announced, in case he or she has made changes, or has different arrival or departure times.

On the Master Schedule, please pay close attention to the next-to-last page. There are specific league guidelines regarding batting cage practices, pre-game schedules, requests, etc. It is important that all teams are aware of these guidelines so that things run smoothly this season.

Little League Rule Changes for 2013

Coaches, please be aware of this year's Little League rules and regulations changes, announced over the winter. MPTLL is not participating in the new 50-70 Intermediate Division, but some of the other changes will affect our Spring and All-Star seasons. There is more info here.

New Schedule for Little League Tryouts

Friday and Saturday's rain has caused a complete change to the tryout schedule for MPTLL 6-12-year-olds playing Major League, National League or American League baseball. If you have a child in that group of players, please visit the new tryout schedule, find your specific date and time, and click to send a message to the league confirming that you are aware of it. 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds are now all scheduled to tryout on Sunday, Feb. 24. All others have been assigned times for the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd.

Please continue to monitor your email, the league website, this blog or the MPTLL Twitter feed for potential changes. (Follow us at www.twitter.com/mplittleleague for instant updates.) The fields are holding a large amount of water and will need to dry out overnight in order for Sunday tryouts to remain on schedule.

T-Ball Registration Extended Online Through Feb. 24

Myers Park Trinity Little League has space available in its T-Ball division for the 2013 spring season.  Registration for T-Ball will remain open until the end of the day on February 24th. 

You can sign up online at www.mptll.org.  In addition to 5, 6 and 7-year-old boys and girls, 4-year-olds who turn 5 on or before July 31st, 2013 are also eligible to play this spring. 

Note that registration for softball and baseball (for ages 6-12) is now closed. Registration for Junior League (ages 13-14) and Junior Legion baseball (ages 15-17) remains open until early April.

Spring Registration Reminders

Registration for T-Ball and Little League Baseball (ages 5-12) and for Girls Softball ends this Sunday, Feb. 17. Sign up online today.

Junior League - Information regarding Junior League (13 and over) registration is here. Those sign-ups will continue a bit longer but keep in mind that 13U Challenge registration ends on Feb. 19. Contact Mark Mensheha if interested.

If you have a friend or neighbor that might be interested in playing, please let them know about MPTLL. Time is running out.

Baseball For Life Coaches Clinic - Sunday, Feb. 10

Baseball For Life, a new non-profit organization co-chaired by Ed Walton and Mike Shildt, will be having a coaches clinic this Sunday from 1:00-4:00 at Weddington High School specifically geared toward youth coaches. This is a great opportunity to learn from many of the best coaches around Charlotte. It's free but you must register online. There is more info here and in the video below.

Best of MPTLL #6: Fields and Facilities

Myers Park Trinity Little League is blessed to call Randolph Park its home. The Marshall-Caudle Little League Complex is the result of a little luck and a lot of hard work. It began to take shape after three decades of play on borrowed land across Randolph Road.

Here is what the area looked like in 1961. In that satellite image, E.C. Griffith Field is at the top left section of the photo. Caudle Field would be built just to its north many years later. What we now use and call "Grier Heights #1" is top right, directly across Randolph Road. At the bottom left is the old Culp Field, our Pony League / Babe Ruth field, before it became overgrown with ivy-covered outfield fences. And at the bottom right portion of the photo is the farmland that would become Randolph Park. Wade Field now sits directly across the street from where Culp Field once was.

When Lloyd Caudle, Tom Marshall and other volunteers secured the use of the Mecklenburg County land that is now Randolph Park in the early 1980's, it was originally constructed with two Little League fields and a Babe Ruth field. The Little League fields had dirt infields, no mounds and no outfield fences. Their were no bleachers - only a long concrete slab on each side of the backstop for fans to sit on. The dugouts had no roofs. There was a two-sided wooden scoreboard between the fields along a dirt walking path, which led to a small cinder-block concession stand (now "Billy's Building"). The fields were called Randolph East and West (later Kiser-Chapman) Fields, and they are still in use today.

Sponsorship Opportunities at MPTLL

Myers Park Trinity Little League is currently seeking team and sign sponsors for the 2013 spring season and beyond. There are various levels of sponsorship opportunities throughout the league. For more details, read MPTLL's sponsorship letter and contact Rex Brietz if you are interested.

Thanks to the organizations that have already signed on to sponsor Myers Park Trinity this year. The list is growing each day. We look forward to seeing your company's name on a jersey or sign this season.

Equipment Donations - Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013

The league will be collecting gently used or new equipment this weekend from families wanting to donate to those in need. Collection bins will be set up at walk-up registration at the Randolph Park concession stand from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm this Saturday, February 2, 2013.

Baseball and softball equipment can be very expensive. Some families simply cannot afford the cost of a brand new bat or glove. But we want all of our players to be outfitted with the gear they need to play ball.

A new season is just around the corner, and many families are purchasing new equipment. But what happens to the old stuff? Rather than letting it sit in the garage or on the porch collecting dust, stop by the park on Saturday and donate it. There are plenty of kids right there at MPTLL who would be thrilled to have it.

We will be collecting gently used or new items such as: bats, gloves, baseballs, softballs, gear bags, helmets, catcher's gear, cleats in good condition, etc. Please take a look around the house - if you have any of these or related items to spare - even if you are not coming to sign up - bring it out to the park on Saturday. Thanks.

2013 Walk-up Registration

Online registration for the Myers Park Trinity Little League spring baseball, softball and tee ball season continues through February 17, 2013. Sign up today at MPTLL.org.

For those who prefer to sign up in person, walk-up registration begins this weekend. Here are the dates, times and locations:

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013  10:00-2:00  Randolph Park Concession Stand (Equipment Donations*)
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013  12:00-4:00  Family Dollar  -  917 Wendover Rd., 28211
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013  12:00-4:00 Grier Heights Community Park - Sam Drenan Rd at Skyland Ave.
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013  1:00-5:00  Family Dollar  -  917 Wendover Rd., 28211
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013  12:00-4:00  Family Dollar  -  917 Wendover Rd., 28211
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013  1:00-5:00 Grier Heights Community Park - Sam Drenan Rd at Skyland Ave.

*On Feb. 2 at the concession stand, the league will be collecting any gently used or new baseball and softball equipment that our families would like to donate to those in need. More information.

2013 Spring Registration Flyer

The Myers Park Trinity spring registration flyer is here. Please help us spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, email, word of mouth, etc. This flyer can also be printed and posted in public places that grant permission.

Online registration continues through February 17, 2013. It is quick and convenient. You can pay by credit card or check. Walk-up registration at the Randolph Park concession stand is Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 10:00-2:00. The park is located at Randolph and Billingsley Roads. Walk-up registration at Grier Heights Community Monumental Park and at the Food Lion on Wendover Rd. is coming soon. Stay tuned here for more details on that.

Follow MPTLL on Twitter in 2013

Myers Park Trinity jumped into the world of social media in the summer of 2012. In the beginning, Twitter was used primarily for sharing updates from various All Star tournament sites. Since that time, its use has been expanded each month. The trend will continue in 2013 because Twitter keeps our families informed.

Want to know the absolute latest information about the league? Join up and follow us on Twitter. He are some examples of the types of announcements that will be delivered instantly to your smartphone, tablet or computer if you follow MPTLL on Twitter:

• Schedule changes due to bad weather.
• Announcements about league events.
• News about youth baseball or softball.
• Information about clinics, sign-ups, sales or volunteering.
• League news about who's doing what on or off the field.

The list is endless, really. Whatever is happening at MPTLL, it'll be on Twitter. So sign up on www.Twitter.com. It's quick and easy to do. Then go to www.Twitter.com/mplittleleague, or just type "mplittleleague" into the Twitter search box, and click "Follow" on our page. You will then have all the info you could possibly want about Myers Park Trinity delivered instantly. You can also follow any other people or groups that may interest you. That's the great thing about Twitter - you only get what you want. Try it out today.

Best of MPTLL #5: Volunteers

Myers Park Trinity is one of the largest youth sports leagues in Charlotte. It fields over 50 teams each spring regular season, plus about another 30 throughout the Fall Ball, Challenge and All-Star programs.

It takes a large group of dedicated people to fill the diverse roles necessary to run such a large, growing and improving organization. There are obviously the coaches. There are division coordinators. There is the grounds crew and concessions staff. There are league officers and a board of directors. There are people to manage things like sponsorships, registration, marketing, websites, tryouts, tournaments, fundraising, construction and - being in a county park - government relations.

All of these people are volunteers. Many of them do not have children in the league. Some of them put in a handful of hours nearly every day for the benefit of Myers Park Trinity. Why do they do it? Because they know a good thing when they see it. They are passionate about it. They know it's good for the kids and they want it to last. They also know it's refreshing and energizing to be around baseball and softball, and to spend time good people.

So get involved. As they say, the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. That's certainly true at Myers Park. I can't think of a better organization to be a part of.

In case you missed it.....

Best of MPTLL #1: Community Atmosphere.

Best of MPTLL #2: Dedicated Coaches.

Best of MPTLL #3: Versatility.

Best of MPTLL #4: History and Tradition.

2013 Spring Sponsors

Myers Park Trinity would like to recognize the following organizations for being the first to sign on as sponsors for the Spring 2013 season. THANKS for helping to make MPTLL great. We look forward to adding to this list very soon.

Al Browne
A.G. Zoutewelle Surveyors
B Whittington Construction
Baird Private Wealth Management
Blythe Development Company
Bond Network
Bray & Long
BryanCave
Bryant Supply
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates
Charlotte Martial Arts Academy
Christ Episcopal Church
Contemporary Benefits Design
Defease with Ease
Empowered Benefits
Glandon Capital
Hankins & Whittington
Hendrick Honda
JE Dunn Construction
Keith Corporation
KPB Corporation
MedChex
Rayburn Cooper and Durham
Raymond James
R.B. Pharr & Associates
Supersod
Sunset Slush
Tavern on the Tracks
T.R. Lawing Realty
Trinity Presbyterian Church

Junior League Information for 2013

The Myers Park Trinity 13-14-year-old baseball program provides two levels of competition, aiming to let as many boys play baseball as possible. Tryouts are required for both levels of play. Boys who are selected for Challenge play are not required to play in the regular-season program, but regular season play is required for boys wanting the traditional end-of-year all-star experience. See below for more information:

Independence Park Work Day: Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013

From our Junior League Coordinator, Mark Mensheha....

MPTLL is seeking volunteers - both players and families - for some preseason field work at its home field for 13s and 14s, Independence Park, this coming Saturday, January 26, between 9am and 5pm. We’re proud to have a great facility like Independence Park as our 13/14 home, but the facility is in need of a little clean-up work before the 2013 season can begin.

We’ll hopefully have more volunteers than we have available equipment at the field, so if you can bring with you any of the following, the equipment will likely come in handy:

Work gloves
Rakes
Shovels
Gas-powered leaf blowers
Leaf bags
Circle hoe (to help pull weeds around the backstop area)
Cable ties (to close off openings in the fenceline)

In addition to the general facility clean-up work that the above tools will make possible, we’re hoping for some assistance with some “heavy-lifting” work. This includes work on our mound and catchers circle, as well as edging work around the infield.

We also have a potential painting project that will be available to us. If you’d be interested in that work, specifically, please let us know of that interest through the contact information below.

If you can offer a couple hours of your time on Saturday, it’d be greatly appreciated.

Questions: Mark Mensheha (mmensheha@yahoo.com)

Best of MPTLL #4: History and Tradition

For a youth sports organization, Myers Park Trinity Little League has a very long history. The story of our early years has been well documented on this website. The Harry & Bryant team was one of the original six teams put together in 1951 as part of the city-wide American Business Club league. Our own organization was chartered in 1952, with Harry & Bryant and Al Browne's Service included. These teams are still in existence today and Myers Park is now the oldest league in Charlotte.

We also have a lot of tradition, something that doesn't always come with history. Al Browne still plays Harry & Bryant each year to start the spring season. Our coaches and other volunteers tend to stick around, many of them for several decades. Our Major League teams use the property system, so most of their players remain on the teams for multiple years. Those teams are like college athletic programs, with alumni and fans that may support them for years. Some of us come back to coach our teams. Our fields are sometimes named for our legends.

MPTLL is constantly evolving and improving. But we never lose sight of our history and tradition. Why is that important? Because it creates a sense that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. It is something that is lasting... something we can depend on. It is comforting to know that it has been here for previous generations, and if we care for it, it will be here for many more. And we will care for it, because being a part of something bigger than yourself is not only worthwhile. It is inspiring. It creates passion and energy. At the same time, it humbles us and gives us perspective, and that rubs off on the players. That's pretty special, and you can't find that for kids in many places. When you do, you hang onto it.

In case you missed it.....

Best of MPTLL #1: Community Atmosphere.

Best of MPTLL #2: Dedicated Coaches.

Best of MPTLL #3: Versatility.