Virginia District 5 Little League: Challenger Info
If you or anyone you know has an interest in finding out more about the Challenger Little League program please have them contact one of our District 5 staff members: Bud Hare at 741-0325 or Roxanne Melin at 346-9483. They will be happy to answer any questions or assist you in any way they can.
2005 Challenger Teams
The 2005 season of District 5 Challenger Little League produced seven teams from five different leagues. Ashland, Chesterfield, Huguenot, Mechanicsville and Tuckahoe are the five locations in District 5 that have the Challenger Division as part of their leagues. Again this year, these seven teams not only participated in inter-league games from April to June, but also the Challenger Tournament and Fun Weekend in May, and the District 5 Challenger Tournament at the end of June.
2005 Challenger Season Highlights
Lets go over some of those highlights of the 2005 season.
The Challenger season started right after the April spring break from school. The teams rotated each Saturday with some teams traveling, and some staying at their home field. All games were played under the Little League rules for Challenger giving each player the opportunity to both field and hit each inning, therefore scoring a run for their team.
In May, these seven teams traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to participate in the 12th annual Challenger Tournament and Fun Weekend hosted by District 8 Little League. Here our teams played against other teams from around the state of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and as far away as Arizona, Texas and Florida. This has always been a high point to the Challenger players because they get a chance to meet other players, their families and enjoy a great weekend of baseball. Some of our players have been going to this event each year since its inception in 1994. The plans for the 2006 season are being promoted as BIGGER and BETTER with more teams from more leagues participating.
The Challenger 2005 season ended with a District 5 Tournament hosted by Tuckahoe Little League. The tournament was held on Saturday, June 25. Six of the seven teams participated in this tournament that day and each game was as special as the one before and after it. The players all received a certificate and hatpin to commemorate the days events. Tuckahoe Little League and District 5 Staff member, Bud Hare, treated all of us to a hot dog, fries and drink after each game. One player from Mechanicsville even received a police escort to his game after the family car broke down on the way to the game, we owe a big THANK YOU to Sergeant Denny Williams for getting that player to the field in time to play,
