The St. Cloud Little League launched its 2024 season with a spectacular opening ceremony on Saturday, showcasing a record-breaking turnout of teams, players, and coaches. Everyone eagerly awaited the iconic ‘Play Ball’ announcement, signaling the start of another exciting season for the largest Little League programs in the State of Florida, and in the Southeast Region.
City of St. Cloud Deputy Mayor Linette Matheny threw the ceremonial first pitch to officially start the season.
St. Cloud Little League President Debbie Henderson said during the opening ceremony , “All players in the St. Cloud Little League belong to the Little League community. Let us work together to ensure that ever player, parent, and fan, adhere to the Little League Motto, Kids first and to the love the game for what it is.”
After the invocation, led by Kelly Trace, founder of REACH, four players joined together to recite the Little League Pledge, “I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose I will always do my best.”
The league, which began in 1975 and will run through May, is one of the largest in the southeast, with 90 teams this year with over 900 players, run entirely by volunteers. The league also has four “Challenger” teams for kids with special needs and is available for kids from ages 4 to 14.
Later in the season 26 kids will be selected as All Stars which will form two teams. Those teams will go on to play with the hope of winning their way to the Little League World Series, which as you would expect, is a long and challenging path. The St. Cloud Little League has made it as far as the southeast championship, one game shy of heading to Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series.
St. Cloud Little League is supported by sponsorship and player fees, and continues to grow.
The games each Saturday are open to the public, and are a great example of how organizations, in partnership with the City of St. Cloud and Osceola County, can leverage amazing volunteers, to make a Positive Difference in and around St. Cloud and Osceola County!
