August 8, 2001
OCYAA to Consider Future Affiliations
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
The Ocean City Youth Athletic Association just recently completed its 47th year of providing spring and
summer baseball for the resort’s youth. And this week, the OCYAA’s directors are getting together to
consider possible changes for the future.
“Nothing is definite,” said OCYAA president Greg Donahue, “but we are discussing the advantages and
disadvantages of becoming part of either Little League Baseball or the Cal Ripken League. We are still in
the fact-gathering stage. It’s something I’ve been working on for almost a year.”
The OCYAA joined Little League Baseball in 1973 but only stayed involved for a year or two. At the time,
the OCYAA schedule started on Memorial Day and that created problems getting the league schedule
over before the Little League tournament began. But, about five years ago, the local group changed its
schedule, getting things started in April.
“We just decided that there was no reason we couldn’t play in April if other towns did,” said Donahue.
“Sure, there are cold days but it is cold in other places, too. The big thing is, we need to get most of our
regular season finished by the time school lets out and families begin planning vacations.”
So, in the 70s, when the two groups got together, there were definite scheduling conflicts between the
OCYAA and Little League Baseball. Those conflicts have been eliminated. But there were other problems
.
“As I recall,” said Donahue, “Little League required us to have tryouts for all 10-12 year olds and then
conduct a draft. Those that weren’t drafted – even if they were 12 – played in the minor league. We didn’t
think a 12 year old should have to be in the minor leagues.”
According to Joe Fussner, the women’s basketball coach at Richard Stockton College and Little League’s
assistant district administrator, if it was the case then, that is not the case now.
“You can pretty much structure the draft your own way,” he said. “A number of our leagues require all 12
year olds to play in the majors, some even require 11 year olds, too. Little League has some very clear
rules and regulations and a well-defined chain of command. You can always find someone who can give
you an answer to your problem very quickly. But there is some flexibility within the rules.”
Donahue makes it clear that any change in the OCYAA structure would be based on what is best for all
the players in the league, not just the 12-15 who would get to play in the Little League tournament.
“To join Little League just because you want to take a shot at making their World Series,” he said, “is a
real long-shot.”
The facts back him up. No team from Cape May County has ever reached the Little League World Series
in 55 years. And only one from Atlantic County got there. That was Hammonton and its team played in the
World Series three straight years, winning the championship in 1949, seven years before the OCYAA even
existed.
The only other teams from South Jersey to reach the World Series were Merchantville in 1955 and Pitman
in 1962. In addition to Hammonton, there were three other New Jersey teams that won the world
championship – Wayne in 1970, Lakewood in 1975 and Toms River in 1998.
So, as Donahue said, it is a real long-shot that an Ocean City team would march right into the Little
League World Series. “Most of our leagues are affiliated for many more reasons,” said Fussner. “In fact,
the league in Long Beach Island hasn’t entered the tournament in 10 years. They just like to be part of
Little League Baseball.”
Another possible advantage of Little League Baseball is the strong girls’ softball program they offer. Maybe
getting the pre-teens started in organized softball could add some punch to the high school’s struggling
program.
Donahue expressed concern that the value of affiliation be relative to the cost of joining. But that should not
be a problem. He estimates that the Cal Ripken League charges $18 per team and Fussner says Little
League costs just $15 per team, plus $75 if you want to enter the tournament. All travel costs of playing in
the tournament are assumed by the league until they win the district championship. Then, their travel
expenses are covered by Little League baseball.
The Cal Ripken League, incidentally, used to be called the Bambino League and it is affiliated with Babe
Ruth Baseball. “They are structured a little closer to us,” said Donahue. “They have a Rookie League for
7-9 year olds where they use a pitching machine. Then they have a Minor League for 9-10 year olds and a
Major League for 10-12s that both use live pitching. I’m not sure we have enough kids for three leagues,
though.” Fussner says that pitching machines could be used in minor leagues under Little League rules,
as well.
“There is one thing that I’d like to clear up,” said Donahue. “No Little League program has equipment any
better than we do. And most Little Leagues use volunteer or amateur umpires, just like we do. I am a little
disappointed that there are a few fathers of kids who play in our league who actually work as (high school)
umpires who have never volunteered to help us out.”
The use of all star teams is another thing that concerns Donahue. “Though we don’t play in the Little
League or Cal Ripken tournaments,” Donahue said, “we do play in other tournaments – in Absecon or
Galloway. Sometimes we enter two teams in those tournaments, giving more kids a chance to play.”
According to Fussner, you could do that under Little League. “There are some very definite rules covering
your all star team, when it can be announced and when it can start practicing,” he said. “But you could still
put another team in a non-affiliated tournament, as long as they don’t wear the Little League patch and
officially represent the Little League.”
There are a couple of other things Donahue and the OCYAA directors are considering. They are looking at
the possibility of lights on the Harry Vanderslice Memorial fields at 35th Street. And they are planning a fall
baseball league with Upper Township.
You can enjoy the Little League World Series on both ESPN and ESPN2. The championship game will be
on ABC-TV the evening of Aug. 26.
The guys at the OCYAA will be watching, too. And, before they start their 48th season of baseball next
April, they may decide to take a slightly new road. You can be sure of one thing, though. If Ocean City
does become a Little League or Cal Ripken League town, the decision will be made on behalf of all the
young baseball players in town.
It has been that way since Chet Wimberg, Dick Grimes, Joe Gray, Dixie Howell and others started the
OCYAA in 1956.
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