NEOSHO, Mo. —
Despite a few hiccups, the first season of a Little League baseball program in Neosho has been termed a success.
A small group of parents and coaches heard the assessment Thursday night at meeting of the Neosho Little League board of directors at the Neosho Civic Center.
Little League returned to Neosho this summer after nearly a decade of city- and YMCA-run programs.
“I think it went really good for our first year, said Angie Leach, League board vice president. “Six hundred and sixty kids was a lot more than we thought we would have. We had some hiccups, but that was to be expected and we can only go up from here.”
The city-run youth baseball and softball programs were casualties of the city’s financial crisis of 2009 and 2010. City employees were laid off, youth sports programs were canceled, and a third of the municipal golf course was sold, as was the town’s recreation center.
Last October after receiving criticism from the City Council, the Neosho Freeman Family YMCA, which stepped in to run the youth baseball and softball program, informed the city that it was not interested in picking up the option for a third year.
Councilman Steve Hart, who initiated the council’s Little League discussion last fall, said in April that the affiliation with Little League was “something the city has needed to do for many years. I served on the rec board, and knew that we needed a better system for our kids.”
The city laid the groundwork for the league, but then stepped back and allowed the volunteer parent board to run the program.
When asked about concession revenues, board member Chris Fenske said the league turned a $12,000 profit. He said the league spent $8,000 on concessions last season. Leach also noted that the league purchased $12,000 in equipment before the season started. She said the support from the Neosho business community was impressive.
“The support from the businesses was amazing,” she said. “We had all of our teams sponsored by a business.”
Leach says the board rushed to put the league together this year, but organizers will have more time to prepare for the 2013 season.
“When the season was on, we were going day-to-day to make sure it happened for the kids,” she said. “Last year we didn’t start setting this up until February, so we’re glad to be able to start in October to prepare for next year.”
Board election
Leach said board elections for next year will be held Sept. 6, and absentee ballots will be accepted until Aug. 30. Leach said next year the board will expand from seven to 15 members.
Local News
Little League deemed a success in its first year back in Neosho
Program had been absent from town for nearly a decade
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