Batter Up: League 42 Offers Baseball to Wichita’s Children

For decades, former Wichita Eagle reporter Bob Lutz dreamed of a youth baseball league available to all children. In his more than forty years as a sports writer, Lutz saw youth sports become unreachable for the underprivileged. He envisioned a baseball league that built up a community and provided an opportunity for all children to fall in love with the sport.

In 2014, Lutz turned his dream into reality when the opening pitch was thrown out at League 42’s first game. Now in its fifth season, League 42 serves nearly 600 children ages 5-14. True to its central mission of providing affordable youth sports, each family pays only $30 per season for all children enrolled. The League primarily runs on donations, sponsorships, and volunteers.

Though still a young nonprofit, League 42’s impact has been significant. In addition to baseball, the League focuses on players’ education and stresses the importance of a high school diploma. Among the League’s long-term goals is building a center near its home at McAdams Park that is part study rooms and part batting cages. Players would have a space to complete their homework before practicing their swings.

League 42’s leadership tracks the path of players after they age out of the program and hopes to see that the League has a positive influence on its players long term. But League 42’s central goal–helping Wichita’s children fall in love with baseball–is intangible. It can only be seen in the video interviews Bob Lutz captures with players, like this interview last season with League 42 player Austin, who had just taken home the game ball after executing a great play.

Austin, who plays for the Hornets in League 42, has one of those infectious personalities. You'll see.

Posted by League 42 on Thursday, June 22, 2017

 How You Can Help

In order to keep its fee per family low, League 42 relies on monetary donations to keep its operations going each season. The League is also beginning a capital campaign to build a fourth field at McAdams Park, which will allow the League to serve more families.

Another great way to contribute is to coach! This season, League 42 has forty-two teams, each of which needs at least two coaches. The League is in need of new coaches every season. If you have a passion for baseball and an interest in coaching, contact Bob Lutz for more information.

For Monetary Donations:                                         

League 42
P.O. Box 20051
Wichita, KS 67208

To Watch a Game:

McAdams Park
1329 E. 16th St. N
Wichita, KS 67214

For more information:

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/League42Wichita/

https://league42.org

 


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Erin Good
Erin grew up in the Kansas City area and fell in love with writing at an early age. She met her husband (also named Aaron) in law school and, after two years of living long-distance, the pair married and decided to plant roots in Wichita. Their daughter was born in August 2016. Erin is a full-time attorney in private practice with McDonald Tinker PA. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for League 42. When she's not working or watching baseball, you can find Erin chasing her lab Otis and telling him to "stop licking the baby!"