My family has been involved with Pasadena American Little League for over a decade now and I am honored to serve as President this year. Watching my four sons grow and develop their love for baseball while participating alongside them in a variety of roles has been an unforgettable experience.
I am committed to making sure PALL continues to be a place where all families can play baseball and be a part of this special community. Sportsmanship, integrity, and skill development for players of all ability levels is always more important than winning games.
PALL is a 100% volunteer organization and so many community members come together each year to make baseball happen for the players. If you're not already, please get involved and help us with this mission, we need all the help we can get!
When opening day kicks off with the first pitch, please remember to keep things positive. I know how hard it is for us to keep our feelings in check. Sports unleash a wide range of emotions, from euphoria to despair to even anger, and all of them heightened by the adrenaline rush that comes from competition. It’s that emotional thrill that makes sports so enjoyable. But we must remember that Little League is just kids playing baseball. These kids will make mistakes. So will the adults who coach them, umpire for them, and administer the program for them. Give all of them your patience and encouragement.
We must also remember that our so-called opponents are also our neighbors and friends. We draft new teams every year and our opponents from last year become our teammates this year. We get to watch these kids grow up together. So, no matter how intense the competition gets on the field, we leave those feelings behind once we get off. Inside the fence, we play hard to win. Outside the fence, we’re all friends and part of one community.
Little League is an experience that parents and children can enjoy together. So, get involved, but also keep things in perspective. We can’t guarantee that every kid will become a superstar, but we can work together so kids can learn how to play and enjoy a sport we love.
GO PALL!
Eric Detwiler
PALL President