Big changes for little league

TOUCHET VALLEY—Touchet Valley Little League is now Snake River Little League (SRLL), and that is just one of the changes this year.

The league’s board stated in a press release to The Times, “We have some very exciting news about our local little league. Our board members have been working hard behind the scenes to build a program that our community can be excited about and proud of. Our mission is to assist youth in developing the qualities of discipline, teamwork, courage, and loyalty. Little League Baseball is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes. Snake River Little League (SRLL) wants to provide a program that teaches young athletes the love of the game, fundamental skills that they can build on each year, and the chance to compete in All-Stars tournaments. We are building a program with a strong foundation laid out by Little League International (LLI). “

In the efforts towards this effort, the SRLL is evaluating obtaining 501c3 non-profit status as opposed to continuing the use of the International Little League as a non-profit sponsor.

“By having our own 501c3 status, we can accept larger donations and seek out grant opportunities that can be used to improve our fields, dugouts, acquire scoreboards, and even get a concession stand. We have consulted with professionals in the community, and the board decided the best option to launch our program forward was to dissolve the old league and have a fresh start,” stated the press release.

The new changes include the change of name and a new logo. The league is open to youth in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, and the board felt the Snake River represented the valley. The board plans to create an umbrella corporation called Snake River Youth Sports, including Snake River Little League and potentially other local programs.

The SRLL league has also been revising the organization’s bylaws and constitution. According to the press release, the bylaws will include registration dates, team selection, coach and umpire training, All-Star team selection, and the code of conduct. These changes could affect players and be a little different from past years. The board is confident that these changes will improve the experience for everyone,

The league is still looking for volunteers to join the team and help achieve the mission. An open meeting will be held on October 4, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dayton Best Western. At this meeting, SRLL seeks to vote in new board members for supportive roles and to review and finalize the revised bylaws.

Anyone interested in knowing more about the SRLL and the proposed changes are encouraged to attend this meeting. Copies of the bylaws will be available after the meeting. For more information, contact Snake River Little League at info@snakeriveryouthsports.com.