New Jersey District 12: Welcome

WELCOME TO THE HOME PAGE OF NEW JERSEY DISTRICT 12, LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, INC. District 12 has over 6,000 children participating in 20 local leagues from Florence and New Egypt in the South; to Princeton and Plainsboro in the North; Trenton, Ewing, Hopewell, in the West; to East Windsor and Millstone in the East. Little League programs are administered by a local Board of Directors and provide opportunities for children aged 5 through 16 to participate year round in both recreational and competitive baseball and softball programs. Local Leagues also provide training opportunities for men and women interested in volunteering as coaches, managers, and umpires. District 12 is home to some of the most competitive baseball and softball in the State, and indeed, the country. Year in and year out baseball and softball programs vie for State championships and in recent years District 12 has fielded teams in the Eastern Region Finals and in the Little League World Series. Member Leagues: ALLENTOWN UPPER FREEHOLD, BORDENTOWN, CHAMBERSBURG, CRANBURY PLAINSBORO, EAST WINDSOR PAL, EWING, FLORENCE, FLORENCE GIRLS SOFTBALL, HTRBA, LAWRENCE, MILLSTONE ROOSEVELT, NEW EGYPT GIRLS SOFTBALL, NORTH TRENTON, NOTTINGHAM, PRINCETON, ROBBINSVILLE ,SIX-ELEVEN, SUNNYBRAE, WEST END, AND WEST WINDSOR.

Dave Koehler, District Administrator

Seven District 12 Little Leagues will participate in the pilot 50-70 Little League Baseball program in 2010. HTRBA, Bordentown, Ewing, Princeton, West Windsor, Sunnybrae, and East Windsor Little Leagues have already signed on. Players who are Little League age 12 or 13 may participate with 12 year olds also being eligible for the International Tournament.

A ten game Saturday/Sunday Schedule will begin on April 10 and conclude on June 12. Interested players should contact their League President and Leagues will be permitted to combine if there are not enough players to field a single team. League Presidents interested in signing on should contact District 12 ADA Gene Palazzi at 609-588-8972.

Minutes of the February 1 organizational meeting may be found here 

Complete Little League Baseball Details:

 Jim Davis was ahead of the curve on this one. Long before the annual all-star tournaments became multi-media events, Jim Davis was providing excellent coverage of Little League. 

Working for a newspaper based in Trenton, N.J., Jim focused on the leagues in District 12 and developed long-lasting relationships and friendships which eventually spread to Little Leagues in other parts of the state and region.

But he had a true passion for N.J. District 12 and the feeling was mutual with several annual awards named in honor of the late Trentonian sports writer. One year, his employer put up billboards complete with a large photo of the smiling Jim Davis to let the public know that Mr. Little League would be on the beat for another summer. For more than 30 years it was a beat he loved and it loved him back.

Upon his death in 2004, the twenty District 12 presidents unanimously decided to name the prize given to the winner of the annual premier all-star tournament The Jim Davis Cup. Although Jim loved the all-stars, he never lost sight of the young athletes who were solid citizens, and fittingly, a twelve year old boy and a girl from each league also receive the Jim Davis Sportsmanship Award every summer.

Jim’s favorite assignments were Little League, field hockey and basketball games and his coverage was described by colleagues as “all-out.” He has been recognized by other groups, including the Central Jersey Field Hockey Umpires’ Association who bestowed the Positive Force Award upon him in 2003 and the Central Jersey Field Hockey Association which named the senior all-star game “The Jim Davis Classic.”

Born in Atlanta, Ga., Jim Davis was a resident of Trenton most of his life. A graduate of Trenton Central High School, he continued his education with a year of college in New Hampshire. He returned to Trenton and began writing for the Trentonian. He later enlisted in the Air Force in 1969 and completed a four-year tour of duty, before returning back to The Trentonian as a staff writer in 1973. His coverage of girls’ sports in the 1970s was considered ground-breaking. A married father of three and grandfather of one, Jim was 54 when he died.

His legacy lives on in his family and his work, particularly through his efforts in Little League Baseball’s New Jersey District 12. 

 Mary Ann Tarr    

NEW OR EXPERIENCED COACHES!

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL COACHES CLINIC  

SAVE THE DATE!  SUNDAY MARCH 7, 2010

It is our pleasure to invite you and your league to participate in the Big Al Baseball and Softball Instructional Clinic for managers and Coaches. This clinic will utilize materials as developed by Bi Al, formerly of Al and Al. The unique approach to teaching the skills of baseball and softball has been internationally recognized for its merit. His methods, along with his manuals and video materials, have been acclaimed as “unparalleled”. Manuals and materials will be available for purchase. Bring a glove, sneekers  and comfortable clothes.

A special Pitching and Catching clinic will also be conducted by Jean Ruppert and Jackie Sasko. Jean Ruppert is the Steinert High School Softball coach and Jackie Sasko is a former Steinert, Mercer County and Rowan University All American.

Tickets are $10 and should be secured in advance from your League President.

Additional tickets for Cal Ripken, YMCA and other youth league coaches are available from Jim Kolpack @ 609-584-9532.

Clinic Details

District Administrator David Koehler announced today that East Windsor PAL Little League will host the 11/12-year-old Little League Baseball Final Nine Tournament, the double elimination phase of the 2010 District Tournament. Games will be played at the Airport Road complex in East Windsor. The winner of this tournament advances to the Section 3 Tournament in Manchester. The Section 3 Champion will then return to HTRBA Litttle League, the site of the 2010 Joe Graziano Little League State Tournament from July 29-August 3.

Post-season tournament hosts were also announced for other District Tournaments.  Robbinsville Little League will host the 11/12-year-old Little League Final Four Softball Tournament and West Windsor Little League will host the 9/10-year-old Final Four Softball Tournament. In addition West Windsor Little League will host the District 9/10-year-old Baseball Final Nine Tournament, and Cranbury Plainsboro will host the  10/11-year-old Little League Baseball Final Six. 

Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who have committed their time, energy and talent to ensure the success of these post season tournaments. 

The primary purpose of the Congress is to amend the rules and regulations of Little League Baseball, Inc. In the years leading up to each Congress, volunteers from dozens of nations submit their ideas for changes to a steering committee, and an agenda is prepared.

The delegates meet in round table discussions, making any necessary changes in the proposed amendments, then vote on the changes on the final day of the Congress. A two-thirds vote is required for passage. Those amendments receiving the necessary vote are then presented to the International Board of Directors for final approval.

Delegates and their Assistant District Administrators will also attend training seminars and informational assemblies at the Congress.

Travelling to Lexington to represent Dictrict 12 will be District Administrator Dave Koehler and his wife, Assistant District Administrator Peggy Koehler; ADA and Chief Umpire Chuck Latini; ADA and League President Andy Lupo; ADA Gene Palazzi and his wife Debbie; ADA Ron Russell and his wife Laura; and District Administrator Emeritus Jack Iaquinta and his wife Elaine.

Thanks to each of them for taking the time and incurring the costs associated with attending the Congress.

On November 4 and 17 Little League Baseball announced rule changes including changes to the regular season and tournament baseball pitching rules.  Details will be published in the 2010 rulebooks but the regulations are listed below:

Little League Press Release 

Regular Season Pitching Regulation

Tournament Pitching Regulation