Each March, in coordination with Women’s History Month, Little League® International joins its local programs from around the world to celebrate Girls with Game® Month to honor the incredible girls and women who have made the Little League program what it is today and inspire the next generation.
As part of the Girls with Game Celebration, Little League International reached out to some of its local league volunteers who are helping to bring the Girls with Game Initiative to life at the grassroots level and provide young girls, as well as its female volunteers, the opportunity to enjoy a memorable Little League experience.
Jesse Burkett LL (Worcester, Mass.)
Building a Softball Community
When Jesse Burkett Little League President, Chad Dawkins, is asked what makes the softball program so successful, the answer is simple: the people. From experienced volunteer coaches and league officers to a supportive network of parents, local businesses, and community leaders, Jesse Burkett LL has worked hard to establish relationships and put itself in a position to focus on stronger player development.
“It’s our softball community. It’s outstanding,” said Dawkins. “There really are a lot of great coaches who are willing to help kids get better. A lot of women have shaped this league into what it is.”
Being in a community with a strong softball culture has helped lead to more and more opportunities to celebrate the league’s female athletes, but it’s not just at the Little League level. One relationship that has led to new opportunities for the league is with Worcester State University, which not only allows the league to use their field for practice and games, but also for events that will bring more visibility to the program, like the Massachusetts State Tournaments and the Senior League Softball East Region Tournament. Having the full community support the program has helped not just sustain a softball program, but grow the support they receive on and off the field.
“Our Junior League State Championship team, coached by Kerin Smith, met the Massachusetts Governor last year, and they were shouted out at a Boston Red Sox game,” said Dawkins. “We do big send-off parades for our All-Star teams, and the whole city really embraces it. Every year, I find myself more and more proud of our girls and the community they have.”
Bend (Ore.) North LL
Carrying the Fun into the Postseason
Established in 2018, the Bend North LL Softball Division had 54 players lace up their cleats and run out on the diamond in its inaugural year. Eight years later, in 2026, more than 260 girls registered to play. From mass email sends and flyers, investment into female coaches and leadership, the addition of a softball Tee Ball Division in 2023, and participation in community events like having a float in Bend’s annual Christmas parade, Bend North LL’s growth is a direct result of intentional efforts and decisions by league leadership. But it’s the experiences the league provides outside of the regular season that drive athletes to come back the following year.
“One of our largest events of the year is an end-of-the-season jamboree where we bring all the teams in, and we have a tournament to cap off the year,” said Eric Wilson, League Softball Vice President. “It’s an all-day event with Opening Ceremonies kicking off the day. The Jamboree gives the girls who may not be playing on an All-Star team an opportunity at that extended, post-season experience. They get to play a bunch of games and finish the year off strong in a big, fun event with hundreds of people there to cheer them on and celebrate their accomplishments. Umpires fly in from all over the country on their own dime to support these girls. The outpouring of community support for the Jamboree ends the season on a positive note; everyone leaves looking forward to coming back next year.”
With more than 20 teams across five divisions of play, Bend North LL knew it was time to expand, ensuring there was a space for every practice and to give the girls a field to call home.
“We invested around $70,000 to create a softball-specific field. We gave our girls a place where they could play the majority of their games, with pitching rubbers the correct distance for softball,” said Wilson. “Although the field is on school district property, creating this field was a community effort, funded entirely by our league. We put down new dirt, removed grass from the infield, and purchased equipment to care for the fields and maintain them.”
Season after season, change after change, one thing is clear – it’s all about the players’ experience.
“We try to keep the environment light to grow their skills and make sure they are having fun. We make it all about the players,” said Wilson. “We are also fortunate to have great involvement from females in our leagues, from our volunteers to our coaches. Female coaches bring authentic knowledge and a passion for the sport. When we have females at every level, from players to coaches, it brings the best out of the program.”
South County LL (Lorton, Va.)
The Impact of Dedicated Local Leadership
With several members of the league’s officers passionate about softball and a need in the community to provide a space for young females to play the game, what started as a small program quickly grew.
“We found a need to serve young women and help them feel connected to, and supported by, others so they can grow their leadership skills and focus on fitness and mental health,” said Christina Cashman, League President. “Sports does that for young people. They’re building core memories and having experiences that are going to help them be leaders in the next phase of their life.”
While receiving the Girls with Game 50 grant in 2024 provided the necessary funding to support their efforts, the commitment to growing the softball program alongside the baseball program made the biggest impact.
“At every meeting, if we talk about baseball, then we talk about softball, too,” said Cashman. “For example, we were planning our Opening Ceremonies and one of the commitments I made and brought to the ceremony is a change to the ceremonial first pitch. We now have both a baseball and softball catcher and pitcher throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Having the girls feel seen has been a driving piece of growth.”
With leadership prioritizing the visibility and equity for softball players, South County LL will continue to grow and find ways to celebrate the wins for their female athletes and volunteers.
Carlsbad (N.M.) National LL
Tapping into League Alumni
Located in a “softball town,” community support has never really been an issue, and with a strong network of female volunteers, coaches, and board members, the program is inviting and fun for players of all abilities.
“Our goal is to get these girls to continue their softball career, but also just making sure they understand the fundamentals of the game,” said Eddie Duarte, League President. “A lot of the girls in our league don’t play travel ball, so this is their only time to play softball, and the girls just love it. So as a board member and coach out there, seeing the progress from day one until the end, that’s my favorite part of it.”
In addition to the fundamentals on the field, Carlsbad National LL also recognizes the importance of providing role models for the females, giving them someone to look up to both on and off the field. Tapping into their alumni base, the league has several volunteers who played high school and college softball after retiring from the league who have now returned to bring their experiences and knowledge to the community.
“We even have volunteers that don’t have kids involved; they just want to be out there because it’s such a good atmosphere,” said Duarte. “A lot of our board members are females, and we want to promote all of our female volunteers, whether they are board members, coaches, or umpires. We have an overwhelming number of females who want to help and be there for the youth athletes. I think that has a lot to do with how successful our league has been over the years.”
Floyds Knob (Ind.) Community Club Little League
Focusing on Tee Ball and Partnering with Travel Ball
When Floyds Knob Community Club LL first chartered in 2017, they quickly recognized the importance of focusing on the youngest levels of play.
“While we could have chosen to create a co-ed Tee Ball division, we decided to separate our baseball and softball divisions, which has been an important step in retaining girls from one level of play to the next. Our girls play Tee Ball softball exclusively, and we break it into two divisions. There is a four- to five-year-old beginner division, and a five- to six-year-old intro division,” said Kevin Hensley, League President. “They play one year in the beginner division, and then two years in the intro division, before they move on to Coach Pitch. We implemented this comprehensive program because we recognize it is the foundation for retaining players at the youngest ages, and increasing competition for the older levels of play.”
Another driver of success? Coexisting and collaborating with the growing travel ball programs.
“If you want to have a successful league and retain the more skilled players in your league, you have to have a positive working relationship with your local travel ball programs,” said Hensley. “We try not to schedule league games on the weekends to avoid game conflicts with our travel teams, and we work with our travel teams to give them practice opportunities on our fields, since field availability is often at a premium. The travel teams, in return, encourage their players to participate in our Little League play, and these players are well represented on our all-star teams across all league divisions.”
As softball continues to grow nationwide, Floyds Knob Community Club LL hopes its efforts continue to contribute to the success of youth softball.