Neartown Little League: League Information

Neartown Little League's mission is to provide children, ages five through fourteen, in the Neartown, Montrose, Fourth Ward, and Midtown areas with the opportunity to play baseball in a safe, nurturing environment.

Neartown Little League is a member of the Council of Houston Inner-city Little Leagues (CHILL), a consortium of nine Little Leagues that are committed to supporting Little League baseball and softball programs in the inner-city of Houston and is represented on the Neartown Association, the Neartown-Montrose Super Neighborhood Council, and the Friends of Ervan Chew Park.

Neartown Little League ("NLL") was founded in 1996 by a group of concerned citizens who sought to bring baseball to a part of hte inner city of Houston that had no organized baseball programs for children.  In 1999, Neartown Youth Baseball League became a Little League affiliate to help expand membership, allow for interleague play with other Little Leagues, and provide better training opportunities for coaches and umpires.  At this time, its official name was changed to Neartown Little League.  The 1999 season saw NLL fielding a total of six teams -- 2 Tee-ball, 2 Minors machine pitch, and 2 Majors kid pitch.  The total number of players was 83. 

During 2000, NLL experienced a 20% growth in the number of players who participated, increasing the number of teams from 6 to 9, and fielding its first 11-12 year old All-Star Tournament Team.  NLL has continued to grow, and in 2006 fielded 21 teams, with a total of 285 players. 

Since its inception, NLL has used the ballfield at Ervan Chew (formerly Dunlavy) Park.  When NLL first began playing at Ervan Chew Field in 1997, the park had a reputation for being a haven for drug users and the homeless.  Largely through the efforts of its former president, Dr. Will Weber, NLL obtained "Adopt-a-Field" status, which allowed leverage in improving field facilities. Under Dr. Weber’s leadership, NLL has overseen/poured over $125K into field improvements and renovations that have benefited not only Ervan Chew Field, but the Park and surrounding neighborhood as a whole.  The Field was named by the city of Houston to be "Will Weber Field" in 2010.

In 2006, construction of the Eric Hilton Field was completed, making another baseball facility available for NLL teams.  Hilton Field has since been admired and complimented by many player families and game attendees—besides the beauty of the field itself, the downtown skyline provides a fabulous backdrop from the stands.  NLL/Hilton Field was proud to be selected as a host site for District 16’s 2007 Tournament Team competition, which was held in late June 2007.

Many of the league's founders remain active in the league's affairs, and several continue as members of the NLL's Board of Directors.

Little League Baseball, Inc. - Dr. Wilford Weber to Receive Posthumous Little League Urban Initiative Volunteer of the Year Award

Houston Chronicle - Neartown Little League's Will Weber Recalled as a Visionary

Houston Chronicle - Baseball Breeds an Intangible Value / Neartown Little League Good for Players, Community as a Whole

Little League Baseball, Inc. - Little League International Board of Directors Attend Dedication of Eric Hilton Field in Houston

Neartown Little League is located in the heart of Houston, just west and southwest of downtown.

We have an agreement with Post Oak Little League that boys and girls age five to twelve who reside in the zip codes 77098 and 77019 West of S. Shepherd Dr. be allowed the option to play in either NLL or POLL for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

The Neartown Little League has a Board of Directors who are elected annually at the closing day ceremonies.