Lower Gwynedd Little League Continues to Draw Large Numbers

The Lower Gwynedd Little League is a true success story.

In an age where some youngsters are choosing iPods over innings, or opting to play sports such as soccer or lacrosse instead of baseball, the local league continues to draw large numbers of boys and girls for baseball and softball. 

The Lower Gwynedd Little League is the largest baseball organization of its kind in the Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpain area, and the only youth-based sports organization in Lower Gwynedd Township.

Lower Gwynedd Little League President Jay Gelman believes the league remains a strong attraction to local youth.

“We currently have about 500 boys and girls,” said Gelman. “The Little League World Series you see on TV in August is kind of the Super Bowl of Little League baseball. We are proud to be a part of the Williamsport Little League organization.”

The Lower Gwynedd Little League offers baseball for boys and softball for girls.  The oldest players in the league are 14, and the newcomers begin play in the league as early as age 4.

“We’re able to get kids at a very young age,” Gelman said. “They start at a very young age. A lot of kids who have skills even at a young age can move over to Little League baseball.”

The Lower Gwynedd Little League has been active for over half a century.  Players have the opportunity to play throughout much of the calendar year and also have a chance to play tournaments when the regular season is complete.

“We have a very highly competitive league,” Gelman said. “The regular season ends in June, and then we have tournaments. The tournaments start for kids at age 7 and go all the way up to 14-year-olds. We also have a fall league, so we’re basically a year-round league.”

For the 4-year-old players, the importance of learning the game while creating a loose and happy atmosphere is the top priority for Gelman. The goal is to create an interest in the sport that will remain with the players for many years to come.

“We had the largest amount of 4-year-olds ever playing at T-ball for us this year,” said Gelman. “At that age, we’re more interested in the kids just coming out and having fun. We want to keep their interest going. Our goal for them at age 4 is for them to come back at age 5.”

As players grow older and continue to develop, their love for the game remains.  However, their desire to win becomes greater as the game becomes more competitive.

“It becomes more intense as the kids get older,” Gelman said. “Every year, the kids go through the ranks and get a little more competitive.  Winning becomes more important to them as they get older, but winning is not the only thing.  We’re trying to teach the kids the game and keep their interest in baseball.”

Gelman knows the popularity of Little League baseball is still strong, but he also knows the sport faces greater competition than ever before.  The success of the league continues to attract the attention of young ballplayers throughout the area, and Gelman strives to keep a strong number of players in the league on a consistent basis. 

“That’s our goal,” said Gelman. “We fare pretty well. There are a lot of leagues who are suffering from lowering registrations. We’re able to keep things level from year to year. We try to do what we can to get more kids out and make the league even stronger.”

The success of the Lower Gwynedd Little League would not be possible without the help of so many community members. Volunteers are needed for tasks such as coaching and umpiring, and the league also needs the support of its sponsors.

“It’s very important,” Gelman said. “We never have enough volunteers and never have enough sponsors. We depend on our registration fees and our sponsorships to keep the league going. It’s not just the money. It’s the time the people put in.”

For more information about the Lower Gwynedd Little League, visit www.lgbaseball.com.