Little League® International has announced D’Asha Saiki as its Operations Specialist, effective May 27, 2025. Saiki returns to the Little League team after working as the Softball Operations Intern from June through August 2024.
In her role, Saiki focused on completing projects centered around improving the Little League Softball® program, including initiatives focused on player accessibility, retention, and overall experience. Additionally, Saiki provided logistical support for the Little League Softball World Series, hosted in Greenville, North Carolina, including overseeing dorm setup, managing equipment distribution, ensuring teams stayed on schedule, and coordinating with special guests to ensure smooth event execution. Following her time in Greenville, Saiki also made the trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to assist with a variety of roles at the 2024 Little League Baseball® World Series.
“After having her on our team for the entire summer last year, we are excited to have D’Asha joining us full-time ahead of this year’s tournament season as we look to continue to enhance our program’s offerings from the grassroots to the World Series,” said Sam Ranck, Little League Senior Director of Strategy and Development. “Her years both playing and coaching, along with her positive attitude, will bring a unique perspective to the team as we continue to find ways to make the program a more accessible and enjoyable experience for current and future participants.”
In her new role, Saiki will help with the development and execution of Little League’s strategic initiatives while growing all programming areas in an effort to increase participation. Saiki will also provide operational support for large-scale, cross-functional projects led by operations, including the creation of project schedules, milestone documentation, and resource allocation.
“I am both excited and honored to be joining the Little League team to continue the work I started during my internship,” said Saiki. “After spending years playing softball, it feels full circle to now be a part of an organization that will provide the same experience to the girls and boys who still lace up their cleats and run out onto the field today.”
Saiki graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her work with Little League, Saiki has worked as a softball coach and instructor since 2019, working with Punahou School, the University of California, Berkeley, and California State University, Fresno.