"New Field" Backstop Going Up Today

All-Star Residency Documentation Change

Just a reminder for parents of prospective 2012 All-Star players.....

Documents collected for proof of residency must now be dated or in force between February 1 of the previous and current years. This means that for the 2012 season documents must be from between February 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012. A driver's licence in effect during that time would be accepted. This rule mainly applies to the All-Star Tournament season, when these documents must be presented to Little League officials for player eligibility.

Click here for more information on this and other rule changes. And here is more info on the specific proof of residency documentation that will be acceptable.

Spring Registration Coming Soon

The registration period for Spring 2012 baseball and softball is almost here. Online signups begin January 14th, and remain the easiest way to register your kids. For more information about our various divisions of play, check out the Spring Season page on the MPTLL website. To find out if you reside within the established Little League territory of Myers Park Trinity, take a look at our latest Boundary Map. For information on preseason baseball and softball instruction at our park, visit Hardball Mechanics. And here are some important dates to be aware of:

Online Registration:  January 14 - February 19
Concession Stand Walkup Registration:  February 4, 10:00-2:00
Softball Practice Period Begins:  February 25
Little League Baseball Skills Assessments (Tryouts):  February 25-26
Challenge Team Tryouts:  February 28-29
Major League Draft:  March 1
National League Draft:  March 2
American League Draft:  March 3
Little League Baseball Practice Period Begins:  March 5
Softball Games Begin:  March 17
Opening Day / Baseball Games Begin:  March 24
Picture Day:  April 14
Spring Break - No Games:  March 31 - April 7
T-Ball Season Closes:  May 12
Softball Season Closes:  May 20
Memorial Day - No Regular Season Games:  May 26
Closing Day / Little League Baseball Season Closes:  June 2
All-Star Season Begins:  June 4

Junior and Senior League dates have not been determined. The complete league calendar is here.

Park Cleanup Day - Saturday, Dec. 3rd

Please join us this Saturday, December 3rd, for our annual fall park cleanup day at the MPTLL fields at Randolph Park. It begins at 9am and will last most of the day. There will be leaves and other debris to collect, as well as other projects that need helping hands.

We are truly fortunate to have one the the finest youth baseball and softball facilities around. And there is a reason - our volunteer grounds crew does not have an offseason. There are routine maintenance tasks (like grass cutting, debris cleanup, equipment maintenance and dirt replacement) and special projects (like field construction, sod cutting, painting, tree removal, concrete pouring and drainage control) all year long. I think one of the greatest challenges for our grounds crew is simply how to prioritize all the work. But they are always committed to getting it done.

I've been associated with Myers Park Trinity for most of my life and I have never seen the park looking so great on a consistent basis like it has in recent years. Nor have I seen such a hard-working and dedicated volunteer grounds crew. Regardless of the weather, the season or the time of day, I see either Tony McNay, Boyd Correll or another member of our grounds crew working at the park almost every time I go out there for lessons or practice. Their commitment is really amazing.

Occasionally they ask for our help, and we need to deliver. So please try to find some time this Saturday to lend a hand. And spread the word to other parents and coaches about this event so we can get as many volunteers as possible. You can send them a link to this post.

It starts at 9:00 am and will last all day. So even if you have basketball or some other activity to attend, hopefully you can spend a couple of hours before or after at the park. If you have a gas-powered leaf blower, please bring it. If not, bring a rake. A couple of snow shovels will be needed too for debris removal. Hope to see you on Saturday.

Little League Rule Changes for 2012

Little League International has announced its rule changes for 2012, some of which will directly affect Myers Park Trinity. Our Major League division may now play "dropped third strike" rules. And the residency documentation process for All-Stars has gotten more strict - documents must now come from within a specific time frame. More details are here.

MPTLL Wall of Champions

Next time you're at the park, check out the latest addition beyond the right field fence of Randolph East Field. It has been dubbed the "Wall of Champions" and it celebrates our recent string All-Star tournament winners. Each team has a sign commemorating its accomplishment with a team photo and roster.

So far there are signs for the following teams that have won Little League banners over the last four years: the 2008 9-10-year-old District 3 Champions, the 2010 11-12-year-old District 3 Champions, and the 2011 10-year-old and 11-year-old TOC Champs. The 2011 9-year-old TOC and State Invitational Champions will be added soon. And we hope to add many more signs in the years to come.

Little League Bat Regulations Announced For 2012

Little League International has announced its bat regulations for the 2012 season. There do not appear to be any major changes at the Major League level and below. The composite bat moratorium and updated list of approved composite bats remains in effect. Here is more info.

Keep in mind that the Myers Park Trinity Softball division, as well as our Junior League baseball division and above, are NOT governed by Little League.

Another Tragic Reminder About L-Screen Safety

Please check out my Hardball Mechanics post about the potential dangers of throwing batting practice to your team. A Florida teenager was recently killed while throwing from behind an L-screen. Our own Harrison Jones has had two serious injuries himself and wants others to learn from his experiences.

MP Cougars Win on Sunday

The 9U Myers Park Cougars won their Sunday Challenge tournament in Matthews with a couple of big wins. The team beat Steele Creek 24-7 and host team MARA 15-5 with solid pitching and defense, and impressive hitting. They are coached by William Bray, Paxton Hollar, Tom Giardi and Ryan Smith. Congrats to the Cougars and best of luck in the future.

MPTLL History Project: 1954-1956

The Myers Park Civitan League's third year saw more changes as the "kid loop" continued to evolve. In 1954 the Blythe Motors team changed sponsor names and became known as Auto Finance. But star pitcher Greg Schachner and others remained, and the team started strong.

During this early period, the league constructed a new playing field near the Mint Museum on Randolph Road that would remain in use for over 40 years. Later named E.C. Griffith Field in honor of the new park's generous land owner, Ranson Field was built by league volunteers while teams continued to play at the Myers Park Elementary School playground. Phil Howser and his Charlotte Hornets' grounds crew would later help construct a grass infield at the new ballpark, which was originally named for the first Myers Park Civitan Club president, John Ranson. By 1954, the league's teams were making news consistently at the new field. And it would soon play host to District 3 All-Star games.

The four Major League teams - Auto Finance, Farmer's Dairy, Harry & Bryant and Hotpoint - would continue their sponsorship unchanged in 1955 and 1956. Throughout the summer, they would pack a full schedule of games into each week. This was a period when many of our league's future coaches were enjoying their own Little League days - men like Zan Copeland, who would coach the Trinity team from the mid-1970's until his death in 2010; Buddy and Teddy Dubose, who coached several teams, including the original Carolina Pad / Kitchens Unlimited team in the early 1980's; and Pete and Wayne Ayers, who starred at Dilworth, later coached Proposition XLV / T.R. Lawing in the '80's and '90's, and enjoy watching a third generation of their family play today.