Paul Reddick Press Release

For immediate release

Four County Little League to offer coaches top notch instruction

Mount Airy, Maryland – December 15, 2011 – Four County Little League will host a youth pitching clinic with Paul Reddick, the Director of The Yogi Berra Museum baseball camp and the Co-Author of the best seller "The Picture Perfect Pitcher".  The clinic will be held on February 4, 2012 from 9am until noon at the American Legion Gold Star Post 191.  The clinic will focus on helping volunteer coaches learn how to be better pitching coaches.  Scott Simpson is the Coaching Director for Four County Little League and he explained at the leagues December Board of Director’s meeting that he thought the league should expand upon some of the great things that the league does with respect to coaching.  He noted the fact that Little League provides literature and videos that improves the quality of coaching and at Four County Little League they offer the Positive Coaching Alliance training for their coaches as well.  Simpson said that he thought that the league could do even more, so he contacted Reddick.  Reddick agreed to travel to Mt. Airy from his home in New Jersey.  Reddick, who has helped countless players with his Paul Reddick Baseball programs, said "At Paul Reddick Baseball we are on a mission to re-invent the way we teach baseball. We're going make it easier for coaches to make their players better. I'm excited to share our breakthroughs with the baseball community in Four County. These guys are dialed in and doing what's right for the kids. That's what we are all about"

The current Four County Little League President, Jim Gill, said, “we are extremely excited to have Paul come talk to our folks.  I have been getting his 90MPH emails for quite some time so I was familiar with him right away.  I knew his philosophies and coaching style would fit right in with what we do here at Four County.  Four County is known for great baseball, but more than that we are known for teaching young people life lessons through this great sport of baseball.”  Gill said that they will open the clinic up to all coaches in and around the four county areas in hopes of spreading Reddick’s positive methods of coaching.

To find our more about information or to register for the clinic, visit the league’s website at www.FCLLbaseball.org.  There will be a $20.00 fee for each coach attending to cover the cost of the room and a small continental breakfast which will be provided.

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.  

About Paul Reddick - Paul Reddick helps pitchers throw harder. Because of the results of the pitchers that use his many books, courses and instruction Paul is known as the Master Of MPH. Paul has served as a scout for Pittsburgh Pirates, a state delegate for USA Baseball and coached in the Montreal Expo farm system.  His signature velocity getting course The 90mph Club is used by more pitchers than any other single pitching training program. For more information about Paul Reddick visit www.paulreddickbaseball.com.

Four County Little League

www.fcllbaseball.org

information@fcllbaseball.org

P.O. Box 512

Mount Airy, MD  21771

866-741-4123

###

Proud of Keystone Little League...

Last Week, my son, his friend and I set off for our annual trip to Williamsport to take in the first weekend of the Little League World Series.  We watched so many games and all the players and fans were great.  On Friday we sat next to the West parents and they were all fabulous.  We knew it would be hard to get seats for the big game at 8pm, so we decided to head out onto Little League Hill to take in the night game.  Already there were thousands of fans who had shown up to get a seat to watch the game.  We made our way through the crowds and found a nice spot in left center field about half way up.  I thought to myself, "Wow, this is a ton of people...".  It rained that day and the ground was wet.  Immediately a couple, who had nothing to do with Little League baseball offered up their blanket.  These folks came out to support their boys.  I looked around and all I saw was a sea of blue "Keystone" shirts.  I thought, "Wow, if they don't win this could be one ugly crowd".  That evening I heard nothing but great comments and positive cheers.  The boys lost that night and in the end all the fans stood up and cheered their good effort.  Do you think they know the Little League Parent Volunteer Pledge?  "...I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game".  I doubt it.  They were just good folks who where just happy to have their boys playing in the Little League World Series.  The Keystone kids went on to win the next three and each time it was the same thing.  The fans were great.  You would have thought they all graduated from the Positive Coaching Alliance Parents course.  Well tonight was the Keystone Little League's final game.  They lost in a 2-0 game against the California team representing the West region.  Once again, the same thing happened.  The fans stood up and cheered for their boys.  It was a great site to see.  What happened at the game tonight should be the norm not the rarity.  More and more we are seeing youth sports get out of hand.  Parents yelling and screaming.  Players being ejected.  When does it end?  I am so proud to be affiliated with Little League and Keystone Little League represented our organization well.  All the teams have, but especially Keystone.  Over 150,000 people watched them play their games in the last week and not once did it go to their heads.  They brought their small town together, their county together and I dare say they are helping to bring goodness back to youth sports.  One day my hope is that my league, Four County Little League, can also help it's small town of Mount Airy, Md the way Keystone has helped Clinton County.  Not by winning the Little League World Series, but by showing the world that Little League is more than just baseball.  We are teaching kids life lessons through this great sport of baseball and that those lessons will shape our youth and make a better tomorrow for all of us.  It is hard to think that a little game of baseball could do that, but I believe Little League baseball is one way that we can.

Year in review...2011 Four County Little League recap

This year has been a whirlwind...The goal for this season was to build up our numbers and strengthen the organization.  We conducted an extensive campaign to get the word out that we are "Mount Airy's home for Little League Baseball".  Starting with 17,000 post cards delivered to every home in Mount Airy and the surrounding areas, our goal was to get folks to join FCLL.  Well...our numbers last season were 287 and our numbers this season was 349.  I'd say all the hard work paid off.  As the season got underway, we started out with many new upgrades being made to Russell Windsor Field.  Our cage was upgraded, we added some new sod around home plate and began construction on a new press area behind home plate.  Then opening day arrived...Well, needless to say it was a wash out.  The rains came and we could not have our annual celebration.  We were able to play a few games that day and the season seamed to be headed in the right direction.  Then, that night, someone decided to have some fun and burn down our port-a-pots.  If you remember, they did not just burn down the port-a-pots...they destroyed our entire shed and all the contents.  Some good things came out of that.  The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and Century of Mount Airy both donated $10,000 to help us rebuild.  The progress was slow going because the season was upon us.  The season moved on from there and we were excited to have two Juniors Division teams this season.  Last season, Thurmont decided to leave Little League leaving us with no one to play.  Our folks got out there and found some other teams to play in Elkton and Arbutus.  The Juniors Division was the best it has been in years.  As the season progressed, we had two Majors division teams rise to the top.  With top flight pitching, these two teams dominated the Majors division.  In the end, our Majors Tigers took home the title and headed to the Maryland District 2 Tournament of Champions which was held in Thurmont this season.  In our Minors division, the Seadogs crept up and won their tournament despite a great effort from the other teams.  This year was the first year we had a "Clinic" division in a number of years.  Some younger players got the chance to learn some fundamentals as well as have some great fun every Saturday morning.  Our hope is, those players come back next season and enjoy some more Saturday fun.  This season we implemented a new technology to our league called GameChanger.  GameChanger allows folks at home to "Follow" the games real time just like they were sitting watching the game.  We scored about 50% of our games live and our hope is that next season we score 100% live.  Wifi has been added to the field in part so that we can accomplish this goal.  Out Hit-A-Thon was a huge success.  Despite the economy, we raised over $5,000.00 more than last season.  Our player, managers and coaches are the best.  We can't thank them enough for making it a great Hit-A-Thon.  Then along came the end of season Carnival/Picnic/Movie.  What a great way to end the regular season.  The movie Mickey was a true Little League inspired movie.

9/10 team dog piles
after being crown the
District Champions

For some of you, that was it...for others, we were just getting started.  On June 15, the announcement of the All Star teams were made.  A selection of five teams was made to represent the league in post season play.  Our 9/10 All Stars were up first.  They pulled an excellent draw and only had to win two games to make it to the championship round.  They did just that and on July 2, 2011 were crowned the 2011 Maryland District 2 Champions and earned a berth in the 2011 Maryland State Little League Tournament.  The team went on to win three and lose two in the state tournament giving them an impressive 3rd place finish in all of Maryland.  This team was a scrappy little team who continued to fight until the very end.  Up until the 6th inning of their last elimination game they did not give up.  We are very proud of our 9/10 year old teams run and wish them well in the future.

The 10/11 team was next and despite trailing in their first game came from behind to win.  They would go on to lose their next two, but gave it a great fight non the less.

The 11/12 team or Little League All Stars as it is commonly referred to also represented well.  They went deeper in the District tournament than any other Little League team in FCLL history.  They played great baseball until the end when they were out hit by Frederick National in their final match-up giving them a solid 3rd place finish.

Our Juniors were named the District 2 Champions right away because all the other leagues in our District have left Little League (we hope to change that in the future).  They completed in the State Tournament and although did not win, they fought hard the entire time.  We look to build on this experience and improve our Juniors program each year.

Our Minors All Stars competed in the 30th Annual Emory Frye Memorial Tournament and won their first two games and then lost two.  They ended up in third place over all and we were very proud of their efforts.

As I said before, this season has been a whirlwind.  For some, the season started in January (at our indoor facility) and did not end until the third week of July.  That is a long time to play baseball.  It takes alot to run an successful organization like ours.  It can't be done without volunteers.  The volunteers in Four County LL are great.  This year we have asked our folks to do more than ever before and because of that our league has benefited from it.  The season is not just April to June...for some volunteers it is 365 days a year.  At this point, planning is already under way for next season.  One thing that is on the agenda is fields.  We need land to call our own.  We are actively looking for land we can expand on.  We are grateful for what we have been given at Russell Windsor Field, but we can not continue to grow without looking at the possibility of finding our own land.  

We hope you have enjoyed the 2011 season.  Our fall baseball season is just around the corner and then we go into the planning for next season.  Our annual elections for Board Members is in October and Nomination are in September.  If you would like to help shape the league and be a part of the Board of Directors, you need to be nominated in September and be on the Ballot in October.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to wish every family in FCLL a very happy and safe summer.  We can't wait to see you for the next season.

For more information about the league and or registering for Fall Baseball, click on our website...www.fcllbaseball.org

Important 2011 Safety Information

2011 Safety Program

The season is fast approaching.  Little League takes pride in the fact that we have a safety track record second to none.  Some of the safety innovationsyou see in other youth sports got their start here in Little League.

Part of our Safety plan is that ALL of FCLL's volunteers go through a background check prior to interacting with our children.

If you are a Managers, Coach, Umpire, Team Parent, or have any other continuous contact with the players of FCLL, you MUST complete a volunteer application and submit it with a copy of your driver's license.  This needs to be done each year you volunteer.  Even if dad want's to help the manager at practice for a few practices or games, you must complete the form.  It only takes minutes and only needs to be done once a year.

Please take a minute to download the form by clicking here.  Then you have a few options to turn it in.

1. Scan it and email it to safety@fcllbaseball.org (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must scan your driver's license as well - Note:  this is the preferred method of turning in your form)
2. Fax it to 866-741-4123 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must fax your driver's license as well)
3. Mail it to:  P.O. Box 512, Mount Airy, MD  21771 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must mail your driver's license as well)
4. Hand it to a league representative prior to March 15, 2010 (the form must be complete, have your signature and you must provide your driver's license as well)

The league receives discounts and incentives for being 100% compliant.  Last season we were the first league in our district to be 100% compliant.  Let's do it again in 2011.  We need to have all the volunteer forms to a league official by March 15.  If you have any questions, you can email safety@fcllbaseball.org

If you even think you will help out, please submit the form.

Thank you for your help.
 

Little League International Issues Update Regarding Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed Immediately

Little League International Issues Update Regarding Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed Immediately

UPDATE:  A list has been established for "Approved Composite" bats.  This list will grow, so please stay informed.

FCLL Press Release

For immediate release

Local Little Leagues to add new division for 11/12 year olds

Mount Airy, Maryland – December 22, 2010 – Four County Little League, and several other leagues in Maryland District 2, will now offer a new supplemental 50’/70’ program to their Little League Baseball program.  Traditionally, Little League Baseball, up to the age of 12 years old, is played with a 46’ pitching distance and a 60’ baseline.  This is how the game was played in 1939 when Carl Stotz modified the traditional 90’ baselines for a group of kids in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  Stotz was the founder of Little League and the game has remained relatively the same ever since.  Traditionally, at the age of 13, the kids jump from a 60’ diamond to a 90’ diamond.  Over the past decade, there have been numerous other youth baseball organizations that have started playing 11 & 12 year olds on the 70’ diamond.  Little League International recognized this and in 2010 announced a 50’/70’ pilot program. 

For this upcoming 2011 season, Four County Little League will offer a Sunday only supplemental 70’ baseball program.  The new division is a supplemental program that will be played in addition to their normal “in house” Majors team program.

The current Four County Little League President, Jim Gill, said, “Other organizations, such as Pony League or Ripken Baseball, are already playing their 12 year olds at 70’, so this will give kids who have played for other organizations a chance to play with Four County Little League.  We are looking forward to this addition and hope it attracts some new players and some additional talent to our league.  We have talked to East Frederick Little League and they are committed to playing and we also have commitments from teams in District 1 and District 4.  Our hope is that the other leagues in our District put a team together so we can play mostly in our area.  With “in house” play, the Sunday only program and the tournaments this Summer, our kids are going to play more baseball than they ever have with Four County.”

To find our more about Four County Little League or to register for the upcoming season, visit the league’s website at www.FCLLbaseball.org.

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 area. The league provides a supervised program of youth baseball instruction and games for players between the ages of 4 through 14 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

www.fcllbaseball.org

information@fcllbaseball.org

P.O. Box 512

Mount Airy, MD  21771

866-741-4123

###

Why play with Four County Little League?

Over the last few years local Little Leagues in this area have lost players to other baseball organizations and this has been a constant question in my mind;  Why?  Well, instead of trying to understand why, otherwise happy members, leave, I thought I might go over why someone should stay or join Four County Little League.

1. A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) - is designed increase awareness of the opportunities to provide a safer environment for kids and all Little League participants.  Bottom line is with this program, injuries are down.  Four County Little League has been ASAP compliant for several years and plan to stay compliant every year.  To find our more about ASAP click here.  The number one concern here is the safety of our kids.
2. Pitch Counts - Not just innings pitched, but number of pitches.  The medical advisors to Little League have seen a reduction in arm injuries with the implementation of the pitch count rules.  Even non-Little League programs are using our system to stay safe.  Click here to read about a high school team who has implemented the pitch count.  People may not realize this, but Little League is a pioneer in youth sports safety.  From the development of batting helmets to the implementation of the pitch count, Little League is a leader in youth sports safety.  The safety of the children is first.
3. Background checks - All volunteers in Four County Little League are required to submit to a complete background check.  This includes all Managers, coaches, umpires and parents with continuous contact with the kids.  Once again the safety of the kids is of utmost importants.
4. We are Little League - We follow the rules and policies of Little League International which has been around since 1939.  This non-profit organization has 2.5 million children worldwide play Little League which makes it the largest single youth sports organization in the world.  Bigger than lacrosse, youth football and cheer leading.  We are part of something big.
5. Mandatory Play - Want to play competitive baseball and sit on the bench?  Not here.  Everyone plays.  We have minimum playing requirements and everyone plays baseball.  Even our top Majors Tournament team has minimum playing requirements.  You signed up for baseball, you will play baseball.
6. Opening Day Celebration - Each season we celebrate opening day with a large event culminating with the ceremonial "running of the bases" and the season's first pitch.    
7. Low Registration Rate - Look around.  Find another sport in this area that you can play for under $100.00.  Dollar for Dollar Four County Little League is the best most affordable sport in the area.  Try horseback riding $45-60 a lesson,  try other baseball organization $150 - $1000 a season.  Four County provides you with as many games as you can play, a uniform and tons of practice.  Plus if you are selected to our Tournament teams, you get an additional uniform at no more cost to the parents.  The league picks up the tab for the post season costs.  We also run numerous Free clinics for both players and coaches as well as plenty of batting cage time.  Our Umpires and coaches all receive free resources to help them do their job and teach your children.  Backed by Little League International, our coaches have videos, books and more at their fingertips.  Finally, FCLL puts on an end of season carnival and movie picnic in which the entire family gets together to celebrate the end of the season.  With all the food games and rides provided to you at no cost, this is a one of a kind event.  No other organization in the area puts on a show like we do.  Call around, do some research.  FCLL is the lowest cost sport in the area.
8. We are local - You will probably only drive 15 to 20 minutes to most games and practices.  Little League is your home town baseball league.
9. We travel - That's right, we travel to other leagues in our District and even to other areas of the state.  Our Sunday teams travel to Western Maryland and to the Baltimore area.  In addition, there are plans for our tournament teams to play in more travel style tournaments this summer.  If you want to travel, we can travel.
10. Positive Coaching Alliance - Little League International and Four County Little League has adopted the Positive Coaching Alliance philosophies.  Started at Stanford University in 1998, PCA helps create a positive, character-building youth sports environment for more than 3 million youth athletes.  Some of the top coaches in the nation are on the board of directors and follow the same philosophies.  So to say it's touchy, feely, everybody plays non-sense nothing could not be further from the truth.  Ask Phil Jackson, Dusty Baker and the other advisory board members if they think it's all touchy feely.  PCA teaches to win, but winning is not necessarily defined by the scoreboard.  Want to know more about PCA, click here.
11. We start teaching early - We have a clinic style T-Ball clinic for kids as young as 4 years old.  We teach the kids to play baseball and have fun.  As they move up in division, we teach life lessons utilizing the Positive Coaching Alliance philosophies.  We want them to learn life lessons through the great sport of baseball. 
12. We have provide competitive baseball up to age 14 - That's right.  Think your done at age 12?  No way!  Our Juniors program provides baseball at the 90' level and is designed to prepare a player for high school and upper level baseball.  Little League offers baseball until the age of 18, but unfortunately in this area we don't have many teams above age 14 in Little League.  Just keep in mind when you start at age 4, Four County is your home for baseball until you are age 14.
13. We have a new and exciting 70' division -  Many other organizations already play their 12 year olds at 70'.  Little League still plays their 12 year olds at 60', but this year we are running a Sunday only 70' division for our best 11/12 year olds.  So maybe you wanted to play with us, but we did not have 70'.  Now we do.  Keep in mind the 70' program is a supplemental program on Sunday's only.  11/12 year olds will still play their traditional Majors team Monday through Saturday.
14. The Little League International Tournament - Every summer our league participates in the International tournament culminating in Williamsport, PA at the Little League World Series which can be seen on ESPN and ABC.  How about being part of something this big?  A few years ago, when Hargarstown made it to the LLWS, you could not help rooting for them.  This past season, our fellow District Team, Brunswick, made it all the way to the regional tournament.  Four County Little League members watched and rooted them on all the way.  It was not our team, but in a way it was...They were from Maryland District 2,  That is our District.  We will battle you all the way on the field, but once the game is over, we are all part of the same family.  To read all about the LLWS, click here.
15. Positive comments from Parents - Below are some quotes from parents:
1. "FCLL is like family.  My son has so much fun and can't wait to get to baseball." Maureen, Mount Airy, MD 
2. "Four County cares so much for the kids.  They put teaching the kids baseball over winning.  The funning thing is that the kids excel even though the focus is not on winning." Pat, Mount Airy, MD
3. "We chose to play baseball with Four County because we heard it was a family-friendly league that emphasized having fun, which it is.  7 years later our boys continue to play baseball with four county because they have learned the skills to play baseball competitively while simultaneously learning to play fair and learning what it means to be part of a team."  Jenny, New Market, MD 

For more information about Four County Little League, visit our website www.fcllbaseball.org.  If you don't have any more questions and want to register right now, click here.

Jim Gill

President

Four County Little League