03/06/2020
Sad News
Dear PLLL Community,
For the first time in its 56-year history, the Peekskill Lapolla Little League (PLLL) Board of Directors, with great sadness, announces the suspension of our operations and the cancellation of the 2020 season, effective March 2, 2020, due to insufficient numbers of registered players and adult volunteers to field the minimum number of teams. As such, all scheduled events have been cancelled.
In planning for 2020 and making the decision to partner with Cortlandt National Little League (CNLL) to have our registered 9 to 12-year-old players be placed on CNLL teams, the PLLL Board fully expected to operate and have a successful season of our own with at least 3 AA Minor (ages 6-8) and 4 T-Ball (ages 4 & 5) teams, based on the number of last season's players eligible to return.
Yet despite our best efforts to register players over the last 6 weeks - info posted in the City’s Parks & Recreation brochure; numerous emails sent out to our returning player's families and others on our mailing list; shared posts from the PLLL page, and; over 1,000 registration flyers distributed to the schools - only 22 of the minimum 60 players required for AA/Minor B and T-Ball registered - enough to form only 1 AA Minor team and 1 T-Ball team. What makes this announcement most difficult is that, for whatever reason, many of last season's players eligible to return did not register. Furthermore, there were not enough adults willing to volunteer as managers and coaches for the teams.
Thanks to the partnership with CNLL, in addition to the 17 players ages 9-12 that will be playing, the 22 players that registered can also play baseball with CNLL or, if they choose to, receive a refund of their registration fees. Because of the need to the work within CNLL’s schedule, the PLLL Board could not wait any longer and risk having the 22 players not be included with CNLL and not play. In addition, we could not wait to hope that enough players sign up, then not have enough, plus run out of time to get set up – form teams, have team sponsors, order uniforms and equipment, set game schedules and interleague play, etc. - for the start of the season.
On behalf of those that preceded us, we wish to give a heartfelt thanks to everyone that has supported PLLL over the years - the players and their families; all the adults, young and old, who volunteered their time to the league in any way; our loyal sponsors for their dedication and financial support; the City of Peekskill and Peekskill City School District for their collaboration, and; all of the elected officials and the community at large.
There is belief and hope that Peekskill Lapolla Little League can come back after the loss of this season, but it is up to Peekskill to make it happen. There must be a desire, a sense of urgency from the community to have a youth baseball program and, more importantly, the commitment to organize and run one. There will be a need for not just players, but adult volunteers – as managers, coaches, concession stand help, team parents, and most importantly, committee and Board members. Many if not most of the current Board will be moving on, and new leadership from a group of at least 10 to 12 committed adults that brings fresh drive and energy will be needed to reset the league.
Contact us at [email protected] or through our page if you are interested.
Sincerely, The PLLL Board of Directors
