USA – Little League Baseball has returned to Compton, Calif., with the support of Little League Baseball and Softball, the Major League Baseball (MLB) Urban Youth Academy and the Torii Hunter Project. The league will operate in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy located in Compton and will use the Academy’s facilities during its regular season.

Little League Baseball and Softball will contribute a total of $10,000 to the MLB Urban Youth Academy to help offset operating expenses and afford Opening Day festivities. The amount donated is provided through funding by the Torii Hunter Project’s contribution to the Little League Urban Initiative.

“I’m excited to be able to help bring Little League back to the kids and city of Compton,” Mr. Hunter, an All-Star outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, said. “This is exactly the kind of thing The Torii Hunter Project was created for. I would especially like to thank all the Major League Baseball players who donated to The Torii Hunter Project and helped make opportunities like this possible for inner city kids.”

Compton Little League has chartered with Little League Baseball and Softball based in Williamsport, Pa., site of the annual Little League Baseball World Series. For the 2009 season, Compton Little League has chartered Tee Ball (ages 5-7); Minor Division (8-10); Major Division (11-12) and Junior Division (13-14) baseball.

“On behalf of the MLB Urban Youth Academy, I am excited to see the revitalization of the Compton Little League,” Darrell Miller, Senior Director of the Urban Youth Academy, said. “Working in conjunction with Little League and Torii Hunter, we are able to continue to carry out the Academy’s mission to bring baseball to America’s inner city youth.”

“Reaching out to children and families in the city of Compton, and doing so with the support of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, creates a wonderful opportunity for these neighborhoods to benefit from the Little League experience,”  Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “The resources set forth by Major League Baseball and the mission of Little League’s Urban Initiative go hand-in-hand to lay a solid foundation for the Compton Little League. It’s our hope that the children and the adult volunteers will all see an immediate reward from their participation.”

Compton Little League’s regular season will begin April 1, with opening day festivities and a full slate of games.

“I invite the community of Compton and beyond to join us for what we hope will be an exciting day for the Academy and Little League,” Mr. Miller said. “The real winners here are our young people.”

Children in the city of Compton and adults wishing to volunteer in the league for the 2009 season are asked to register at any Compton Park and Recreation Center, or call, 310-261-2246. Registration will also take place during this year’s Urban Invitational being hosted at the MLB Urban Youth Academy, Feb. 20-22.

For more information on Compton Little League, log on to: www.eteamz/comptonlittleleague. To learn more about The Torii Hunter Project, log on to: ToriiHunterProject.com. Little League Baseball and Softball’s website is: www.LittleLeague.org.

Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.7 million players and one million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.

Media Release: Major League Baseball (MLB)

Tags: Youth