Pack the Park for 'Girls With Game'
This Wednesday, May 29, at 5:30 PM
Join VLL in celebrating the many contributions female players (as well as women coaches) have made to the game of Little League baseball over the past 50 years. The league's annual "Girls With Game" recognition event will take place this Wednesday at Yeonas Park's Nance Field, beginning at 5:30 PM. Featured guests will include:
- 2023 Little League World Series alumnus Stella Weaver, one of nearly two-dozen girls who have played in the Williamsport, PA, tournament. Stella -- a cousin of VLL's own 12-year-old phenom Mitch Weaver -- and her Nolensville, Tennessee, Little League squad ("Stella & the Fellas") topped the Vienna American Majors All-Star team last summer to capture the Southeast Regional title and a berth in the LLWS.
- Current VLL player Caroline Braden, one of 96 girls participating in the "Maria Pepe Little League Baseball Legacy Series," the first-ever all-girls baseball event at the LLWS complex in Williamsport, next month.
- VLL alumnus MJ Melvin, a two-time Vienna American All-Star and now a freshman member of the 2024 state champion Bishop O'Connell High School softball team.
These three girls are shining examples of female players who have made Little League baseball bigger and better for all players. Wednesday's event will include a Q&A session with Stella, activities for players (girls & any boys who think they can keep up), autograph opportunities, and some other surprises.
Claim Two Free Washington Nationals Tickets by June 5
As part of VLL's longtime partnership with the Washington Nationals, this season our players will have the opportunity to attend a very special game on Sunday, June 9, at Nationals Park.
VLL attendees at this inaugural "Team UP Festival" day will receive free tickets to the 1:35 PM game (vs. the Atlanta Braves) and anyone wearing a Washington Nationals Team UP uniform (player jersey/cap or coach's cap) can gain early entry to the park (starting at 11:30 AM at the RF gate) and admission a fantastic lineup of special festival activities, including player meet-and-greet sessions & autograph opportunities, special giveaway items, a scavenger hunt, and caricature artists and balloon twisters.
To attend the festival, simply visit THIS LINK by Wednesday, June 5 (this deadline was extended), and redeem your tickets using your player's unique online redemption code provided in THIS SPREADSHEET (organized by team and player name). Each code is good for two (2) complimentary tickets. (Please check off in the spreadsheet that you redeemed your code.) For more information, please see this FAQ document.
Rookie & Tee Ball Day Conflict: Please note that VLL had no control over the schedule for this Nats event, and we regret that it conflicts with the previously scheduled season-finale festivities for Rookie/Tee Ball teams. The June 9 "Rookie & Tee Ball Day" is an annual season capstone for our youngest players, providing a special chance for them to play their final game of the year on one of our premier fields, celebrate afterwards with league-provided hot dogs and other treats, have a "team party" at Yeonas Park and receive participation medals, pictures, etc.
FALL BALL REGISTRATION: June 1 marks the opening of Fall Ball registration. VLL's development-focused fall season is designed to promote player growth, with reduced time commitment (to allow participation in multiple sports or other after-school/weekend activities) and relaxed rules to encourage skill-building with experienced coaches. Some players use Fall Ball to try baseball for the first time. Others may repeat their spring level, or play at the level they aspire to for the following spring. There are no player evaluations for Fall Ball, and teams are formed with heavy coach input to align/re-unite friends, classmates, and neighbors where possible. Teams will form in mid-August. Sign up early!
REGULAR-SEASON WRAP UP, TOWN TOURAMENT COMING INTO FOCUS: Our sixteen Majors, ten 3A, and twelve 2A teams are beginning their final week of competition, with Town Tournament berths or seedings on the line for a number of teams. Post-season play for these levels begins Monday, June 3. The 8-team Majors tournament will be played Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Tourney games for 3A teams (all teams qualify) will be Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. The 2A tournament (all teams qualify) will run on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday. Final schedule information will be released next weekend, based upon season standings.
Spectator Decorum Reminder: Keep It Positive
All spectators at Vienna Little League games are reminded to limit verbal commentary to polite cheering and encouragement of all players. We believe in fostering a lively and competitive atmosphere that loudly celebrates team efforts and accomplishments while also promoting sportsmanship toward both opponents and officials. Parents and other fans are asked to kindly respect the role of our volunteer coaches to provide all in-game instruction and the role of our amateur umpires to make essential judgment calls and enforce rules; please refrain from usurping either role (and consider joining those ranks in the future). By doing so, you help support our 72-year mission to "implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority." Review the VLL Parent Code of Conduct and the Little League Parent and Volunteer Pledge.
Registration Is Open for HammerZone Summer Camps
HammerZone is excited to announce that our 2024 Summer Camps are open for enrollment! Make this summer spectacular with one of our weeklong camps! Here are some details below:
Dates:
June 24-28
July 8-11 (Outdoor Camp at Thaiss Park)
July 22-26
August 5-9
Campers will have the opportunity to enhance their overall baseball skills through daily training with a focus on hitting, fielding, and throwing as well as compete in daily skills competitions. Camp Highlights:
⚾ Hitting, Fielding, Throwing, and Base Running
😃 Games and Competitions
✅ Auto Pitching Machines
📋 HitTrax Evaluations
🔥 Radar Toss
💨 Bat Speed Checks
Not only that, but we also have our Fitness for Fun with Coach Hersh! Fitness For Fun is a competitive, engaging, fast-paced class that takes a fun approach to developing fitness for youth-based athletes of all sports. Athletes will compete in games that have them sprint, jump, change direction and react all in a fun fast-paced environment!
Camp will run from 9 AM - 2 PM, and Fitness for Fun will run 2:15 PM - 3 PM.
You can learn more and sign up on our website.
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