After more than six decades of Little Leaguers® running out onto the diamond, Calistoga (Calif.) Little League was prepared to shut its doors at the end of the 2024 season. With low registration numbers and a lack of volunteers, the previous board decided it was time to let their charter expire. That’s when Tabbitha Wilson, a Little League Softball® alumna and mother to two current players, realized it was her time to step up to the plate.
“Little League has been a big part of my and my husband’s life growing up, so when I read the article that Calistoga Little League was disbanding, I was in tears about it,” said Wilson. “It was something that we want both of our kids to enjoy doing as they grow up, just like we did. I immediately got in contact with people who were on the local league board when I was a kid, seeking advice. They said to contact our District Administrator, Jim Spering, to see what I could do to keep it going.”
Spering spoke with Wilson, and they established the first step – finding a lineup of volunteers willing to sit on the league’s new board of directors. At first, it was a difficult process finding enough people to volunteer and fill the board, but fortunately for Wilson, many of the community members she grew up with were still in town, were now parents, and were willing to join the team.
“We all grew up here. We all went to school here. It was great to have everyone with that mindset come together to find ways for the league to continue going for the kids. It’s all about keeping the league here and giving the kids a chance to play baseball and softball, and the community started to see that and show their support. The newspaper let us run ads for free, and people were posting across their social channels. Once the word got out there, people were popping up all over the place wanting to help.”
With each board member in their new role, including Wilson, who was elected League President, it was time to recruit players and volunteers. Rather than relying solely on social media and emails, Wilson and the board went out into the community.
“We did a lot of in-person recruitment. We made sure people were at the schools, daycares, and the local Boys & Girls Club of America, sharing information about the league with parents,” said Wilson. “Being there, in person, played a huge role in some of our growth because we could be there in front of the parents, not only sharing the opportunities for their kids, but for them as volunteers, too.”
With the 2025 season officially underway, Calistoga LL has 10 teams chartered, including a Major Division softball team made up of female athletes who will be competing on their first-ever All-Stars team in the upcoming tournament season, and six combined teams with Saint Helena (Calif.) Little League. In addition to securing players and volunteers, Wilson and her team were able to speak with local restaurants and grocery stores, who have since helped stock and work the concession stands throughout the season.
“It’s definitely been a rocky road to get to this point, but it has also been great. We are a board with members who are learning their roles as we go,” said Wilson. “We are seeing the development in the players across the divisions of play. We plan on having an end-of-season event to show the kids our appreciation because we do ask a lot of them as we continue to find ways to grow and get better as a league.”
Looking to the future, Wilson would not only like to get more of the community businesses and groups involved with the program, securing a tighter relationship, but she is also hopeful that current and future players will learn from this journey that Little League is more than just playing baseball and softball.
“We want our players to hear the story about Calistoga LL and our efforts to keep it here for them, and remember that the community has their best interest in mind and will support them as both kids and as adults,” said Wilson. “We hope a takeaway is that their time with Little League doesn’t have to end once they hang up their cleats, but that they one day can give back and be a volunteer coach, a board member, or an active leader in their community. Little League was a huge part of me learning how to be a good person beyond the field, and I hope they are having that same experience now, too.”
To learn more about the Little League® program and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org.