Medford’s 3 Little Leagues Officially Merge; Hold Joint Registration

| February 18, 2013 | Sports Highlights | No Comments

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford’s three Little League programs- Medford National, West Medford Hillside, and North Medford- have officially been approved by Little League International to form one league, according to league officials. The new league is going by the name Medford Little League.

“That’s the thing, we’re all Medford. It doesn’t really matter where you live in the city,” said John D’Orazio, West Medford Hillside Little League (WMHLL) president, in an interview in January. “The kids should have a great Little League program.”

The merger comes after years of planning by the leagues and their boards. The effort picked up more urgency after two Little League volunteers were charged with larceny in December.

Medford High School baseball coach Mike Nestor has been in favor of a merger for several years. There are many advantages to such a plan, he said in January, including consistency in coaching, better competition, easier park management, and fewer competing clinics.

“I’m glad it’s coming to this…they’re doing it for the kids,” said Coach Nestor. “In the end, this merger opens up a lot of avenues in the city for baseball.”

Nestor and D’Orazio both acknowledged that participation in baseball has declined over the past few years, and they hope one league will be a stronger feeder system that “keeps kids interested” and has them playing at the appropriate age and ability levels.

According to new Medford Little League President Dave Barnes, prior to the merger, the three Little Leagues held joint online and mail-in registrations. The leagues also launched a central site for all Medford Little League information, www.MedfordLittleLeague.com.

According to a league notice, those who have already registered “pre-merger” do not need to register again. The Medford Little League is continuing to hold walk-in registration on Saturday, February 23, from 10AM-12PM at the South Medford Fire Station, and Saturday, March 2, from 8AM-2PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Online registration is also available through March 9. Tryouts will be held on March 16 at Cousens Gym at Tufts.

The new league will have a board that consists of representatives from each of the three former leagues.