SOGGY DAY DOESN'T DETER MILWOOD FAMILIES!

It wasn't exactly the day we ordered up to start our 2012 season, but hearty Milwood families did come out for our annual parade and abbreviated Opening Day ceremony on Saturday, despite the rain. With more rain expected and sloppy field conditions, the decision was made to cancel the games for the entire day. We still had a fun parade, gave away some fundraiser prizes and had all the hot dogs we could eat!

T-baller Aubrey Rowlson was our top fundraiser. She earned a $100 gift card and helped Coach Martin's team top all other teams with their donation total. The entire team was awarded a team party at Putters! Thanks to all of our families for their fundraising efforts for this season's Kids Run the Bases FunRaiser.

Kevin Hart opened our Wilson Field festivities with prayer. Chris Powell was awarded the 2012 President's Award and Smiley Verduzco was honored for his nearly 40 years of coaching and mentoring with a plaque from his friends here at Milwood Little League. He threw out the first softball pitch and his grandson, Will, threw out the first baseball pitch. Jill Archie once again opened another Milwood season with a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem and Chris Bullard recited the Little League Pledge.

After the opening ceremony, lunch was served by the Portage Suburban Kiwanis. A loud fire engine, free food and Slappy....what more could a kid ask for?! Oh, yeah...some games!

2012 GAME SCHEDULES

Click on the Games Schedule handout below to view your team's 2012 Schedule. All schedules are subject to change. Cancelled games may be played at a later date. Also included is the Field Master Calendar that shows the daily schedule for all divisions.

2012 CONCESSION SCHEDULE

Click on the Concession Stand Schedule handout below to check when your team will be working. Please note- arrival times are one half hour before game times. Teams need to provide 6 workers for their entire shift. Game time on weeknights is 6:00pm and 10:00am on Saturdays. Have fun and remember you're helping our league!

MILWOOD'S WAYNE STATE-BOUND ALEX ELWELL ON TEAR FOR KNIGHT'S SURGING SOFTBALL TEAM 

Scott DeCamp | sdecamp1@mlive.com, April 27, 2012

It became official last November, when the Loy Norrix softball standout signed her letter of intent with Division II Wayne State University. Between the Kalamazoo Promise and scholarship assistance she's receiving, Elwell's college expenses are pretty much covered.

With all that pressure off her shoulders, she's able to focus on making her senior season one to remember. It has been that and more thus far, too, as Elwell is tearing the cover off the ball and the Knights are off to an 11-3 start after 6-5 and 10-0 wins Thursday at Kalamazoo Central.

"It's hard to believe it's my senior year – it's crazy," said Elwell, a four-year varsity starter who is an ace pitcher and shortstop. "I'm going to be going to college next year. It's mind blowing."

Loy Norrix, which has not finished above the .500 mark in Elwell's previous three seasons, is in early contention in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division with a 5-1 record.

"It's crazy," she said. "It's hard to believe that us – Norrix – has that chance just because we've had such a rep for kind of not being very good. Then to come out this year, I think we're surprising a lot of people."

Elwell's production this season is no surprise to Loy Norrix coach Samantha Conley, who has seen her star player develop athletically and in terms of mental toughness during four seasons. Conley estimates Elwell is batting in the .800 range through the first 14 games, and hitting with power. Alex hit her first home of the season on Thursday, a three-run shot during the first inning of Game 2, and might have more by now if the fence at Loy Norrix's field not so deep. "Yeah, like 240 (feet) at least," Conley said. "She hit one in center field on Tuesday off the fence, in the air – it must have been 250."

Prior to this season, Elwell had raised her batting average by about 50 points each year. This season, it has spiked by 300 points for the Gazette's Divisions 1-2 all-area selection.

Email Scott DeCamp at sdecamp1@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ScottDeCamp

7 & 8 YEAR OLDS EXCEL IN MFL

Our Milwood Fall Ball experience is extended  to our Minor Division through an instructional league that focuses on skill development. The clinic style format helps accelerate skill levels to better prepare kids for the next level of play. It also helps younger players gain confidence for their final year of machine-pitch baseball. The boys are having a great time- especially when it's time to scrimmage!

FALL BALL-WHAT TOOK US SO LONG?!

On a beautiful August night, Milwood Little League kicked-off the inaugural season of it's fall baseball league. It was great to see Vanderberg Park full of smiling ball players once again, attired with their fresh new fall colored jerseys and picking up right where they left off nearly 2 months ago. Conversation in the stands was typically "Why haven't we done this before?!" or "What a great idea!". After game one, all indications are that we are going to have a great fall season. Go MFL!

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70 TO PLAY MILWOOD'S FALL BASEBALL!

The Milwood Board of Directors has discussed adding a fall program for the last couple of years. This year they decided to test the waters by first asking our families if there was any interest. The response was overwhelming as dozens of families almost immediately said "we're in"! With all the other fall sports programs and with school just around the corner, we were somewhat surprised there would be so much interest. So, with little time to spare, coaches were selected and players drafted to form 4 teams, ages 9-12, that begin play this week. We also formed an instructional division for 7-8 year olds.

We are excited about our new league and giving our players the opportunity to play more baseball this year. We will focus less on the final score and more on instruction and having fun in the MFL games. Our goal for next year is to expand this program to the District level and place players in the same age divisions as the regular season. This year, ages 9-12 will be placed together and rules will be modified for the safety and equity of the younger players. Games will be played Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons. Come check out the MFL!