Post Oak Little League

Dear Friends and Families of Post Oak Little League, 

Welcome to the 56^th year of Post Oak Little League! I am honored and thankful to serve as your league’s president this year. This letter is a bit sentimental for me to write as this year marks our family’s tenth and final season at Post Oak Little League (POLL). POLL has provided a wonderful atmosphere for my sons to learn about sportsmanship, achieving goals, dealing with adversity and developing friendships. I believe these lessons will help them understand the larger game of “life” when it is time for them to go out on their own in the world. I tip my cap to all of the presidents and volunteers that have served before me and who created this outstanding culture and environment to watch baseball.

This year, POLL will have over 600 players participating on 50 teams in four divisions. Once again, we have a record 19 teams in Pee Wees (8- and 9-year olds), our popular entry point into the POLL system. The Minors and Majors programs again look to be strong with a total of 23 teams between them. Additionally, we have a solid group of almost 100 Juniors players (13- and 14-year olds), the last level of regular season play in our league. We graduate and salute the group of 14-year olds that finished second in the Juniors State Championship in Tyler last summer. We also welcome back our 13-year olds that won our District 16 Championship from last summer. As you can see, the popularity of league baseball at all levels is alive and well at POLL!

One thing that you will notice when you come to POLL this spring is the new concession stand and restroom facilities. They look outstanding, and I want to thank 2010 President Chris Cone for heading up this project both from a design and fundraising perspective. I want to thank 2011 President Ward Sheffield who was also instrumental in the fundraising effort. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the very long list of capital campaign donors. Many of these donors will be recognized on a permanent plaque near the concession stand or on signs throughout the ball park. 

Further, I want to thank everyone that makes POLL the best little league in America: our Board of Directors, Women’s Auxiliary, committee chairs, team and facility sponsors and countless volunteers. It begins at registration, and our Registration Chairs, Clare Leppert and Kathleen Panus, did an outstanding job overseeing this process. LT Cameron (IT Chair) implemented an improved program for registration as well as content presentation on our web site. The formation of the coaches and teams were well orchestrated by our outstanding Commissioners: David Zarr (Pee Wees), John Thompson (Minors), Andy Priest (Majors) and John McIntyre (Juniors). Genny McIntyre leads the team focusing on support efforts as head of the Women’s Auxiliary (directory, uniforms, sponsors, carnival, etc.), and Beth Bunk (Treasurer) runs all of our financial operations (including those associated with the capital campaign). Andy Tower (General Counsel) and Chris Black (Safety Officer) keep us out of trouble, while Steve Gibson (PCA Chair) has made sure we have set the stage for a positive experience. 

I want to recognize our Uniform Chairs, Gina Aaronson and Kelley Anderson, who have decked out our players in fancy performance wear for this season. I also give the nod to those that get us ready to play our games including Willie Madden (Fields Chair), Tommy Burrow (Facilities Chair), Scott Holstead (Equipment Chair) and Mark Sikes (Head of Umpires). Speaking of umpires, we are blessed to have umpires Josh Bowen, Stefen Breeding and Craig Ezell join us again this season. They have been mainstays at POLL over the years and add to our rich culture. Carl Sullivan, whose team gets our fields ready to play, is returning. We very are glad to have him back, as he has been at POLL since the beginning of time. Additionally, I appreciate our special relationships with T.H. Rogers and the Trotter YMCA, which enable us to continue as a successful league.   

Finally, I want to thank all of the managers, coaches and team assistants. You set the tone for our environment at POLL and are the direct interface with the players. They learn so much from you not only through athletic instruction, but by observing how you handle yourself as a person. Thank you for taking on this awesome responsibility. 

This should be another great season! There is no better place for a family to watch a baseball game. Your children will always remember POLL, and if they are like mine, they will refer to it as one of the greatest experiences in their lives.

God Bless and Play Ball!