1/2 of Harrisburg program joins Little League

Apology accepted Hogfan. No hard feelings. I think we both want what's best for our individual communities. I can be a hot head, so I apologize for jumping you so quickly.

QUOTE (trumannumpire @ November 16, 2008 06:46 pm)

This is an attempt to clear things up a bit. Three teams from Harrisburg contacted Little League representatives about the possibility of joinining LL. Since the Delta League(Harrisburg included) left LL for the 2008 season a new league was formed that took over the boundaries.

The teams in question invited LL representatives to a meeting to answer questions. These parents and coaches made the decision to join Craighead/Poinsett county LL rather than charter a league of their own. With this decision, the Harrisburg area is now being serviced by Craighead/Poinsett County LL. These teams and any other Harrisburg teams that wish to play LL baseball will all be welcomed.

If the Harrisburg city officials will allow field space, I am sure that games can still be played in Harrisburg. This will be totally a community issue. The original group from Jonesboro likes to play out of town on a home-away basis. Craighead/Poinsett County also participates in the inter-league program with South Miss County and the NEA LL. This should still give the program in Harrisburg a lot of games in the city and in all probabilty more games that they had in 2008.

LL will not turn down any players. LL will find a way for any kid to participate that wants to play LL baseball. The current situation because of boundary restictions, will prevent the Harrisburg area from being a seperate league in 2008 or from joining another league that may be formed for 2009. With this being said, if the Harrisburg Youth have a greater participation in 2009, then they may be granted a charter for 2010. All of the kids that played LL in 2009 under the Craighead.Ponsett LL charter will be granted a waiver to continue to play with Craighead/Poinsett County LL if they so choose.

LL is not trying to prevent Harrisburg or any other community from joining or returning to LL baseball. Any kid, parent, league or community can contact LL and we will figure out a way to get the player involved in a new or established league. Our goal is to get as many kids as we can to participate in the Little League program.

I truly believe that LL is the best league program for youth baseball. USSSA has a great tournament weekend program and there is no reason that a kid can't participate in both. Both programs have their strengths and weeknesses. LL has just been around for so long that the league and all-star programs are well established and second to non. USSSA started out as a weekend program for tournament play and really excels in this area.

Keep in mind that any program is good for the kids if us grown-ups will keep it for the kids. Being a parent, I can fully appreciate the emotions involved when I think one of my kids is being done wrong. Communication is the key to this issue. Local leagues and communities need to convey their intentions for the 2009 season regardless of whether they choose LL, USSSA, Cal Ripken or any other program out there. All programs have an open door policy and will accept teams and players.

Ronnie

Ronnie, I would like to thank you and Jeff for sticking up for us in Harrisburg. Or should I say for me and The One Man that every one thinks is causing all this trouble. Orville is only trying to do what is best for his kids! I f everyone would like to know what happened I will tell you. My husband talked to every one on his team from last year and also to their parents, they all agreed to go weherever Coach Orville (as the kids put it) went. It is not Orville starting trouble. No one asked us to wait to make a decision until the BOARD has there decision made. My husband is not a bad man!!! He is a good man and a good coach!! I will say if you have a problem with him you can call him or I. Most of the people posting Bad remarks about him on here have both our numbers and know where we live. So please talk to us and leave us out of your posts!!!!
Once again Ronnie and Jeff Thank you!

QUOTE (Hogfantotheend @ November 16, 2008 10:59 pm)

I want to first say to skles, Im sorry if I offended you, that was not my purpose or reasoning for my post, nor was I trying to make you out a liar. I am truely sorry if that was how it sounded or came out.
The 2 points I was trying to make involving you was that I dont recall and neither does the other trumann board member recall talking with you and jeff at any length about LL. The other, was that you were the only "voice" being heard on here, from harrisburg, that was having alot of issues with Delta. I just re-read my post, and yes, it does sound offensive, and I do appoligize.
Daburg, I did not see in the post where I or anyone else from trumann was trying to tell harrisburg what to do. And I do appoligize to you if you took offense. Offending any of the members from any of the Delta towns was never my intentions. I stated my opinion on the Delta league and I will leave it at that.

Hey dude, I don't even know who you are. I just came on here to read about Harrisburg and saw a guy from Trumann givin his 2 cents. You don't bother me, but I think I can speak for at least some of from Harrisburg when I say there is more than one person who is not concerned about what trumann does. LOL We want to have a city program for our boys. We don't give a hoot if we are paired up with any town or just play against em. We just wanna play. I like the people in charge in Harrisburg and I think they don't need people from other towns to make a good decision for our town. And they don't need my 2 cents either - so I'm out!

QUOTE (Hogfantotheend @ November 17, 2008 03:59 am)

I want to first say to skles, Im sorry if I offended you, that was not my purpose or reasoning for my post, nor was I trying to make you out a liar. I am truely sorry if that was how it sounded or came out.
The 2 points I was trying to make involving you was that I dont recall and neither does the other trumann board member recall talking with you and jeff at any length about LL. The other, was that you were the only "voice" being heard on here, from harrisburg, that was having alot of issues with Delta. I just re-read my post, and yes, it does sound offensive, and I do appoligize.
Daburg, I did not see in the post where I or anyone else from trumann was trying to tell harrisburg what to do. And I do appoligize to you if you took offense. Offending any of the members from any of the Delta towns was never my intentions. I stated my opinion on the Delta league and I will leave it at that.

Great posting nearsports/clap.gif

No sarcasum is constructive! I never Stated that I Spoke to James or Jay Paul at length about anything. You state that Ronnie does not speak for all of Trumann. Appearently, you don't speak for all of Trumann either.

I challenge you to put it to a vote of the coaches and parents on which set of regular season rules they like the best. I think you know what the outcome will be.

Untill you and James get over this obsession with this pro-*test*-('") that I ruled on in your favor and was over ruled, you will not be objective in your thinking.

If you or James want to talk to me you can call me direct and we can start constructive communitcation.

Is it possible for a kid from Jackson County to play in the Jonesboro LL?

QUOTE (jacosportsfreak @ November 18, 2008 10:13 pm)

Is it possible for a kid from Jackson County to play in the Jonesboro LL?

Sorry, Newport not in Craighead & Poinsette Co Little League Boundaries. You guys need to come back as a league. I understand that your numbers are way down.

Yes, they are way down. Is there not any LL option for a Jackson County kid? nearsports/0c4fae0e.gif

QUOTE (jacosportsfreak @ November 19, 2008 03:44 am)

Yes, they are way down. Is there not any LL option for a Jackson County kid? nearsports/0c4fae0e.gif

I warned them that it would happen. They just went along with Johnny Long and David Black. You can start your own league there and inter-league play with the other leagues in the area. I know of some leagues that started with one team a built a good league.

what do you mean went along with Johnnie and David Black?

QUOTE (jbg1967 @ November 21, 2008 03:41 am)

what do you mean went along with Johnnie and David Black?

I was told by some folks in Newport that those two were the ones that pushed the change to USSSA.

if I had to play LL or USSSA baseball I would play USSSA. LL does not get the boys ready to play High school baseball. Now if your child has no desire to play High school baseball then let them play LL.

That' crazy. It does not matter which type of baseball a kid plays when they are just kids, ask any scout (that's not making money off the leagues). As long as they are playing, learning the fundamentals and learning to love the game then it does not matter if it is USSSA, LL, Cal, SS or AAU. When they get on the big field(13+ years), then it starts to matter. The only thing that matters in the younger ages it that if you push a kid too hard he will resent baseball or wear his arm out while he is still growing. The kids and parents should play whichever league they have the most fun with, period. The people making money off kids will try to steer you to the their more expensive leagues and AAU will tell you not to do USSSA if you really want your kid to develop into a big time players. Again, it does not matter, just play.

ok buddy, then why are all the good kids playing usssa baseball. I would put any usssa team up against a LL team.

That is true, most USSSA teams can beat most LL teams. I would say most LL and Cal all-star teams are on about the same level as most USSSA AA teams. Once you get into AAA, major and AAU teams then you are talking about wide recruited kids that are much better. However I still say and most people that really know baseball will tell you it does not make much difference where a kid plays ball as a kid in regards to future development. God given talent and drive make great ball players, not parents putting kids on elite teams as 8 or 10 year olds. Most of the "good" kids play USSSA ball because their parents feel if they don't then they will be at a disadvantage, or maybe so they will not have to play with the rif raf or maybe just to play with friends. That does not matter. I say if you and your kid like USSSA or SS or whatever, great, then do it and more power to you, but do not tell kids who play LL, Cal, Dixie or anything else they will get left behind because they won't.

I just feel like Usssa is real baseball. In LL, there is no "real" stealing bases, the pitchers don't learn how to pitch from the stretch, or how to hold a runner on first. There is alot of the little things of baseball that they don't learn playing LL. And this will put them behind the boys who are playing USSSA.