by Westwood Little League posted 05/20/2013
 
 
    
 

by Westwood Little League posted 05/24/2013
 
In New England, the Red Sox support of the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute  is legendary. The Red Sox support includes serving as co-presenter of the Annual Pan Mass Challenge.   For the past several years, each June the Westwood community comes together for a PMC Kids Ride.   The event this year will be held during the morning of  June 9th at the Martha Jones school.   Complete details are available here.   Thank you to Denise Singleton and all others  who work to organize this important annual event aimed at teaching children the value of working for the benefit of others while promoting physical fitness and community spirit -- a great way for kids to pitch in and help make a difference. 
 
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by Westwood Little League posted 05/24/2013
 

In July, 2013 Westwood will experience something that has not occurred  in Town for a great long time – a regulation Little League playoff game as part of the Little League International’s Williamsport Tournament.  The Tournament culminates in U.S. and International championship games played in late August  in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.   The Little League International Tournament is open to any chartered league in the United States and more than 80 other countries.  Last year,  Japan’s Kitasuna Little League team won the  title with a 12-2 victory over Southeastern Region and United States champion Goodlettsville (Tenn.) Little League.  Westwood Little League is charted by Little League International each year and annual enters a team into the Williamsport competition.
 
Tournament Overview
The road to Williamsport is long, arduous and exciting.   Ultimately, only 8 International Region champions and 8 U.S. Regional Champions make the final trip to central Pennsylvania.   For most teams, thus, it is not the destination but the journey that makes the tournament (or any baseball tournament) exciting.   The Williamsport journey begins in late June/early July with teams from some 8,000 Little League programs from across the globe competing starting with District Level play.  The journey continues from  District Championships  on to   Sectional Championships  then to   State Championships  then to   Regional Championships.  The Regional Championship games for New England are played in Bristol  Connecticut in games that are typically televised by NESN.   The Regional champion then heads to Williamsport for the chance to become the U.S. National Champion.  The U.S. National Champion then plays the winner  of the International bracket for the chance to be crowned  World Champion.  Games played by the teams that reach Williamsport are covered by ESPN.  


There are 16 Districts in the state of Massachusetts.  Westwood competes in District 11.   District 11 is comprised currently of teams from the following towns: Ashland, Canton, Hopkinton, Medfield, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Sharon, Walpole and Westwood. 

WESTWOOD AND THE TOURNAMENT
Westwood won the District 11 Championship in 2003 and  2010.  The 2003 and 2010 Williamsport teams each nearly won the Section 3 title, losing in the Section Championship game (in 2003, by a score of 3-1 to Everett and in 2010 by a score of 5-4 to Newton West).

Players from the 2003 team went on to win a State Championship as members of the Westwood High School varsity baseball team.  In 2007, Walpole National advanced to win the New England Region and made the exciting trip to Williamsport.    Each team that has represented Westwood has done so with pride and the highest standards of sportsmanship.   Many great teams end their season with a loss and that is particularly true in the Williamsport tournament where the competition is stiff and fate seems to play a part. Westwood Little League supports the principles of  the Positive Coaching Alliance and its “Double-Goal Coach” philosophy.   While striving to achieve the goal of winning, WLL simultaneously emphasizes the pursuit of the more-important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The Williamsport Tournament  -- and baseball generally -- presents many opportunities to learn.
 
The 2012 New England Regional Champion was the Fairfield American Little League from Fairfield, Connecticut.   Detailed information about all Williamsport tournament games at all levels are compiled at the following site:  http://www.unpage.org/massachusetts/
 
 
2013 SECTIONAL PLAYOFF GAME AT MORRISON
In July, 2013  Morrison will host a Sectional Playoff Game as part of the Williamsport Tournament.  The exact date will be announced and posted on westwoodlittleleague.com.   This game would not have been possible without the major reconstruction of Morrison over the past year.  It should be a terrific time!  
 
In addition, looking ahead, Westwood is in excellent position to bid to host the 2015 State Little League Championship Series.    A decision will be made by  state Little League officials in the fall of 2013.   Westwood is very well situated to make the bid.  The Revitalized Morrison Park is a gem of a park due to the community spirit and support that led to its creation.   Having youth baseball games of this importance  in Town will be exciting not only for the participants in the WLL program  but also for the entire community.   Westwood Little League looks forward to seeing many people down at Morrison to see baseball games of all types this summer – including the Sectional Game on a date in July to be announced.   
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by Westwood Little League posted 05/24/2013
 
Each year, the championship games for each of the Major, Minor and International Leagues are held on one, fun-filled day in June.   This year, Championship Saturday is scheduled for June 15, 2013.   Be sure to mark the date and plan to come down to Morrison to see some great baseball action at the end of the WLL Summer Season. 

 
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by Westwood Little League posted 05/24/2013
 
WESTWOOD LITTLE LEAGUE
MORRISON PARK REVITALIZATION PROJECT --- MAY 2013 UPDATE
 
THE 2010 VISION:   Create a regulation-size youth baseball field and enhance other aspects of Morrison Park.
               
THE 2011 PLAN                 

• The  Town agrees to remove the old tennis courts that jutted into right field and to build a new court turned 90 degrees.
• WLL agrees to seek sponsors, donations and manage construction of the new field improvements and structures.

 
THE 2012  IMPLENTATATION                                                                                   

• WLL completes detailed design work and  posts links on the Revitalize Morrison tab of  westwoodlittleleague.com.
• Vital early leadership support obtained from (i) Roche Bros/Patrick & Catherine Roche and (ii) Duncan & Ellen McFarland.
• Major support obtained from each of (i) Dedham Savings, (ii) Blue Hills Savings Bank and (iii) Dunkin’ Brands. 
• Significant key support received from (i) Peoples Federal,  (ii) Mercedes-Benz of Westwood and (iii) Needham Bank
• Critical grassroots community support commenced through bench, brick, and auction item purchases. 
• Westwood Young Womens Club designated Morrison as a recipient of funds from its 2012 Stump Trivia Night.
• Tom Dunlay announced plan to create original painting commissioned by Tom Aaron and to donate print proceeds
• Extensive field work began on Phase I in October of 2012.

 
THE 2013 COMPLETION OF PHASE I

• Field work continued in late winter/early spring of 2013
• Significant donations and/or heavily discounted contributions of time, labor and materials arranged.
• May 2013 WLL Night at PawSox attracts more than 200 people and raises nearly $1000 for the Project.
• Phase I completed in May 2013 with the opening of the field  and completion of the dugout structures.  Kids pumped!
• Formal ribbon cutting scheduled for Tuesday May 28^th at 4:30 pm to commemorate the community effort for Phase I.
• Planning continues for staged construction of additional designed structures after 2013 summer baseball season.

• Phase I costs covered.  Overall fundraising for entire Project is nearly 70% complete.   Work underway to complete remaining fundraising needed for remaining structures. 

 
HELP  COMPLETE  THE ENTIRE  VISION IN 2013

• The field and dugouts are terrific!  Help WLL complete the vision for the full Project.  The restrooms, concession stand, entranceway and scorers booth have been designed.   We can ensure Morrison is a gem for generations! You can:
• Suggest additional charitable foundations or grant programs that may be available.
• Suggest area businesses or corporations that may be interested in joining the other leadership sponsors.
• Suggest area business or corporations that may be interested in donating materials or labor.
• Visit the Revitalize Morrison Tab of westwoodlittleleague.com for  easy online donations, buying a  large or small brick, etc.  (individual Donors of $1,500 will be permanently recognized on a plaque on the new concession stand)
• Purchase a print of the field (details to come when available).
• Host or attend a fundraising dinner or event.
• Suggest any other ideas or volunteer to assist in reaching the goal.   Volunteer hours are priceless!

 
PROJECT BENEFITS FOR WESTWOOD

• A beautiful new regulation field with baseball  and non-baseball amenities.  The old field was not regulation-sized.
• WLL can now host official playoff games including a sectional playoff in July and a great shot at the 2015 State Tournament.
• The entrance to Islington will be enhanced by the professionally designed park and classic green space.
• Safety at Morrison will be improved for all.  A terrific community improvement made possible by the community!

 
Thank you to the many generous people who have supported the project!   Please contact with any questions or comments.   Visit WLL website for contact info for the WLL board.   Go Westwood!
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by posted 02/24/2013
 
TOM DUNLAY & TOM AARON TEAM UP WITH WLL  IN SUPPORT OF MORRISON PARK  PROJECT!
 
WESTWOOD LITTLE LEAGUE IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LUMINARY ARTIST AND WESTWOOD RESIDENT THOMAS R. DUNLAY WILL CREATE AN ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING OF THE NEW MORRISON PARK!  The painting has been commissioned by Tom Aaron, a lifelong Westwood resident and Vice President of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.  Mr. Aaron will donate the original painting to the Town to be put on permanent display at the new library.  Visit www.thomasrdunlay.com for additional information about Thomas R. Dunlay.   
 
WLL to Obtain Print Proceeds
Together, Mr. Dunlay and Mr. Aaron have generously agreed to donate the reproduction rights to the painting to WLL.  This donation will allow WLL to sell signed, limited edition prints with WLL retaining one hundred percent of the proceeds.  The print is certain to become an iconic image of Westwood’s  new town landmark.   Ordering details will be made available this spring.  WLL is thankful for the creativity and generosity of Mr. Dunlay and Mr. Aaron and looks forward to launching print sales soon!
 

 The Morrison Park Revitalization Project
Detailed information about the Morrison Park Revitalization Project is available on westwoodlittleleague.com.   Please “like” WLL on Facebook to keep track of the Project’s progress and other league news.   WLL is excited to be on the verge of providing the current and future generations of Westwood children a state of art regulation field.   For years, Morrison has served as home of Westwood baseball.   The non-regulation field that previously existed prevented Westwood from hosting tournament and playoff games.   With the field now constructed to regulation dimensions,  Westwood is  eligible to host tournament and playoff games.  In fact, the field finished second in voting to host the 2014 State Championship and is extremely well positioned to earn the honor in 2015.
 
Thank you for your interest and support of the Morrison Park Revitalization Project! See the Revitalize Morrison tab on the WLL site (available here) to learn more and to contribute through a brick purchase or otherwise. 
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by posted 12/22/2012
 

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by posted 12/08/2012
 
In addition, Westwood Little League prohibits any bat with a drop greater
than -11.
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