We are excited for baseball and softball season to begin! It might be hard to imagine the sweet sounds of spring right now, but they’ll be here before we know it. The birds will be chirping, kids will play outside, and bats will be cracking over at Newtown Edgmont Little League (NELL) and Newtown Square Petticoat League (NSPL).
Boys and girls from all over town are eager to return to the fields. It’s a long winter of waiting, and players and their families can’t wait to come back to the place they call their second home. NELL and NSPL are truly special spots where kids ages 4 through 12 of all playing abilities learn to develop their love of the game. From Tee Ball to competitive tournament teams, our top-notch community programs offer an ideal environment for players to excel and for families to enjoy their time at the fields.
Player registrations for both programs end this month, and plans are underway for player evaluations, team assignments, opening day parades and family-fun special events. The season runs from early April through June. Over at NELL, players, families and friends will gather for NELL Day on Saturday, June 3rd (rain date Sunday, June 4th). It’s a day-long event featuring raffles for cash and prizes, games and activities for all ages, themed gift baskets and a silent auction. Some gift basket prizes include sports memorabilia and game tickets, home and garden decor, spa treatment packages, gift cards galore and more.
But there is more exciting news. “For the first time since 1996, NELL has been chosen to host the Pennsylvania State Tournament this July!” said NELL President Daren Grande. The tournament, for 11- and 12-year-old players, will bring the top eight teams in the state to NELL. The winning team will then advance to the Mid-Atlantic region tournament, where they will play for the opportunity to go to the Little League World Series.
This year, the Newtown Square Petticoat League (NSPL) will celebrate its 53rd anniversary. What started as a piece of farmland back in 1970 has transformed, with the hard work of dedicated volunteers, into four beautifully manicured softball fields. Troop Farm, as we know it today, has grown quite a bit over the years, and is now home to over 450 girls on recreational softball teams, along with six Rebels travel teams and over 100 coaches.
NSPL will hold their Family Fun Weekend in mid-May with an All-Star Game, family events and games throughout the weekend. The festivities will wrap up with a Skills Competition throughout the different divisions.
None of this would be possible without the generous folks who volunteer and financially contribute to help ensure that NELL and NSPL remain so special. Many have fond memories of their own time as a player. Passing the experience down to younger generations is simply saying Thank You for the memories!
For more information about playing, volunteering and sponsoring, visit www.NSPLSoftball.com and like their Facebook page @NSPL. More information and updates about NELL’s schedule can be found by following @NELLBaseball on Facebook or visiting their website www.NELLBaseball.com.
