Registration Remains Healthy

Our registration for Spring 2024 (Teeball, Baseball & Softball) was up 2.5% from 321 players in 2023 to 329 players in 2024. While most other little leagues are seeing a drop in registration, we are the exception and seeing growth. 

Current fall baseball and softball participation is strong with over 125 players and volunteers. 

Thank you to all of the families who continue to participate and volunteer with BLL and contribute to our continued success. 

 Success on the Diamond:

 2024 once again saw a ton of success on the field.

• We hosted free winter softball and baseball clinics and spring break sandlot games for league registrants from farms through majors, with volunteer coaching help from our JV and Varsity Softball and Baseball teams. 

• Our spring baseball and softball season had close games every day, making for a very fun regular season and playoffs. Our goal is always to draft equitable and competitive teams for every level in the spring, so it is great when that carries through the season.

• Friday night games had great turnout from the community. Players at all levels got a chance to play on our big field under the lights as fans cheered them on.

• We had our 3rd Annual 6th grade All-Star Baseball Game, where all of our final year players took the field for a great game and received their sweatshirts in a ceremony following the game.

• We hosted another successful Peter J. Figoski Memorial softball game, where the Babylon Varsity Softball team played a regulation high school game on our field and we raised funds for scholarships honoring the memory of NYPD Officer Peter Figoski, a long-time coach and supporter in Babylon Little League.

• We hosted an internal farms softball league over the summer, which allowed over 35 girls to continue to play throughout the summer and build our softball program. 

• About 8 of our current minors softball players merged with one of our neighboring towns, West Islip, to participate in the Summer D34 Softball League and Tournaments. Those girls had a terrific time making new friends and building new relationships with the West Islip coaches, we thank them for their time and kindness in allowing us to merge with them this past summer.

• We had summer all-star baseball teams at 8u through 12U and junior 13-15 year old levels in the District 34 Invitational tournament and a 12U team in the Williamsport Little League World Series tournament. In both tournaments, we played teams from leagues much bigger than ours and we did great, with a league-wide invitational tournament record of 38 wins and 32 losses.

Sponsorship and Fundraising: 

We put another strong effort into the sponsorship program last spring to continue building relationships with our community and the financial health of the league. We received amazing support from businesses and organizations with over 50 sponsors pledging a total of almost $30,000!  

Our Swing for Spring event was held at the Long Island Yacht Club in March and was a great success. We look forward to another great event in 2025!

Little League Scholarships

Each year, former Babylon Little Leaguers who are now high school seniors apply for the Peter Figoski Memorial Scholarships, which are supported by the funds raised at the memorial softball game. After reviewing the 2024 applicants and discussing each of them, we agreed as a Board to give each of the six (6) applicants a $500 scholarship. Thank you for representing Babylon and making us all proud!

Snack Stand Success

2024 brought another banner year for our famous snack stand operated by our massively dedicated board member and volunteer Vinny Weiss. Vinny, along with his wife, Lisa, son, Matty, and staff of well trained workers served up some of the best eats this side of Deer Park Ave. These efforts raised just under $10,000 for the league! 

Thank you also to Vinny for coordinating the over 50 youth volunteers who put in time up in our announcers booth. Every night, and all day on Saturday, boys and girls announced the batters, pitchers, played music and kept us all entertained. 

Facility Improvements 

A big thank you to Mayor Adams, Scott Glenn and the entire Village of Babylon staff and public works crew! They are always there to jump in and lend a hand and support around our facilities and fields.

Along with a bunch of new baseball and softball equipment and balls, we invested in new equipment for the snack stand and a high-tech alarm system for the snack stand and announcers booth.  

Another thank you to former Babylon Little Leaguer and current Babylon High School senior and varsity baseball player Michael Bender who spent Columbus Day weekend improving our Ralph Ave. fields for his Eagle Scout project. Michael raised the funds and coordinated all the supplies and volunteer labor for the project that included adding dugout covers, planting shrubs in the outfield, constructing flower beds and installing a flagpole.

Board Members

A tip of my hat to our current board members for all they have done! Board positions are all volunteer time and the success of our league depends on the foresight, responsiveness, and commitment of the board.

• Anthony Basile

• Nick Ferraro

• Jen Ferrigno

• Mike Harvey

• Greg Hoffman

• Pete Smaldone

• Vito Spatafora

• Justin Sturiale

• Vinny Weiss

• Mike Williams

My sincerest thanks to retiring board members 

• Kim Cori 

• Bryan LoPalo 

for everything they have done, and still will do, for our league. They have spent the past few seasons dedicating dozens of hours making contributions that will be felt for years.

And welcome to our newly elected board members - Toby Hatten, Shauna Margolis and Matt Parker.

Each has contributed plenty of time to the league already and will be a great addition to the group!

Lastly, It has been an honor and my pleasure to serve as league president for the past five years. I am stepping aside and leaving the Babylon Little League Board of Directors. I have three boys who have gone and are continuing to go through Babylon Little League. As my oldest is graduating from Babylon High School this year, and my youngest is entering his final years in majors, I have seen for years how the participation and support from our Village community contributes to the success of Babylon Little League, our baseball and softball programs, and our kids and I am fortunate to have been a part of it. 

I want to thank you all for your support. Without this community, we would not be the great organization that we are today!

In Baseball & Softball,

Ben Gold

Volunteer, Babylon Little League