New Mexico District 5 Little League

All leagues in this District will be having registration on January 24 and 31, 2009.  Please check back for specific locations, times and other pertinent data or feel free to contact the league president.  The respective contact information is listed on the Leagues pages.

So, what’s new in 2009??  We have a lot planned including a pre-season Jamboree and a Michelle Smith pitching clinic.

Our next District 5 meeting is Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at Roadrunner Little League at 6:00 p.m. The Presidents’ meeting is always open so feel free to attend.

The State District Administrator’s Meeting has been scheduled for December 6, 2008 in Waco, TX.  All of us will be there attending the Regional meeting so we will meet after it concludes on that Saturday.  If you have items you want me to bring to the group for discussion, please let me know.  You can simply go to the “About” page on this site, scroll to the bottom and fill out the Contact Me form.

Saturday, December 13, 2008, we will be having a District roundtable.  The event will be a morning session only.  More on time and place to follow.

We are also working to get Michelle Smith back for a Softball pitching clinic either February or March.  This will be a player clinic - PITCHING ONLY and will be restricted to 20 players per session.  Check back here for information which will be posted as we get the details.

Effective November 1, 2008, District 8 (our neighboring district) has a new District Administrator.  After volunteering over 40 years, Jim Kalas has resigned.  We wish him well.  Adolph “JR” Perea is the new District Administrator.  We are looking forward to a good relationship with District 8.

Welcome to Altamont and Roadrunner Little Leagues!  Both leagues joined District 5 after approval from the Charter Committee in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on October 9, 2008.  With the addition of these two leagues, District 5 now has eight leagues.  We look forward to working with you going forward.

Click on the link above for Leagues to find individual information for 2008 registration.

Wow! What a great way to start the New Year! Two-time Olympian Michele Smith will be conducting an EXCLUSIVE clinic for Little League Softball Managers and Coaches on Sunday, February 10, 2008. The clinic will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. at Eldorado High School Gymnasium (corner of Juan Tabo and Montgomery). Cost is $25 per person. You can pre-register by sending a check payable to District 5 Little League and mailing it to 12400 Loyola NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. Please indicate your league affiliation. We don’t often get athletes of this level in New Mexico and especially at such a reasonable cost. Please take time to join us on this Sunday afternoon to participate in a great program.

As summer heats up and regular season comes to an end, a lot of us have only one thing on our minds … All-Stars! The culmination of a successful season can lead many Little Leaguers to their ultimate goal of playing America’s favorite past time in Little League heaven, or Williamsport, Pennsylvania as most people know it. But to the rest of us who work hard and play hard as either a volunteer, a coach, or a player and don’t make it to All-Stars; simply enjoying the time with our friends and family is all we need to carry us through the summer.

I can remember my Little League days like they were yesterday. It was 1994 and I was 12 years old. Not a care in the world except for getting good grades in school and playing the game that most of us love. I remember the searing summer heat of New Mexico and the occasional downpour of rain that would cool off the days just enough to keep playing one more out, one more inning, or one more game. I always wanted to make the All-star team as a 12 year old and I remember the anticipation, hope, and the disappointment of not making the team time and time again. Yes, I was sad and disappointed, but sometimes I was glad I didn’t make the team because I don’t think I could have dealt with the pressure, stress, and demand that many Little Leaguers go through just to win. Most summers, I just wanted to spend time with my friends and perhaps follow my Leagues’ team to the Western Regional tournament in San Bernardino, California.

Looking back on the summer of 1994 now, I don’t remember much. I don’t remember which of my friends and teammates made the All-Star team, I don’t remember which League won the District tournament or even which team won the Little League World Series. But one thing I do remember was the inspiration, hope, and life of one Albuquerque Little Leaguer. Many people knew him as Ambrose, but the fortunate enough people who got to follow him around like he was a celebrity, just long enough to play a little home run derby on the pee-wee field, had the privilege of calling him ‘Brose.

When Ambrose Alday first came to Albuquerque, he played at Mile High Little League where he excelled at baseball and went on to make the All-Star team. Later, he would move into Road Runner Little League’s boundaries and would shine as both a player and a person as he would continue to make All-Star teams and help win District and State tournaments. But for this young man, his heart and love of the game would take him farther than any Little League World Series and farther in strength and love for his friends and team than most of us will ever go in our lifetime.

In January of 2006, a testament to Ambrose’s strength and love was portrayed in a true-life story, Summer’s Stars by JW Cronican. This inspirational story of Ambrose’s 13, 14, and 15 yr old All-Star season as well as his short High School baseball career reminds us why we really play the game. The story reminds us that Little League isn’t just about making it to Williamsport for the “Big Game” or about the banners or trophies or any amount of fame any one child or coach may see. Ambrose reminds us that baseball (and life) is about friendship, family, the love of the game, and life’s little lessons no matter how hard they may be. He reminds us that our own personal happiness or success isn’t always the most important thing. And he reminds us how personal strength, selflessness, and sacrifice can lead to success in many areas of life.

So before All-Stars start, before the politicking, before you feel the stress of winning District or State or Regional tournaments, before you get so consumed in winning and trying to get to the Little League World Series, and before you forget why you participate in Little League; pick up a copy of Summer’s Stars and discover what the love of the game is really about.

And when All-Stars come and you start to feel the pressure and stress, let us remember Ambrose and the real reasons why we pick up a ball and glove every season.

Congratulations to both Kraig Max and Renee Sedillo. Kraig and Renee have been selected to umpire in 2007 at post state tournaments.

Kraig, originally from Mile High, has been selected to umpire at the Senior Baseball Regional Tournament in Blytheville, Arkansas and also to umpire at the Senior Baseball World Series in Bangor, Maine. Kraig was formerly the Chief Umpire for District 5. Congratulations, Kraig. It is a great honor to be selected for these prestigious tournaments.

Renee, originally from Zia, has been selected to umpire at the Little League Regional Tournament in Waco, Texas. Congratulations, Renee. It is a great honor to be selected to the Regional Little League Tournament.

Beginning in 2007, we can all watch from the comfort of our living room as the championiship games from these tournaments will be televised on ESPN.

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that two of “our guys” have been selected for these tournaments. If you consider how many umpires they have to choose from, it is a real testament to their skills that they have been selected. If you see them, please let them know how much they are appreciated. We all know that umpires have a thankless job.

January 9, 2007 will be the next D5 Presidents’ meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. although the place is not finalized yet. Please check back often for that announcement. Each league is encouraged to be present as this will be the last meeting before player registrations the last Saturday of January and first Saturday of February. Lots to review before that time.

In case you haven’t been to the Little League International website, I would encourage you to visit it as well. The site is www.littleleague.org. There are lots of announcements that will be very beneficial to local leagues (see the ESPN announcement).