The History of CSLL
Little League Baseball was first introduced to the children of Springfield, VA in 1954 by a small group of fathers headed by Harry Wood, Vic Aldridge, B. Abrams, Jim Owens, Kent Browning, Ray Ramsey, and Frank Ralston. These men organized and transported 60 boys to Annandale to play in that program. Initial equipment was obtained from the then small number of community merchants and from the fathers themselves.
Franchised Little League came to Springfield a year later in 1955 with the granting of a charter to a four-team league by the National Little League Headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The area franchised included all of what is now considered Springfield proper.
As the popularity of the program and the population of the area rapidly grew, it became necessary to split the league in 1962, and the North Springfield Little League became a separate program.
The Springfield program continued to expand through the 1960’s with 16 Major League and 24 Minor League teams. In 1971, following the tremendous population explosion in the West Springfield area and the growth of the program participation to 1,150 boys, it was again necessary to divide the league. The West Springfield Little League began in 1972, leaving 475 boys in what is now the Central Springfield Little League (CSLL).
Since 1972, Central Springfield Little League has developed many innovations designed to improve baseball abilities and enjoyment. Among these are clinics, the use of pitching machines in A-ball and a T-ball program to introduce 5–6-year-old children to baseball.
Other changes since 1972 included the expansion of the charter boundaries to encompass Saratoga, Newington Station, Chancellor Farms, and the Franconia area west of Rose Hill. In 1975 the “boys only” policy was lifted by Little League Baseball Inc. Initially, 15 girls registered in the program with girls now an integral part of the League at all levels. In 1993, in conjunction with West Springfield Little League, we fielded our first Challenger Team for children with physical and mental challenges. This program has grown to the largest in the world.
In 1999, CSLL established a fall baseball program, to focus on teaching baseball in a less competitive atmosphere. The fall program encompasses all level of little league play and, in the spirit of Little League cooperation, has developed into a multi=league program encompassing several District 9 Little Leagues. CSLL also established a Juniors/Seniors program to allow 13–16-year-olds the opportunity to continue to play at CSLL.
Trailside Park, where most of our games are played, was originally a rock quarry owned by the Lynch Foundation. In 1965, Edward Lynch allowed the League to develop fields there. In exchange for developing and maintaining the fields, the Springfield Little League would have dedicated use of the facility, originally named Lynch Field in honor of Edward Lynch. In 1971, the Lynch Foundation offered to sell the property, located at the North end of Trailside Drive to the Springfield Little League. However, when the League declined the offer, the property was sold to the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) in 1972, which allowed CSLL exclusive use of the fields in exchange for maintaining the park. Along with this change, the facility was renamed Trailside Park.
IN 1992, Field #1 at Franconia Park was added to our “Adopt-A-Field” agreement with the county and regular season games were first scheduled there in 1993. These fields have been improved and are now used by the CSLL Juniors Program.
Every January, each chartered Little League is responsible for submitting an ASAP Plan (A Safety Awareness Program), containing 15 basic requirements. Little League Baseball is broken down into regions with Central Springfield Little League (VA D9) assigned to the Southeast Region (VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL, and AL). In 2016, CSLL won the Regional Award for the Southeast Region. In 2018, CSLL placed 2nd in the Regional Award. In 2020, CSLL was selected as the Regional Winner once again. Musco Lighting, the sponsor of the ASAP Award Program, said this is the most awards received by an individual league in such a short time. Each year, Musco Lighting and Little League Baseball announce a national ASAP Award winner, to be recognized at the Little League World Series. In 2020, Central Springfield Little League was also selected as the national winner! Among other administrative awards, CSLL was awarded a set of stadium lights.
CSLL has a long history of being a well-run organization. The efforts of thousands of tireless volunteers throughout the years and support from the business and professional communities of Springfield have enabled CSLL to develop and maintain a Little League Organization of the highest caliber.