Team Insight

10 players – nine starters and a Designated Hitter, if you will – get together to explain the state of the game in 2023. TEAM BASEBALL TALKIN' BASEBALL BATTING LEADOFF Stephen Keener, President/CEO, Little League; Williamsport, PA "Spotlighted by the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the League Baseball World Series and the expansion of our baseball and soball World Series events in Williamsport (PA) and Greenville (NC), the 2022 season was one to remember as we brought back the full World Series experience at all seven divisions of baseball and soball and saw our leagues continuing to return to the field to make lifelong memories. "As we look forward to yet another exciting, memorable and most importantly, fun Little League season in 2023, we could not be more thankful for our millions of volunteers who make the Little League experience so enjoyable for children all over the world." e Little League Baseball and Soball experi- ences are getting better every year. BATTING SECOND Dusty Stauffer, 72, Knoxville, TN, a Roy Hobbs World Series participant "I'm still going strong and I see no end in sight." Adult baseball remains immensely popular throughout the U.S. BATTING THIRD Wes Skelton, Executive Director, Dixie Baseball, Marshall, TX "We expect participation to be fully back to 2019 levels, though economic factors could affect lower income families' participation.We cater to children ages 4-12." Baseball participation is expected to return to "normal" in 2023. BATTING CLEANUP Abe Key, President/CEO, Pony Baseball and Softball, Washington, PA "In 2022, our participation reached 93 percent of our pre-pandemic numbers and we are strongly optimistic that it will return to pre-pandemic levels this year. We are setting our sights high for 2023. We've also seen improvements in facility access across the U.S." In October, 2022, Pony Baseball and Soball changed its age-determination date to April 30, which has been well-received. BATTING FIFTH Sandy Jones, Executive Director, Dixie Boys Baseball, Dothan, AL "Dixie Boys Baseball experienced an increase in franchised teams in 2022 and our goal for 2023 is to reach our pre-COVID participation numbers." At all levels, youth baseball participation in the U.S. continues to improve. BATTING SIXTH Tom Giffen, Co-owner, Roy Hobbs World Series; Fort Myers, FL "People in their 80s are fit and capable of playing baseball. And, they are." Clearly, baseball is a lifetime sport. BATTING SEVENTH Richard Neely, President, American Amateur Baseball Congress, Farmington, NM "We are anticipating another strong year — 2022 was great and 2023 is off to a great start. CBS Sports did a special on our Connie Mack World Series and will carry the d Series this year." With surging interest in youth baseball, the sport's future is strong. BATTING EIGHTH Steven Tellefsen, President, Babe Ruth League, Hamilton, NJ "Our numbers are gradually getting closer to 2018-2019 numbers. We opened our chartering season in November, 2022 for the 2023 season and to date the team numbers are looking very promising. We are off to a good start for the 2023 season." As participation in youth baseball continues to grow, demand for product will follow suit. BATTING NINTH Elliot Hopkins, Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services, NFHS, Indianapolis, IN "While we are uncertain what the total effect on high school baseball was during the pandemic, we are comfortable in hypothesizing that a lot of boys and girls did not play during that period of time. We do know that during the 2021-22 academic year we were only down 2000 baseball players. Our member state associations are actively encouraging their students to come out and participate." High school baseball is currently on a firm foundation. AND THE DH Tim Maxwell, Varsity Baseball Coach, Royal Palm Beach High School, Royal Palm Beach, FL "A good travel baseball coach will realize that school sports come first and will respect the traditions of middle school and high school baseball. Winning a state championship is the greatest accomplish- ment a youth player can achieve; however, travel ball has taken over college coaches and pro scouts being able to see you play. As a high school baseball coach, my job is to prepare my players for the next level by teaching them about playing college baseball." High school baseball has a place in the infra- structure of baseball in America. n 18 • Team Insight ~ January/February 2023 teaminsightmag.com

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