Giants

On March 12, 2016 at opening ceremonies, the diamonds used by Single A and AA divisions were dedicated to Roan Kees and Ben Anderson. Both Roan and Ben passed away last year. Each of them were long time board members. Roan was very active in youth sports programs. Ben was an inspirational coach. Surviving family members were on-hand for the dedication. 

The field adjacent to Grand St. is now Roan Kees Field. The field adjacent to Lum elementary is now Ben Anderson Field. Two plaques will hang at the snack bar in their honor. League President, Ron Matthews, also presented the Kees family with a scholarship check for $8,000 which was donated to the family by members of the Alameda Little League community.

Alameda Little Leauge is proud to announce that we are fielding a team in the Challenger Division for 2016. Little League International established the Challenger Division in 1989. The Challenger Division is for boys and girls with mental and physical challenges and more than 300,000 players participate in the Challenger Division worldwide. In the Bay Area, more than 35,000 youth with disabilities have difficulty accessing parks, fields, and team sports. This, coupled with the ever-growing community of those with disabilities commensurate with population growth, and the current rise in autism, led Alameda Little League to establish the Challenger Division for the 2015 season.

Little League International's California District 4 (Alameda Little League is a member) currently has 15 Challenger Division leagues with whom we may have inter-district games. The Alameda site will be Estuary Park once the synthetic field there is completed. In the meantime, games will be played at Kees (AA field).

OPENING DAY CEREMONIES WILL PROCEED TODAY AS PLANNED! 

Teams may want to bring a tarp to sit on. 

PICTURES SCHEDULED IN THE WOOD SCHOOL GYM BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF RAIN.

Opening Day is Saturday, March 12. Below is the schedule of events:

• 11:30 AM - Teams assemble at the field behind Wood Middle School for the parade in division order: T-Ball, Farm, A, AA, AAA, Majors, Intermediate. 
• NOON Sharp: Parade of Teams and Banner contest
• - Dedication of the diamonds at Rittler Park to Roan Kees and Ben Anderson, two long time Board Members and great Little League parents. 
•  - Christening the lights on the Minors Field. 
• - Winners of the banner contest announced
• 1:15 PM - Field Prep clinic. Meet at the equipment shed 
• 6:00 PM - Scorekeeping Clinic POSTPONED TO NEXT SATURDAY AT 8 AM
• 7:00 PM - POSTPONED - First regular season NIGHT game will be a Majors division game between the Royals and Padres.

According to the very best sources for weather predictions, the rains will subside on Saturday morning and there will be an “opening” between 8 AM and 1 PM. As an eternal optimist, I am inclined to use their science and WE WILL NOT POSTPONE THE CEREMONIES SATURDAY unless it is raining at the fields at 9 AM tomorrow. We will post updates on the website at 9 AM, so please check the website then. That website posting will also include whether or not fields will be playable for games at 2 PM, so it is imperative that everyone understand that the website is our method for communicating.

The picture schedule will remain in place, mainly because we reserved the Wood School Gym for this purpose. Our vendor, Shooting Stars Photography, is working with us and will have the sign-in logistics clearly marked for teams. Managers, please pay attention to directions, the configuration may be different as a result.

Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to a very successful Opening Day Ceremonies and Parade of teams!

Ron Matthews, President
Alameda Little League

2016 Local Rules. Keep a hard copy in your binder and give copies to your umpires and parents.