Hello Hershey Little League community members,

With the news of the increasing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to inform you that your Hershey Little League (HLL) Board is taking this situation very seriously. We are monitoring the situation closely, and as a member of Little League International, we are following their recommendations, and the guidelines set by the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the PA public health department including guidance from Dauphin County and our DTSD.

As such, we encourage all those participating in the HLL – including players, volunteers, families, and fans – to follow the best practices as outlined by the CDC.  These currently include: washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (if soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer); avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and avoid close contact with people who are sick. We also encourage you to limit close, physical contact with others (including shaking hands—players and coaches could substitute tipping caps/visors instead of shaking hands at the end of a practice or game); and make sure all players have their own water/drink bottles and are not sharing.  

As a small, community-based Board, HLL will continue to consult with our County and Local authorities regarding recommendations and best practices on how to proceed with large gatherings of people, etc. and will update everyone with any changes in HLL programming or activities using an extreme abundance of caution as our guide. 

Finally, if you or your child are ill; have a fever, cough, or respiratory condition; have a compromised immune system; are in any other group that may be at an increased risk of contracting a virus like the coronavirus; or have recently traveled to a country listed on the CDC’s Risk Assessment by Country, we encourage you or your child to refrain from Hershey Little League-related activities until cleared by your healthcare provider.

Thank you for your commitment to HLL, the safety and best interest of our children and your ongoing support to both. 

HLL Board

Hello HLL families,

It’s hard to believe, but Opening Day is only 48 days away and in less than a month there will be kids hitting, catching and throwing on the many fields of Hershey Little League (HLL).  On Monday, March 2nd our Minors and Majors Divisions will hold their annual “skills assessments” and then two weeks later team practices begin.  For families who are either new to the community, or joining HLL for the first time we welcome you all as well and look forward to many years together through your child’s Little League baseball experience.   

Meanwhile, there are improvement projects being planned or already underway for those many HLL fields and your HLL Board is hard at work each day planning out the multitude of schedules, equipment and field use needs, just to list a few of their responsibilities.  Please note that all HLL fields are closed to play or practices until March 14, 2020 (weather permitting). 

Going forward, you can stay on top of everything HLL through Facebook ® or different areas of the HLL website to stay informed of all that is happening in the 2020 season.  Important information you will receive from these resources are your child’s coaches and team assignment, details about skills assessment times, team practices, the pending 2020 game schedules, and much, much more.  There are also many “tabs” on the HLL website to peruse and learn more about HLL like how we operate, what our volunteer needs are and anything else not specifically shared via email, or Facebook.  If you still have questions prior to your player’s team assignments feel free to contact your child’s Age/League level commissioner for help and support.  Then, once the 2020 season begins, you should receive your important information and updates from your respective League Commissioners and Coaches via email, the HLL website and Facebook®. 

Player registration continues through February 28th at 11:59 p.m.  Because scheduling and team assignments in the youngest leagues is already underway, late fees are now in effect as well.  (Any requests for exception to register after our official registration closes for T-Ball through Majors levels will need to be approved by the appropriate League Commissioner.)

In the next few weeks we will be asking everyone to support HLL in several other ways when there will be opportunities to help prepare and set up the various baseball fields—with ten different fields used by HLL this season.  Before that we can use almost 15 adults to assist with the Majors and Minors skills assessments on 3/2/20 at In the Net.  (Please let any HLL Board member know of your willingness and ability to help out that evening—there are many more roles to fill other than throwing batting practice or fielding skills.  Our Uniforms & Equipment and Opening Day committees will also appreciate your help as they plan and hold another successful HLL Opening day on 4/18/20.

If you are interested in volunteering to serve as a Head coach, Assistant coach, or support coach/ practice coach for HLL, please be sure to note this on your child’s registration form or inform the respective League Commissioner.  We can never have enough volunteers and we encourage everyone to get involved.  Please note that every HLL coach will need to provide the appropriate, personal information so HLL can conduct required background checks and clearances. Again, if you have any questions please contact your child’s respective League Commissioner as listed on the website.

Finally, a significant portion of financial support to operate HLL comes from our many generous business sponsors from around the Hershey community and these funds offset the costs of player registrations and fundraising fees.  Our sponsors will be listed on the HLL website, and on the various Team jerseys.  Please take the time to thank them for their generosity and when possible, encourage your other business friends to consider sponsoring a team for Hershey Little League. 

As always your HLL Board of Directors are here to serve and support you, the members and stakeholders of the HLL community.  Please let us know how we’re doing and we look forward to seeing everyone very soon.  

Myron mac--HLL President

On March 7th from 10am to 12pm, Hershey Little League will be sponsoring its Colts Baseball Clinic at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) gym.  The ECC entrance is located at the SE corner of the building behind the elementary school.  Instruction on baseball fundamentals will be provided by Hershey High School Baseball Coach Dave Anderson, his staff, and players.  This free clinic will provide batting, throwing, and fielding instruction and practice for your Colts baseball player.  Due to space requirements at the ECC, we will be splitting the Colts division into 2 groups that day.

• 10am - 11am - Players with the last names A through K
• 11am - 12pm - Players with the last names L through Z

The sessions will begin promptly at 10 & 11 am, so please arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the start time of your child's session to sign in.  Please be sure your child brings their baseball glove, and if you have a helmet and bat, bring it along if you wish.  If not, we will have extra helmets and bats to use. 

Minors & Majors assessments will be at In the Net on Monday, March 2, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.  (Arrive by 5:45 p.m. please).  Any child playing at this level must attend for skills evaluations. They will be placed on assigned teams later in the week.  Players should bring their gloves, batting helmets and league-approved bats.  (Loaner bats or helmets will be available for players to share if they forget theirs.)  Players will also be fitted for uniforms during the assessments and parent/guardian help is appreciated.  The Minors and Majors Commissioners welcome any other adults who might be able to assist in the sessions this evening.  Additional information will be shared the week prior to assessment night.   

Our 2020 Coaching Clinic to be held on Sunday, March 1 from 3:00 pm- 5:00 pm.  This clinic will be held at Elite Baseball, 218 S Plum St, Mount Joy, PA 17552.  Attendance is strongly encouraged for all coaches and practice assistants, especially for t-ball, colts and any new coaches. Please come out for a great learning experience.