Zephyrhills Little League Hoping For Full 2021 Season
By Dave Walters
Zephyrhills Little League is taking a swing at a 2021 season after COVID-19 struck out the 2020 campaign.
ZLL announced this week that registrations are open with fees being $40 per child and $25 per sibling. Registration can be completed online at https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/zephryhillsll.
The 2020 season started with optimism at Sam Pasco Park, but COVID-19 safety provisions were put in place ending the season leaving more than 200 children without baseball and softball.
“It seems like forever since we’ve seen any action at ZLL,” said League President Adam Wilkes. “We were less than a handful of games into the 2020 season when we had to shut the season down for COVID. My hope is to finally get everything going and get the kids back on the field and playing the game they love.”
Player evaluations will begin Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will continue Feb. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wilkes said there will be some adjustments to some of the divisions to make them more instructional and fun.
“Our division between T-ball and player pitch baseball has been evolving the last few years,” Wilkes explained. “That division, for whatever reason, had become the most competitive division we had.
“However, the goal of that division is simply instruction and player development. We eliminated the “coach pitch” aspect of that division last year and honestly, I think it was a mistake. So this season we will be making adjustments to it, to hopefully make it more fun and more instructional for the kids, while still keeping the competitive aspect of it to a bare minimum.”
Zephyrhills Little League is looking for umpires for the 2021 season, as well as managers and coaches.
“Baseball umpires have been few and far between in the area,” Wilkes said. “Without them, we simply can’t play ball. We are always looking to bring new faces in to help us and the kids learn.”