Playing ball on Sundays

As a result of the changing population, the financial hardship of paying registration fees and the fact that many children now participate in a number of sports, the 54-year-old Cedarhurst Little League may not survive.

With a Feb. 24 deadline looming to ensure that the league has everything ready for opening day, officials still have not filled out the minimum number of teams it needs to be a genuine

Little League, as defined by its charter.

League officials said that enrollment has declined by about 20 percent annually for the past few years, and those numbers are now taking a toll. Last year, the league filled its T-ball, minors and majors divisions with 135 players.

After three signup dates and the distribution of 3,000 applications, the league has a total of 65 players signed up, said its president, Anthony Brites, adding that it needs close to 150 children to fill all of its teams. The league also hopes to start a senior-league 13- and 14-year-old travel team that will play on 90-foot base paths.

“We always have enough coaches to help out, but we need enough kids to fill out the form,” said Brites, who has been involved with the league for five years. He acknowledged that the league was slow to adopt Sunday play to accommodate the growing Orthodox community in Cedarhurst, but he also pointed to the fact that children now play lacrosse and soccer as well — both spring sports in the community — and that cash-strapped families find it difficult to pay the registration fee, which is $125 for Little League and $100 for T-ball.

But Brites said that scholarships and reduced fees are available, and that the league will play on Sundays.

The registration fee includes the nearly $50 cost of a uniform, baseballs, umpires, insurance and trophies. Brites noted that baseball uniforms, unlike other sports’, are not recycled and are purchased new

every year.

“We battle every year, but now it’s desperation,” said Brites, adding that he believes the league offers the “best possible experience for the children.”

David Van Dyke, who got involved in the Little League when his son, now 45, was 7, shares that belief. He said that Little League baseball is one of the best activities children can get involved in because they learn to work with others and exercise outdoors.

Van Dyke said that the league actively recruits players, including children in Orthodox homes, but enrollment continues to drop. “I know other sports are in competition with us,” he said, pointing to lacrosse and soccer. “It’s a struggle. I don’t know if we’re going to make it this year.”

David Laniado, who is Orthodox, got involved with the league last season when his son played. Laniado is at a loss to explain why other sports leagues are flourishing while Cedarhurst’s is not. “I can’t explain it,” he said. “There is tremendous enrollment for football, Little League on Sunday.” He noted that the Hewlett-Woodmere Little League has teams composed of Orthodox players who play

on Sundays.

Laniado said that Sunday games will make the league more attractive to many in the community and will make a “tremendous difference.” Brites credited Laniado with bridging the non-Orthodox and Orthodox communities.

“Last season was special — it brought people together who would not ordinarily be together,” Laniado said. “It builds and strengthens the community. There is nothing like sports to bring people together.”

Parent and coach Vince Amaroso, who grew up in the Five Towns and played in the league, said he does not understand the lack of enrollment, but hopes the league’s renewed push will keep it going. “There is a tremendous amount of stuff that happens behind the scenes,” said Amaroso, who noted, as an example, that late registrations make it that much more difficult to order uniforms and have everything ready for opening day. “It ends up wreaking havoc and looks like we have no plan.”

Application for the league can be found at www.cedarhurstlittleleague.com.