Located in the heart of the Woodland and Congdon District of Duluth, Eastern is one of
four Little League programs inside the city of Duluth along with Western, Central and
Lake Park Little League.

For Duluth Eastern Little League, this year marks a very special milestone.  Eastern is 
celebrating it?s Golden Anniversary, having been established in 1960.  Following the
ceremony,  there will be a double header featuring two of Eastern?s teams from the
Junior and Senior Leagues.  Mayor Don Ness, a veteran of  Duluth Central Little
League himself, will be present for the dedication and will be throwing out the first pitch.

Many Woodland residents are familiar with the twin baseball fields at Glen Avon off of
Woodland Avenue.  These two “Little League” fields have been part of the Heritage of
Eastern Little League for 5 decades and provide a great setting for baseball for youths
from the age of 4 to 12.  The restored Woodland Field is a standard, full-sized baseball
field and is the home field for Duluth Eastern?s 13-17 year old Jr. and Sr. divisions.

In conjunction with the event, there will be a commemorative ceremony to honor the late
John Baggs, the St. Scholastica Baseball Coach who passed away last year.  In
attendance will be Colleen Baggs, John?s wife.  John was a loved and respected
member of the community and a great supporter of baseball in Duluth.  The Duluth
Eastern Little League Board of Directors voted unanimously to name the field the John
Baggs Memorial Field when the project to renovate the facility was begun.

The renovation of the Woodland field is part of a long term commitment that Duluth
Eastern Little League has made to partner with the City of Duluth to improve those city
facilities that it uses.  In March of 2009 Duluth Eastern applied for and was awarded a
$10,000 matching grant from the Minnesota Twins Community Fund.  With these funds,
$12,000 of its own funds and over $8,000 worth of volunteer hours, there is now a brand
new infield and new dugouts.  Phase III of the project, which Eastern hopes to begin in
the Fall, will be the revitalization of the outfield, the adding of bleachers and a
concession stand.

As stated by Ken Aparicio, President of Duluth Eastern Little League, “There are a
number of organizations who use the city?s baseball, soccer and park facilities that have
been built over the last century.  We now have an opportunity to get involved and help
the city maintain these fields as a partner and supporter of the city process.  Thanks to
the Minnesota Twins and all the volunteer parents of our organization, we are now
making the dream of a great baseball facility a reality.”

For more information about Duluth Eastern Little League or for those who might be
interested in donating to Phase III of the John Baggs Memorial Field, you can contact
the league through its website, www.dulutheasternlittleleague.com.