Loni N. Kline, the Senior Vice President for College Relations and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Pennsylvania College of Technology, has been elected as the newest At-Large Member of the Little League® International Board of Directors. “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I am honored to welcome Loni as our newest member and look forward to bringing her insight and expertise to our team,” said Steven P. Johnson, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “Her invaluable knowledge of the sport, combined with her experience in the world of philanthropy, will be a great add ..read more

Following yet another successful 2024 Girls with Game® Month celebration, and as local leagues get their spring seasons underway, Little League® and DICK’S Sporting Goods are proud to announce an extension of their partnership, furthering their commitment to local Little League programs, families, and communities. “Since the beginning of this partnership, DICK’S Sporting Goods has been committed to creating a positive impact in Little League communities, where the grassroots of our program comes to life, while also providing engaging opportunities when Little League is on ..read more

  Little League® International honors the memory of Malcolm Joseph Deason, a coach for the 2017 Southwest Region team at the Little League Baseball® World Series, who has passed away at the age of 48. Mr. Deason, a resident of Lufkin, Texas, was very active in his local community and helped coach his son, Malcolm, and the rest of the Lufkin (Texas) Little League team to a Southwest Region championship title and a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In addition to his volunteer service as a Little League coach, Mr. Deason was the Lufkin Market President at Cadence Bank. Previously, he was ..read more

Little League® International is pleased to announce New York Life, America’s largest mutual life insurer1, as the Presenting Sponsor of the Little League Community Heroes recognition program, focused on honoring the dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond for their local communities. The announcement comes during National Volunteer Week, an annual recognition of the contributions of volunteers, where Little League and New York Life will honor a Community Hero each day of the week-long celebration. “We are very excited to welcome New York Life as our newest partner and look forward to bri ..read more

Throughout her career working for Little League®, Becky Bassett has served in a variety of roles, responded to countless questions, and has become the calming, reassuring, and informed voice for local league volunteers as they support the Little League program and communities. Born and raised in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and a resident of nearby Cogan Station, Mrs. Bassett has spent her entire life less than 30 minutes away from the Little League International Complex in South Williamsport. While Mrs. Bassett did not join the Little League staff until her daughters, Beth and Brooke, were in ..read more

As the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) season officially gets underway, Little League® and MLB are pleased to announce the return of its MLB Little League Days program in 2024, providing unique opportunities for local Little League programs to bring their players to experience professional baseball in a fun and exciting way. New in 2024, the unique experience will also add opportunities with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) clubs across the nation, helping to connect more Little Leaguers® to professional baseball players while enhancing community relations with the local leagues. “Experiencing ..read more

With baseball and softball season officially underway, Little League® and Dairy Queen® are teaming up to offer families across the United States a $1 small cone when their young athletes wear their youth sports uniforms to their local DQ restaurant this summer. Between now and July 31, 2024, families are encouraged to stop by participating DQ locations after their game and to celebrate those cherished on- and off-field moments together with teammates, family, and coaches. As the Official Postgame Destination of Little League for the second year in a row, Dairy Queen knows that the best m ..read more

During Opening Day of the 2022 Atlantic League season, the Staten Island FerryHawks were down 5-3 to the Charleston Dirty Birds in the 9th inning. With a late-inning rally underway, Kelsie Whitmore entered the game for the FerryHawks as a pinch-runner. As she took her spot on first base, fans from both teams erupted into a standing ovation and began chanting her name – Kelsie Whitmore had just made history. Although the FerryHawks would lose the game, it was a win for Girls with Game® everywhere as Ms. Whitmore became the first woman to play in a professional baseball game associated with Maj ..read more

After receiving nearly 1,000 submissions in March as part of the annual Little League® Girls with Game® month, Little League is pleased to announce the top three photos of its Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Photo Contest. Launched on March 1, the #GWG50 Photo Contest was launched in coordination with the Girls with Game 50 Celebration and highlights the girls and women who make Little League communities around the world so special. Throughout the month, families and leagues were encouraged to share their own photos, past or present, to showcase the many ways they are celebrating #GWG50 throughou ..read more

Dear Girls with Game, I still remember the pressure weighing on my chest and the nerves tingling through my fingers as I would get into my starting blocks just before the gun would go off for a race. In that moment of silence, the thoughts of the task set before you run through your head and the determination sets into your mind, then the gun goes off, and you take off sprinting full speed ahead over the hurdle to get to the finish line. There will always be hurdles in your life and how you handle those situations will determine your future. “One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to th ..read more