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.

Independence Park Work Day - January 26, 2013

MPTLL is seeking volunteers - both players and families - for some preseason field work at its Junior League diamond at Independence Park on January 26. The MP 13's and 14's have a jewel of a home field at Independence Park. But our home is in need of a little clean-up work before the 2013 season can begin.

Check back here for additional details in the days to come. In the meantime, save the date, and hopefully you can help the league and our Junior League teams by spending some time with us on the 26th.

Register Now for The Spring Season

Online registration for the spring season at Myers Park Trinity is well under way with nearly 200 players already signed up. The registration process began in December this year and will continue through February 15. Sign up now to ensure your child gets a spot in the divisions where space is limited, or to make sure you get the tryout time that fits your family's schedule. It's an easy process online and shouldn't take more than five or ten minutes.

For those preferring to register in person, walk-up sign ups will take place from 10:00-2:00 at the Randolph Park concession stand on Saturday, February 2, and throughout the first half of February in Grier Heights (details to come).

Baseball tryouts for the American League, National League and Major League will be conducted the weekend of February 23-24. Returning Major Leaguers do not need to tryout. There is no tryout for T-Ball or Softball. Junior League tryouts are scheduled for Saturday, April 13. For more dates, visit the MPTLL Calendar.

Best of MPTLL #3: Versatility

Myers Park Trinity Little League is a multifaceted youth sports organization. At its heart, it is a recreational baseball and softball league, open to all players regardless of their individual talent level. From the most experienced ballplayer to the beginner playing for the first time, there is a place for everyone in our regular season. The less experienced players may participate in one of the league's instructional divisions, while the more experienced ones may enjoy a more competitive division, complete with standings, tournaments and a rich history. Our regular recreational season is a quality league unto itself. But we are more than a "rec league."

During the summer months, Myers Park Trinity places an emphasis on the All-Star season. Our tournament teams have a long history of success, including a steady string of championship banners earned in recent years. In the last two years alone, Myers Park has won NC State Baseball Championships in each of the 10, 11 and 12-year-old age groups. But we are more than an All-Star program.

In the spring and fall seasons, our Challenge program provides an additional baseball experience and an alternative to travel ball, with a tournament schedule and an increasing emphasis on instruction and talent development, led by the new MP Academy. But there is still much more to Myers Park Trinity.

We are a softball program made up of competitive girls teams playing all over Mecklenburg County. We are a non-profit community organization, providing scholarships each season to over a hundred less-fortunate kids that would not otherwise be able to participate. We are a family of volunteers, not only maintaining a great league and outstanding facilities, but also building lifelong friendships and helping each other out when there is a need.

Such versatility by a youth sports organization is rare. Many leagues are unable to provide all of these opportunities for their families. They may exist primarily as a recreational league, and lose players wanting a more competitive experience. Or they may focus more on their Challenge or All Star programs, at the expense of their regular season league. But Myers Park Trinity is able to do both and serve the community at the same time. It is a complex task, and we are faced with more challenges each year. But the league is committed to making improvements in all areas every season so that we may continue the upward trend that began generations ago.

In case you missed it.....

Best of MPTLL #1: Community Atmosphere.

Best of MPTLL #2: Dedicated Coaches.