TRENHOLM LITTLE LEAGUE

                If you watched the recently televised Little League World Series, the elevation of the worlds largest organized youth sports organization to the world stage could not be missed. Carried by two major television networks, with a big hitter sports figure and well known broadcasters, Orel Hershiser and Brent Musberger, and multiple networks in other countries, you heard many times that Little League now extends to all 50 states and to 80 different countries. It began in Williamsport, PA in 1939 with one league and 30 ballplayers, and grew to 7123 leagues and 2,168,850 ballplayers in 2010. Somewhere in the middle of the 1900’s Trenholm Little League was formed, and in 1997 and for the next 14 seasons, Spring and Fall ball, my son and I were a part of something huge. It is the only youth baseball program In the world wherein your son or daughter can play for the opportunity to be a United States Champion and an International Champion.

Involved for that period of time, I came to realize that Trenholm , is a “farm team” for the local high schools, AC Flora, Richland Northeast, Dreher, Lower Richland, Cardinal Newman, CA Johnson, Eau Clair, and Heathwood Hall. None of these schools would have received their baseball successes without the fundamentals learned by their players coming up from Trenholm. Trenholm players have gone on to college and into professional baseball, including a Cy Young award winner in Lamar Hoyt.

            Located in Forest Acres, Trenholm League operates under an agreement with the Richland County, SC Recreation Department, maintaining two ball fields, a batting cage, and a concession stand. The league draws players from primarily from Forest Acres and Forest Lake, but also from Shandon and the Hampton neighborhoods. I live less than a mile from the park, close enough to hear family and friends roar when a child hits a long ball in a close game.

Some kids are born to play and others come along. A season that starts with a lot of questions, a player picking daisy’s in the outfield with his glove on his head, and gratefulness for the mercy rules, ends with watching a shortstop lay out for a line drive and a couple of nine year olds turning a double play. Over the season they learn. Baseball skills like all skills are learned and improved with practice. Outs come with team work to move the ball in front of the runners. Every player has a part in every defensive play. Weaknesses of the other team, like a catcher who struggles to make the throw to second or a third baseman unable to put the batter out at first, can be exploited. Baseball acumen is an understanding that translates well into the competitive world before them, and sometimes they can learn more from losing than from winning.

           
Seasons begin with celebration of the game and the kids, and they end with tournaments and more celebration. Each year 300 or more kids come through the program, new Dad’s step up to coach, and father/son relationships grow close with memories to last for the rest of their lives.