Lower Sussex Little League seeks player and umpire participation
Lower Sussex Little League’s opening day is only a few months off, and registration is in full-swing. But it’s not just the young ones that Lower Sussex is trying to get involved this year. A recent surge in sign-ups, coupled with a dropping number of umpires, has the Lower Sussex Little League (LSLL) board looking for some new eyes to call the shots on the fields this year.
“We’re seeing a combination of factors leading to the decline of umpires in the Lower Sussex community,” said Bruce Layton, vice president of LSLL. “Just this past year, two of our long-time umpires passed away. As the umpire population gets older, it’s becoming harder and harder to find people to fill their shoes. Many of the people we have now don’t have kids in the system, and we’d like to get back to that to get more people involved.”
Under Little League regulations, Lower Sussex’s umpires are required to work on a volunteer basis, though Layton noted that umpiring for the club has its perks.
“Most of the umpires we have come back each year,” he said, “but those numbers are dropping. They work as volunteers, but we will still feed them if they’re working out on the fields. Even if we can’t pay them, we make sure they’re fed.”
LSLL is hoping to see more participation in umpire numbers out on the diamonds and is also in need of an umpire chief. Qualified hopefuls should contact Bruce Layton at (302) 539-4768.
The decline in umpires is region-wide, too, not just in Lower Sussex.
“A number of our umpires throughout District III are older than 60 years,” said Bill Wingate, umpire chief for District III, which includes Lower Sussex and nine other Little League organizations – Cape, Georgetown, Millsboro, Milton, Laurel, Lewes, Nanticoke, Rehoboth and Woodbridge.
“We’d really like to start trying to get new, young umpires involved,” said Wingate, “but, unfortunately, you don’t always have the interest in the community. It’s a shame that the interest in umpiring is not there like it used to be.”
On Saturday, Feb. 11, Wingate will hold an umpire clinic at the Nutter D. Marvel Carriage Museum, located at 510 South Bedford Street in Georgetown at noon (relocated from the previously publicized DelTech venue). Anyone looking to get involved in District III umpiring and officiating, including those who want to be involved in Lower Sussex Little League, are being encouraged to attend. “There will be a lot of great information available,” said Wingate. “We’ll have a couple of college coaches and college umpires on hand to talk about the game and answer any questions people may have.”
For more information about the clinic, call Bill Wingate at (302) 236-4707. The clinic is free and open to anyone wishing to get involved with District III Little League.
Registration for Lower Sussex Little League continues into February, as the opening day in late April draws closer. Online registration for the 2012 LSLL season will continue through the next few months, and more information can be found by visiting www.lowersussexlittleleague.com. Additional information, including a league age calculator and field location, can also be found at the league’s Web site.
Walk-in registration will begin at the Lower Sussex Complex this week, too. Those wishing to get young athletes involved can stop by the LSLL Complex in Roxana on Saturdays, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. until noon, or on Wednesdays, Feb. 8 and Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Registration costs $55 per child, or $90 for two or more children.
Starting this year, kids as young as 4 can get involved in LSLL’s T-ball program. In addition, baseball’s Senior League division, which was originally open to 15- and 16-year-olds, will now allow participation for athletes as young as 13. For more information about the Lower Sussex season, visit their site, or “Like” them on Facebook for new announcements and notices.
