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-- General News --
Updated 7-3-09

  Today's Games       Field Conditions


Attention:  Final day of Fall Ball early-pay discount registration is Friday, July 3.  Rates increase by $15 on Saturday.
Also, Minor and Major baseball leagues are filling very fast so register now to secure a spot.

Looking for your league's playoff schedule?
Click on "Today's Games" at top of page.


Fall Ball Registration Meter
as of 9:00 PM, July 3rd
Minor Baseball: Max=168    Now=128
Major Baseball: Max=156    Now=136
Junior Baseball: Max=130    Now=84
Senior Baseball: Max=78    Now=26
Minor Softball: Max=56    Now=19
Major Softball: Max=56    Now=19
Challenger Division: Max=60    Now=14
Max=maximum capacity
Now=current number of registrations


Upcoming Key Dates

Friday, 7/3 -- Final day to register for discounted Fall Ball rates.  Take advantage of the savings and register now.  Fall Ball leagues may max out prior to the final registration date of July 20, so register now and lock yourself in!!! 

Thru 7/20 -- FALL BALL registration is open.  The 2009 program includes baseball, girls' softball and the new Challenger Division for children with disabilities.  Log into our new ONLINE REGISTRATION system to enroll  ----------------->>>>>>

Check out the new Public Service Announcement about the Challenger Division
for Children with Disabilities

Click Here
 


Looking for Tournament Team
Game Schedules?

Click here for the Wis. District 4 LL Website for all the District team schedules


"Ruhle" of the Week
Click below for the Little Lg Rule of the Week by District 4 Umpire-In-Chief, Rob Ruhle.
Send Rob your rule questions at noruhles@yahoo.com

Week 1           Week 2            Week 3          Week 4

Week 5


Check out some great action photos of your team and player

Our roving photographer, Joe Henricks, has been shooting a ton of great action photos since opening day.  He's working on getting photos for every team and every player, so check it out at
wmll.sportsphotosbyjoe.com
Joe donates 10% of all purchases back to WMLL......thanks Joe!!!


Parking Rules for 2009
--Forward Drive Complex--

Please review the new rules and avoid getting a ticket by the Madison Police Department.
Click Here for Details

Please remember the parking rules for the Rayovac Lot across from WMLL.  Do not use on weekday's until 5 PM.  Do not enter this lot from the west off Watts Rd or Rayovac Drive.....use only the Forward Dr entrance and drive cautiously


Looking to Sponsor a team at WMLL or place a field sign on a Little League diamond next season?

For Sponsorship Options and Info, click here

For a list of 2009 WMLL Sponsors, click here


Thanks to all our WMLL sponsors.  Your support is very much appreciated.

For a list of 2009 WMLL Sponsors,

click here

Click here for one of the 100 Greatest moments in Major League Baseball history
-------------------------
Happy Independence Day!

2009 Fall Ball Registration Now Open
Early pay discount ends July 3

*  *  *  *  *  *
Click here first
for a Fall Ball  info packet and answers to many Frequently Asked Questions.  This will provide important details you need to know prior to registering below.

*  *  *  *  *  *
Click Here for our new
ONLINE
REGISTRATION

System....register now!


*  *  *  *  *  *
Already Registered?
Click Here to Access Your
WMLL Account

When bad weather is in the area, please be extremely careful and take cover immediately...don't delay!!
Click here for an article on a Little League tragedy that occurred June 3 in Virginia

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those of you who have been asking what happened to our beautiful line of trees along Forward Drive...
... its a combination of decisions by the City and MG&E .  Check back for a more detailed explanation from both in the near future.  A new species of tree will be re-planted next spring in place of those taken down.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Be careful along Forward Drive!!
True story from a WMLL parent:  "Last week after an evening game, someone backed into my car and left.  It was not a big deal - the SUV with a tow hitch scratched the paint and cracked the front bumper. Several of the parents and I watched it happen!  Some parents are rushing in and out and forget there are kids walking about"
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY!!!!!!

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New Challenger Division set to begin for Children with Disabilities
Click Here for Story

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WMLL
Board Meetings


Next regular board meeting
is August 9 - 6:30 pm
@ Vitense Golfland. 
 

Everyone is welcome at board meetings.  The WMLL Board thanks Joel Weitz, Pres. of Vitense Golfland, for providing the meeting rooms for Board meetings free of charge.   In addition, Vitense is the official site of WMLL pre-season coach meetings and league drafts

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Can't Find Us?
Click Here for a Map

West Madison Little Lg
701 Forward Dr
Madison, WI

(do not mail to this address)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Play Ball....every day!!!!


Quick  News

WMLL Board Meeting Dates

Challenger Division Planned for Children with Disabilities

Special Committee Reviews Tournament Team Selection Process

2008 Action Photos

Youth Baseball Camps

Playoffs Looming!
Tournament Teams Forming!

Its that time of year again when each league race heats up and teams vie for a top seed in their league's playoffs.  Major Lg and Badger Lg playoffs will begin first, so they can be completed prior to the official International Little League Tournaments beginning in mid-July.  Pacific, Central, Atlantic and Senior Lgs will follow.  Each league uses a slightly different playoff format depending on tradition, number of teams in the league, desire to try something new, etc, etc.  The League Coordinators are in charge of setting the format and running the playoffs

In addition to our own WMLL Leaque playoffs, each league (except Atlantic) selects "Tournament Teams" to compete in official Little League International tournament for each age level.  The 10's and 11's compete in separate District Tournaments (we are in Wis. Dist. 4) for a berth in the State tournament for their age level.  There is no advancement beyond the State level for these ages.  For 12's, Jr's and Sr's, play begins at the district level, then state, then regional and finally on to the World Series.  The most well-known is the Little League World Series (12's) held in Williamsport, PA, each year in August and broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

Teams from WMLL have advanced to the World Series in the Junior and Senior levels years ago, but a team from Wisconsin has never made it to the Little Lg World Series in PA!!
Maybe a WMLL team can pull off the feat this year.

Good luck to all teams in your local and tournament playoffs!!!

 


"Challenger Division" Planned at WMLL
--- baseball for children with disabilities ---

The WMLL Board of Directors has approved the addition of a Challenger Division of play, to begin this fall.  Plans are to begin play as part of WMLL's Fall Ball program, with opening day set for Sept 5 for the Challenger Division.  The League will run for 5 weeks with play every Saturday.

The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities, ages 5-18 or the completion of high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.  WMLL's program will begin with ages 8-16 and will be open to all children with disabilities in Dane County.  WMLL is working with Easter Seals-Wisconsin staff to develop registration standards and evaluation procedures to properly place children in leagues according to ability.

Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players.  WMLL is hoping to start with two leagues based on player ability level and the league will primarily be a tee-ball program.   Coach-pitch and player pitch will be options, as well.

Registration began June 15, so check our online registration system on this website and enroll now.  Deadline is July 20, 2009.  Click here for a brochure with the highlights of the Challenger program.  If you have questions, please contact WMLL Exec. Director, Bill Battista, at eartags@aol.com.

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Click here for a brochure with the highlights of the new Challenger program for Children with Disabilities


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Special Committee Reviews Tournament Team Selection Process at WMLL

Last fall, the WMLL Board of Directors approved the appointment of a special committee of parents, coaches and Board members to review all aspects of the Tournament Team (Allstar) selection process.   Normally an annual review by the Board, the league's directors felt it was time to expand the review and seek new ideas to improve the process.  This is always one of the most challenging aspects of WMLL operations, as it is very difficult to make these selections.

The committee met numerous times and made its recommendations to the WMLL Board for consideration. Details of the new selection process were introduced to all coaches at March 2009 coach meetings.   Complete details can be obtained by checking the "Local Rules" section of this website for your child's specific league.

Thanks to the dedicated committee members for their many hours of thought into making the process better.  It is anticipated the WMLL Board will review how the first season of these new procedures worked out and 'tweak' things if deemed necessary.


WMLL Receives Kudos for Hosting State Majors (12's) Tournament

-- from John Welk, who maintains a webpage (www.unpage.org), which chronicles the history of Little League baseball tournaments in Wisconsin:

"I was extremely impressed with the job West Madison did in their role as host for the 2007 tournament. The field was in great shape, etc. etc., but the little touches -- the "state champions" t-shirts,  the fireworks, the bunting all around the field -- really went the extra mile in helping to make the experience special. I have attended a couple of dozen state tournaments in different states over the years, including in Wisconsin, and I would rank what I saw last Friday right at the top of the list. Congratulations to your organizing committee on a superb job." 
 
--- Thanks John!! Your comments are most appreciated.
 
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WMLL Board Meetings

Next regular board meeting is August 9 (6:30 pm @ Vitense Golfland).  
Everyone is welcome at board meetings.  The WMLL Board thanks Joel Weitz, Pres. of Vitense Golfland, for providing the meeting rooms for Board meetings free of charge.   In addition, Vitense is the official site of WMLL pre-season coach meetings and league drafts.


District 4 Ump Works LL World Series

District 4 Umpire Dave Thom (pictured at right) was honored by being selected to be on the umpire crew for the 2007 Little League World Series in Williamsport for the Majors Division (12 year olds).  This is the highest honor a LL ump can receive and Dave was the first Wisconsin ump in 28 years to be selected. Dave has helped WMLL in a number of ways including on-site, game training with our own umpires. Congratulations Dave!!!

Click here for an article on LL World Series Umps with Dave interviewed
.

2009 Appointments:
Marianne Kelley
was recently selected to work the Little Lg Regionals (12's) in Indianapolis in August.
Tim Shaw was also selected to work the Junior Regionals in Ft Wayne, In in August.
Congrats to both!!!

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Baseball Camps

Coach Tom Bennett's  "Metro Baseball Camp" at WMLL
                    

Hitters Summer Baseball Camp for WMLL Players

Edgewood College Youth & High School Camps
Elite Baseball Camps, Oregon
UW-Whitewater Camps
Midwest Baseball Academy
Monroe Major League Camp
Turn Two Baseball Camp, Verona
Camps in other states

Little League Baseball Camps at Williamsport, PA
(home of the Little League World Series!!)


2008 Regular Season and Fall Ball
.........Action Photos
!!

Check out the new WMLL photo website of professional photographer, 
Joe Henricks, at wmll.sportsphotosbyjoe.com.   Credit card orders are 
accepted and 10% of all purchases will be donated back to WMLL by Joe.

If you haven't seen Joe's work before, check it out.  He takes some awesome action photos.  Don't miss out seeing your player in action!!!

 


50th Season Celebration a Great Success!!

Over 750 attended the WMLL 50th Season celebration on Saturday, June 21.  The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time in a very festive setting.  Our appreciation goes out to all the sponsors who donated items for the picnic.  Also, thanks to all who helped organize the event and to all our former board members and families who attended.  Were it not for the forsight of these individuals, we would not have the great program in such a beautiful setting that we enjoy today.  Congratulations also go out to Jim Nye, former WMLL Operations Manager, who was recognized for his 31 years of service to WMLL.  Although not able to attend the event, Maury Tomczak was recognized as the longest serving Board member with 25 years of dedicated service to WMLL.  Maury still serves as WMLL Treasurer.  Hats off to Jim and Maury.

The Home Run Derby, sponsored by Culvers-Todd Drive, was a lot of fun with almost 175 contestants taking their hacks on the Senior Field.  The largest contestant group, surprisingly, was the Over 40 crowd.  Only one ball was knocked out of the park during the derby by Connor Heneghan in the Senior Lg division.  Cory Newburg almost had one out, but it hit the yellow fence cap and bounced back in the park.   Thanks to all the participants. Here is a list of the winners in each age group:
-- 8-9 Yr Old Baseball: Jackson Murphy
-- 10 Baseball: Casey Olson
-- 11 Baseball: Raban Miller
-- 12 Baseball: Chris Bell-Clementi
--  Badger Lg Baseball: Will Marcus
--  Senior Lg Baseball: Conor Heneghan
-- 17-39 Age Group: Jake Byers
--  40+ Age Group: Marcus Murphy
--  Girls' Softball 12 & Under: Bridgette Ruhle

And, one last big thank you to our WMLL Concessions staff and Grounds Crew for a superb job in getting the picnic arranged and the grounds ready........plus an awesome fireworks display to finish off the evening!!!