Little League Central Region: Welcome

Top Left to Right:  Nina Johnson, Central Region Director; Kim Porter, Administrative Assistant.

Bottom Left to Right:  Ryan Weaver, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor; Tim Jones, Building and Groundskeeper

The 2012 Central Region Umpire School was held the week of April 14th through the 19th.  16 students representing 5 states were in attendance--Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  Throughout the week, the students participated in sessions on field mechanics, rules and plate work.  They also were able to network with the other students, as well as the staff of volunteer umpires who conducted the clinic. 

Thanks especially to the instructors who volunteered their time to conduct the school:   Jason Kelley, WI-4; Terry Coburn, MI-2; Jerry Millage, IA-2; Diane Wagner, IN-2; Tim Ward, IL-17; Greg Ramos, IN-1, Jamie Hinojosa, MI-5 and Central Region Umpire in Chief, Jeff Knoebel, IN-5. 

Central Region volunteers and Staff gathered on Sunday, September 11th to wish former Central Region Director, Mike Legge, a happy retirement.  A small gathering was held at Mike and wife Sandy's favorite Indianapolis area restaurant, Bellavita Ristorante on Geist Reservoir.  One of the view Indianapolis restuarants situated near water, Bellavita had become one of the Legges' favoriate restaurants during their 6-year-stint in the heart of Indiana. 

Mike and Sandy headed south on Friday, September 16th and arrived home on Tuesday, September 20th.  They are enjoying being back in their house and looking forward to not shoveling any snow this winter.

The Central Region will most certainly miss Mike and Sandy.  We are grateful for the time they spent with us and looking forward to building on the solid foundation they left us with.

There was a flurry of excitement outside the fences of Stokely Field at the Reuben F. Glick Little League Center on the afternoon of Saturday, August 13.  It didn't have anything to do with the team that had just earned a berth into the LLWS as the Great Lakes representative or the teams that were slated to square off later that evening in the Midwest Championship.

The jubilation was from the Pendleton Junior Little League Challenger players and their red sea of supporters, as they anxiously awaited their chance to take the field. 

After a hard-fought, intersquad battle that saw everyone hit and everyone score, the players returned to their dugouts, replenished themselves with icy cold Gatorade and patiently waited for their name to be bellowed over the loud speaker, calling them out to the foul line to collect a participation medal.

Thanks to all those from Pendleton Junior Little League, who traveled to Indianapolis to be a part of the 2011 Central Region Challenger game.  Special thanks to Pendleton LL Challenger Director, Dave Bauer and Indiana District 9 Administrator, Don Mason for making it possible.

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
November 15, 2011

Sean Farawell has been named the Assistant Director of Little League’s Central Region, it was announced by Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball. The Central Region office, the Reuben F. Glick Little League Center, is located in Indianapolis, Ind.

“During the interview process, Sean exhibited the skills needed to be successful in his position working with our volunteers in the Central Region,” Mr. Keener said. “The addition of his leadership and communication skills to the regional office should help us expand and improve programs while they look to grow participation in both the baseball and softball programs.”

Mr. Farawell, a West Long Branch, N.J., native, is a 2011 graduate of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., where he earned his undergraduate degree in Recreation and Sport Management. As part of his academic requirements, Mr. Farawell was required to complete an internship, which he did with the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. During his six months with the Nets, he worked in ticket sales in a number of different capacities, including working with special events and projects within the department.

A graduate of Shore Regional High School, Mr. Farawell, 22, also worked for seven months with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Single A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

In his new position with Little League, Mr. Farawell will assist Region Director Nina Johnson with the operation of the region headquarters. Some of those duties will include working with leagues throughout the region to enhance operations, developing and implementing training programs and the operation of tournaments, including the annual Central Region Little League Softball Tournament and the Midwest and Great Lakes Little League Baseball Tournaments.

“I am truly honored to have been appointed to this position by such a tremendous organization,” Mr. Farawell said. “Being partnered with a great staff in the Central Region and relying on my past experience and desire to learn, I plan to be a productive and successful member of the Little League family.”

The Reuben F. Glick Little League Center includes five Little League Division baseball fields, including Alfred Stokely Field and Shirley Ferguson Field, a regulation size baseball field and batting cages. The Center also includes a swimming pool, dormitories, cafeteria and other recreational activity areas. The Central Region Headquarters serves 13 states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and 413,805 Little League players who comprised 27,587 teams in 2011.

“Sean’s educational background and understanding of the sports industry will allow him to quickly become familiar with the Little League program,” Ms. Johnson said. “I look forward to working with him to strengthen Little League in the Central Region.”