The reviews are in! Newtown Edgmont Little League hosted an impressive and exciting Pennsylvania State Championship tournament in July. We knew this summer would be especially exciting for Newtown Edgmont Little League because the Pennsylvania Little League Baseball State Championship tournament took place on our home fields July 25th-31st. It was the first time since 1996 that NELL was selected, and what an action-packed week it was!
District 19 is home to some of the most competitive baseball in the state of Pennsylvania. Our baseball program competes for District and State Championships, Eastern Region Finals and ultimately, the International World Series every year.
The tournament is part of the Little League journey. This series, for 11- and 12-year-old players, brought the top eight teams in the state to NELL. Board Member Mike McCalla said that the entire week could not have been any better. “It was great baseball to watch for not only the attending teams but for our own community,” he remarked. “It has definitely made our NELL players hungry to get to that level someday.”
The tournament champions, Media Little League, dominated East Side Little League out of West Chester with an impressive 12-1 win and was crowned on NELL’s Field 1 on July 31st. That win advanced them to the Mid-Atlantic Regionals in Bristol, CT, with the ultimate goal of making it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
The tournament kicked off with an opening ceremony on July 25th. Former Major League player, and current Philadelphia Phillies Color Commentator, Ben Davis was the keynote speaker at the event which included player packet distribution, meet and greet opportunities and catering by Luigi & Giovanni’s.
If you enjoyed a game or two during the tournament, you noticed that the Board and volunteers had spent the past three years doing extensive renovations. “We completed a major and much-needed renovation to give our players a top-notch experience while also preparing for the tournament,” said NELL President Daren Grande. “Visitors enjoyed a new snack bar and new bathrooms, new dugouts and field improvements!” Such improvements included a complete overhaul of Field 1 with new fencing, scoreboard, backstop and renovations to the Peterson Building behind home plate.
Having Little League neighbors from all over Pennsylvania descend into NELL’s complex for the PA State Tournament gave the Board and volunteers another reason to push forward with improvements. Daren said they saw a few thousand people visit the complex during the weeklong tournament.
Visitors who have come to NELL have always been amazed by the complex, which offers a memorable experience for players and families. It’s an impressive layout of eight meticulously maintained fields, six outdoor batting cages, a 15,000-square-foot indoor facility, a snack bar that rivals area restaurants, and plenty of on-site parking.
Daren would like to thank our community and all who worked hard over the past three years to make this tournament one for the record books. “NELL’s nomination and selection by Little League to host the PA State Tournament was a great honor and responsibility,” explained Daren. “We know this opportunity would not have been possible without the steadfast support and volunteer spirit that has surrounded this organization for the past 70 years.”
