NORTH READING SCHEDULE 

April 28, 9 a.m. — North Reading at Stoneham

May 5, 9 a.m. — North Reading at Assabet Valley

May 12, 1 p.m. — North Reading vs. Assabert Valley (Stoneham HS)

May 12, 3 p.m. — North Reading at Stoneham

May 19, 3 p.m. — North Reading at Stoneham

June 2, 11 a.m. — North Reading at Assabet Valley

June 9, 1 p.m. — North Reading vs. Assabert Valley (Stoneham HS)

June 9, 3 p.m. — North Reading at Stoneham

June 23, 9 a.m. — North Reading at Stoneham

BASIC RULES

• 6-inning games

• Everyone bats through the lineup

• Umpire will work with the pitchers on balks the first 3 weeks with no advancement. After the first 3 games played, Provide 1 warning per pitcher.

• We will follow the MBDL 3 steals rule per inning 

North Reading Little League is proud to announce that its Challenger Division has returned for the sixth straight spring, bringing the great game of baseball to youngsters with special needs.

Established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League, Challenger enables boys and girls with physical and intellectual challenges, ages 4-18 (or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school), to join with the millions who play the sport. Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide.

Since its inception in 2014, the NRLL Challenger Division has flourished and this year includes nearly two dozen players from North Reading and four area communities. Coaches and volunteers – known as “buddies” – take a clinic-style approach that combines skills and drills, followed by modified games for the players. The emphasis is on fun and learning in a safe environment.

Sessions run Sundays from 9-10:30 a.m. at Benevento Park, with a “road game” or two mixed in against Challenger Divisions in surrounding towns. Last weekend, the North Reading High School baseball team helped instruct the Challenger players at Benevento.

This year’s schedule also includes a game at North Andover and the annual jamboree hosted by Weston Little League. The season concludes June 9 with a "trophies and treats" day back at Benevento. Helping make the NRLL Challenger Division possible are generous donations from Barletta Engineering and Braga Landscaping.

NRLL President Eddie Madden has seen the impact of the Challenger Division firsthand.

“Challenger is one of the best things we do as a league because of how it positively affects lives, and that goes beyond the players,” Madden said. “The volunteers, many of them Little League players or parents themselves, find it an incredibly rewarding experience.”

Those interested in learning more about the Challenger program, by either joining or supporting it, may contact NRLL Challenger Division director Chris Hanson at chrishanson2925@gmail.com or by calling (781) 439-9031.

Practice makes perfect, and combining practice with fun makes for a perfect morning of baseball.

That’s the spirit of Varsity Day, when the North Reading High School baseball team will welcome North Reading Little League players to NRHS’s Carey Park to teach the finer points of the game in a relaxed and encouraging environment. This year’s event will take place Wednesday, May 22, from 4:30-6 p.m.

At Varsity Day, Hornets players and coaches will conduct a clinic open to NRLL players of all ages – from Tee-Ball through Senior League – that will include instruction, contests, and a pep talk from varsity head coach Eric Archambault. There will be hitting, pitching, fielding, and throwing stations, followed by complimentary pizza, drinks, and slush for players and their parents.

NRLL players are not required to register for the event, but are encouraged to coordinate attendance through their coaches and teammates.

“Over the past few years, we have seen Varsity Day grow into another great North Reading baseball tradition,” Archambault said. “It’s a day that, as a program, we really look forward to – the opportunity to teach and engage the town’s youth players in a fun, positive way.

“What makes this event so special is that our varsity players can see a bit of themselves in these youngsters,” he added.

“They were these kids four, five, or 10 years ago, and really looked up to the older players to show them how to play the game right. Now they have the opportunity to pass that knowledge on to the next generation of ballplayers.”

Since its debut in 2016, Varsity Day has become a staple on the North Reading Little League calendar as well.

“We saw right away how much the younger kids enjoyed being around and learning from the high school players. It had such a positive effect on them,” NRLL president Eddie Madden said. “And last year, when we opened up Varsity Day to all levels of NRLL, the response was outstanding.

“We’ve worked closely with Coach Archambault to build on the strong relationship that exists between North Reading Little League and the high school program, and Varsity Day is a great example of that. We hope to see several dozen Little Leaguers at Carey Park to take part in this free and fun event.”

Varsity Day was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postoned due to inclement weather.

This spring, North Reading Little League is presenting a tremendous opportunity for 12- and 13-year-old ballplayers to build their skills for the Big Diamond.

NRLL is planning to field a team in a Sunday afternoon 50/70 baseball league at Stoneham High School. The intermediate-sized field is bigger than the small diamond (46-foot pitching mound/60-foot base paths) that 12-year-olds play on in Majors, yet smaller than the traditional big diamond (60/90) used by those ages 13-and-over.

There are benefits to all players who participate. For 12s, it will introduce them to a bigger field with more baseball-like rules; for 13s, it opens an opportunity to compete for a position on a North Reading 50/70 Williamsport (All-Star) Team.

All 12s and 13s registered for the 2019 NRLL spring season are eligible to play, and the 10-game schedule is being made so it doesn’t conflict with the Majors or MBDL schedules. And the best part? There is no additional cost to play.

If you're interested being part of North Reading’s 50/70 team this spring, please contact your Majors or MBDL coach ASAP or email NRLL Player Agent Ed Cady at edcady@comcast.net.