The Great Lakes championship and World Series berth of 2009 were wonderful, never-to-be-forgotten dreams come true. Now it's time for Logan County Little League to begin a new chapter in its history.

Although the history made by that regional championship team last year will be difficult to duplicate, some new history will be made this year in 2010 when the sanctioned league becomes the only baseball league for this age group in the entire county, which is one of the state's biggest.

For decades, what has been called little league was played in all four of Logan County's incorporated cities, Adairville, Auburn, Lewisburg and Russellville. The one headquartered in Russellville was the only one which really had the right to use the name Little League Baseball, since that is an internationally sanctioned name. Youth baseball or city baseball was a more appropriate name for the others.
Adairville became a part of the Russellville league about a decade ago, and for a couple of years Lewisburg and Auburn sanctioned a separate sanctioned little league for the geographical area that stretches between those two cities. That alliance didn't work and Auburn tried to revive its separate league. Lewisburg youngsters have been part of the sanctioned league for a few years.

Now in 2010, Auburn Little League-- which has known great success in non-sanctioned postseason tournaments over the years-- is being dissolved. Auburn youngsters will now be part of the county league. Some of the leaders of the Auburn league will serve on the countywide board this year. Games will be played both in Russellville and in Auburn.
“We've been calling ourselves Russellville-Logan County Little League, but from now on its officially Logan County Little League,” says Mike Riley, who served as president of the league during the ultra-successful season and returns to that role in 2010. Riley is a Russellville-based realtor whose son attends Auburn School, an example of how the entire county has become more of a melded unit.

Riley says the Auburn league was especially strong last year in the 9-10 age group. Highly successful Logan County High School baseball coach Ethan Meguiar was a leader in that group, as was his former assistant Kyle Wall, who is expected to be named coach of the new middle school baseball program in the county system. Also involved is Travis Steward, who was a highly successful Babe Ruth Baseball coach before switching to his young son's age group.

Registration for the 2010 season begins Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Russellville Recreation Center on Winter Street by the post office. Two other signup sessions are also scheduled at that location-- Wednesday, March 3 from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday. March 6, from 9-noon. After that, it's too late to be part of something special.

Tryouts/evaluation will be held the following day, Sunday, March 7, from 1-5 p.m. at the little league field. Caleb Slaton Field is located at City-County Park. No late registrations or evaluations will be held.

Little league is for ages 9-12. Those playing must have been born no earlier than May 1, 1997, and no later than April 30, 2001. New registrants should bring their birth certificates with them to register. The player and a parent should come to the registration to sign papers, pay the $50 fee and be fitted for a uniform. The league furnishes uniforms, bats, balls and catcher's equipment. Players are required to supply gloves.
The sanctioned league divides its teams into two age groups, 11-12 and 9-10. Adding the Auburn group will expand the numbers in both divisions, making for more teams and more competition. The league had about 90 players last year. Riley believes that number will grow to about 120 this year. It's possible that teams will get to play 16 games this year, since some of the games will be played at the Auburn field.

With more teams, more parental help is going to be needed. Riley says applications will be accepted at the registration sessions for people who want to coach or help in other ways. The board will select coaches after the final registration before the evaluations. Background checks are required on potential coaches. Volunteers are also needed for other phases of league operation.

In addition to the countywide league, new this year will be a batting practice area near the playing field on the asphalt that once were the first tennis courts at City-County Park. "We had some funds left from the generous donations of people helping with the trip to Williamsport, and we're able to use some of that money for the batting cages," Riley said.
Gerald Printing, which now owns Omni Printing in Russellville, is donating a sign to honor the 2009 team, and Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative is donating the setting of poles to hold the batting cages.

Anyone with questions can call Riley at 726-0130 or Steward at 847-5112.