The WPPA Drafts have happened and practice will begin soon!

All of the leagues have held their drafts, except for Liberty. Soon the coaches will be notifying the players on their teams and they will start to hold practices. You should hear from your child's coach by April 10th. Let me know if you haven't and I will see what I can find out.

The Snow Has Melted!!!

Finally after months of snow cover, the fields at Welles are bare. Now they are just muck, but that is an improvement. Won't be long until the grass is green and the first signs of kids returning from hockey, basketball and soccer are seen. Great time of the year, especially after a very long winter.

Umpire Training Starts Wednesday March 3rd!

The WPPA umpire training starts Wednesday March 3rd. The training will be held at the Amundsen High School gym from 7:00pm-9:00pm on the first four Wednesdays of March. Training is open to anyone 13 years old or older who wants to umpire in any of Welles Park's baseball leagues this summer. The training is free but you must sign-up prior to attending. The course will be taught by professional umpires Josh Locks and Dave Ducat. Call me to sign up (773-719-5895).

Travel Team Tryouts Schedule

Tryouts for the 9 and under Travel Team will be held Saturday Feb. 20th, 2:30-4:30 at Amundsen High School Gym and Sunday Feb 21st, 12:30-2:30 at BASH Sports Academy.

Tryouts for the 12 and under Travel Team will be held Sunday Feb. 14th and 21st, 6:30-8:00 at the Bulls and White Sox Training Academy, 6200 River Bend Drive. Lisle, IL. and Sunday Feb 28th, 9:00-10:30am at Bash Sports Academy, 2617 W. Fletcher ST. Chicago, IL.

For details, contact information, and other Travel Team information go to the WPPA website.

Still some openings in Major, Senior, and Liberty!

As expected the Welles Park youth baseball's three younger leagues Rookie, Junior, and Minor filled up fast on Saturday. The three older leagues Major (11 & 12yr olds), Senior (13 & 14yr olds) and Liberty (15-18yr olds) still have some openings.

New Player Registration this Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm

New player sign-up is this Saturday (Jan. 30th.). For the younger leagues this is your one and only chance to register. Rookie, Junior, and Minor will fill up very quickly. Starting at six o'clock in the morning, WPPA representatives will pass out wrist bands to people in line. A wrist band does NOT guarantee your child will get in the league, but it does hold your place in line so you can go home until 9:00-9:30. Because of the large number of returning players, the number of open spots in the younger leagues is very small. The WPPA does everything it can to help the people who want their children to play, but it can only accommodate a limited number new players.

The WPPA's Mount Rushmore

In its twenty year existence, the WPPA has had four presidents. They are (from left): Gene Sims, founder and president first six year; Andy Lowenthal, current president; Jim Price, 3rd president for four years, and Max Griffin, 2nd president for eight years. All three of the former president at still active in program.