Monday, April 9, 2012

Opening Day Press Release...

For immediate release

Four County Little League 2012 Opening Day…Rising from the Ashes…

Mount Airy, Maryland – April 9, 2012Four County Little League will celebrate 18 years of Little League baseball on Saturday, April 14, 2012.  This year is like no other.  Not only will the league be celebrating the opening of the 2012 season, they will dedicate their new buildings built with the help of several generous donations.  On April 10, 2011, the league experience what could have been a huge set back.  Instead, it turned out to be one of the greatest blessings the league has ever been given.  Immediately after the fire, several large donors emerged. Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, heard about the tragedy and wanted to help.  Snyder contacted League President Jim Gill and committed $10,000 to help rebuild.  At the same time, Joe Degiorgi, Managing partner of Century Ford of Mount Airy, called the President of the league and also wanted to help.  Degiorgi and Gill met at the Century dealership in Mt. Airy, Maryland.  Degiorgi surprised the league president with a gift of $10,000.  Jim Gill said, “I was floored with the outpouring of support from our community.  When I found out that our normal Little League insurance would not cover our loss, I was not sure how we would rebuild.  I knew we would be ok and some how come back, but I never imagined we would receive so much in such a short time”.  After receiving the generous gifts, the league reached out to Myer’s Mini Barns in Woodbine, MD to put the money to good use and they too wanted to help.  Myers’ Mini Barns donated an entire concessions stand.  Since then, the league has been planning and preparing for the new buildings.  They took the opportunity to turn the loss into something bigger and better.  “We decided to expand a bit and build a bigger shed which will allow us to keep our equipment and uniforms all at one location.  Instead of having equipment and uniforms at several locations around town, we can have them all stored at one central location here at Russell Windsor Field”, Gill said.  “Now we have an opportunity to thank these folks at our opening day on Saturday”.  Gill said this Saturday’s opening day ceremony will be special in many ways.  He said, last year the ceremony was rained out and the league was unable to celebrate the life of their beloved Coach Al Gordon who died early in 2011.  This year, they will thank their donors, celebrate the life of Coach Al and begin a great season of baseball.

The league will also partner with the Oriole Advocates and participate in the Cardboard to Leather program™ (affectionately called C2L™), whereby good, used baseball and softball equipment is provided to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Collected equipment has been distributed in Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.  Four County Little League is asking the players and the community to bring their used, but usable baseball items, to Russell Windsor Field on Saturday where an Oriole Advocate will be on hand to help collect the used equipment.  They will be there from 9am until 3pm.  The field is located at 12350 Jessie Smith Road.

About Four County Little League - Four County Little League, a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, is chartered with Little League International. The league is based in Mount Airy, Maryland, but serves families in all of the four county areas. The league provides a supervised program of youth baseball instruction and games for players between the ages of 4 through 15 under the rules and policies of Little League International.  Each summer the best players are chosen from the league and play in the Little League International Tournament culminating in Williamsport, PA at the Little League World Series.  

Four County Little League
P.O. Box 512
Mount Airy, MD  21771
866-741-4123

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Monday, April 2, 2012

Cardboard to Leather

On opening day, April 14, 2012, Four County Little League, in cooperation with the Oriole Advocates, will be collection used baseball equipment.  The program is called Cardboard to Leather.  Please start collecting your used baseball equipment and bring it to Russell Windsor Field on April 14, 2012.