FMB Little League keeps the faith
Another regular season of Fort Myers Beach Little League has come and gone, marking more than 50 years of celebrating the youth version of America’s pastime.
FMB Little League President Charlie Whitehead is now involved in organizing end-of-season tournaments for the organization that has seen nearly 100 kids in the 5-16 age bracket compete in various leagues.
“I love little league, said Whitehead. “It’s pretty darn important.”
The regular season closed Saturday, May 30, with Councilpersons Jo List and Tom Babcock throwing out the ceremonial closing pitches.
“I was honored to be asked to throw out that pitch,” said List. “All the kids who played their last season as little leaguers signed the baseball for me. What a great program.”
Whitehead knows the county commissioners and the town council members, and they know him. Next year’s league should be under the arm of the Town of Fort Myers Beach when Lee County gives up the reins at the end of September.
“They know how I feel about how important Bay Oaks is and how important continuing the programs are,” he said. “Bay Oaks should stay the benefit it is to the youth of Fort Myers Beach.”
An award ceremony also was held on May 30. Two distinctions went out to Carlos Santiago, a 15-year-old catcher who also played at South Fort Myers High School this year; and Allison Whitehead, another catcher for a senior girls team who also played softball for Cypress Lake High School.
“We did have two kids that I kind of singled out and recognized from t-ball through graduation in Beach little league,” said the little league president who is Allison’s father. “Hopefully they are not graduating from little league because we’re going to try to expand to one more older kid team with both boys and girls next year.”
Based on skill level, the leagues were somewhat structured as follows: t-ball, ages 5-6; minor league, ages 7-11; major league, ages 9-12; and juniors, ages 13-15. Major league softball includes girls age 9-12, while senior softball involves girls ages 13-16.
However, little league’s post season is formed differently. The all-star tournament teams have tighter age brackets.
“Little league is very detail-oriented,” explained Whitehead. “The post season considers major leaguers to be only ages 11-12. Conceivably our 11 to 12-year-old teams could win games until we start watching them on national television in the Little League World Series because that is the age level that goes that far.”
Whitehead knows that’s a stretch in thinking.
“Frankly, we’ve had a real good season in our tournaments so far but there are some awfully big leagues with some awfully deep talent pools that will be playing in the all-star tournaments,” he said. “We only have around 100 kids in Beach little league. Other leagues in our district have several hundred kids.
This post season, the FMB Little League Marlins sponsored by the Beach Kiwanis won their first game Tuesday, June 2, but lost the following day and again on Saturday at the District 18 Tournament of Champions -a double-elimination tournament being played in LeHigh. The district-wide tournament included teams from FMB, LeHigh, Immokalee, Bonita Springs, Alva and San Carlos Park.
Another little league team that goes by the Marlins and sponsored by the FMB Civic Association won two games in their tournament.
“That was a really good showing for them,” said Whitehead.
Paul Blickley, who will turn 80 in November, is one of the umpires volunteering his time to little league. According to his wife, Debbie, he has been associated with baseball since his high school days and began coaching little league on the Beach in 1992 before turning to umpiring.
“I substitute teach and he volunteers at umpiring,” she said. “This is our way to give it back to the community.”
Whitehead said he’s still in the market for all-star sponsors for new uniforms.
“Some people sponsor teams, while some people sponsor equipment,” he said. “We’ve paired up with Bonita Springs this year to have a Fort Myers Beach/Bonita all-star softball team.”
Major sponsors this year included Fish Tale Marina, FMB Civic Association, Kiwanis, Distinctive Beach Rentals, MD Electric, The Beach Whale, S & S Promotions, Custom Coatings, Sun Deck Resort, Santini Marina Plaza Self Storage, Sons of ther American Legion.