Parents

Fields

FHLL Game and Practice Field Locations by Division

Junior (14U) and Senior (16U) Divisions

Red Stevens Field at Carl Sandburg Middle School

8428 Ft. Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308

90’ Field

FHLL’s signature field and location of Opening Day ceremonies and Hall of Fame recognition.

Intermediate 50/70 Division (13U)

Fort Hunt Elementary School Field

8832 Linton Lane, Alexandria, VA 22308

50'/70' Intermediate Field

Ft. Hunt Elementary Field also serves as practice field for AAA, Minors and IM Divisions.

Minors (11U) and Majors (12U) Divisions

Hollin Hall Fields 1 and 2

1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria, VA 22308

60’ Fields

FHLL’s central complex and location of most field equipment and supplies.

AAA Division

Darsey Field

Plymouth Haven Baptist Church

8600 Ft. Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308

60’ Field

Darsey Field also serves as practice field for Minors

AA and A Divisions

Waynewood Elementary School Fields (3 fields)

1205 Waynewood Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22308

Fields are behind the school at the corner of Plymouth Road and Potomac Lane. 60’ Fields

Waynewood also serves as game fields for T-Ball Division

A Division

Stratford Landing Elementary School Fields (2 fields)

8484 Riverside Road, Alexandria, VA 22308

60’ Fields

T-Ball Divisions

Waynewood Recreation Association Fields (3 fields)

1027 Dalebrook Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308

Fields are behind the pool/tennis facility at the corner of Potomac Lane and Dalebrook Drive

45’ Fields

90’ Field

Practice field for various divisions

FIELD MAINTENANCE

Thank you for being part of the Fort Hunt Baseball community.

We are proud of our fields and ask users and spectators to help maintain them

by adhering to the following Field Maintenance Guidelines.

PRE-GAME / PRACTICE FIELD MAINTENANCE

Check the field for hazards (insecure bases, holes in the ground / fencing).
Repair minor issues; report major issues to the League Commissioner or Field Maintenance Director.
Remove tarps (fold into triangle and carry off field).
Drag / groom the skinned areas level and smooth.
Moisten the skinned areas.
Rake, fill, and groom mound / batter box, as needed.
Line the field. Lining chalk for dirt only. Use spray paint for grass areas.

POST-GAME/PRACTICE FIELD MAINTENANCE

Remove bases and cover base anchor sleeves.
Drag the skinned areas.
Rake loose dirt from the grass along the base paths, the mound circle, and infield edge back into the skinned areas.
Rake, fill, and groom the field mound and home plate area.
Rake, fill, and groom bull pen mounds.
Replace and tamp loose divots in turf areas.
Moisten the skinned areas.
Replace mound and home plate tarps and secure if necessary.
Sweep out the dugouts.
Dispose of trash and recycling in and around the field, dugouts, and bleacher areas.

FIELD MAINTENANCE CHECKLISTS

BASE PATH MAINTENANCE

Remove bases and debris (sticks, rocks, grass clippings).
Lightly moisten the skinned areas.
Drag the skinned areas—slowly. This grooms the surface and levels low spots. Keep the drag at least 6 inches

from the grass edge to prevent lips forming.

Groom the areas next to the turf with a landscape rake and broom.

Tips & Hints

– Change the direction of the drag to prevent buildup; try a spiral drag path.

– If infield mix gets on the turf, use a plastic fan rake or broom to get it out. Plastic fan rakes and brooms work better

because they cause less damage to roots.

Please Avoid

– Raking across the base path. This creates low spots in the middle of the base path and a lip along the grass.

– Raking or squeegeeing water out of the base path, going across to the grass, will quickly develop a lip.

– Entering and exiting the field at the same place with the drag.

– Dragging past the skinned area onto the turf will create lips.

HOME PLATE MAINTENANCE

Rake loose material from the batter & catcher boxes and umpire area to expose hard ground.
Moisten exposed hard ground and loose material to ensure the mix will bind when packed in the holes.

Give the mix a few minutes to absorb the water.

Rake the moistened loose material into holes in the batter & catcher boxes and umpire area.
Tamp loose mix into the holes using a tamp or the smooth back of a field rake.
Rake then broom the repaired areas and the rest of the home plate area.
Moisten the entire home plate area.
Cover with a tarp to hold in moisture and protect the skinned area from heavy rains.

MOUND MAINTENANCE

Rake and sweep loose material from the landing area and top of the mound exposing hard ground.

The landing area is the place where the pitcher lands with his lead foot.

Moisten exposed hard ground and loose material to ensure the mix will bind when packed in the holes.

Give the mix a few minutes to absorb the water.

Rake the loose moistened material into in the holes created by the pitcher.
Tamp the loose fill using a tamp or the smooth back of a field rake.
Rake and broom the repaired areas and the rest of the mound.
Water the mound area.
Cover with a tarp to hold in moisture and protect the skinned area from heavy rains.

MOUND DIMENSIONS

– 60’ FIELD / The pitching block sits 6” above home plate with the front 46’ from the back apex of home plate.

The top of the mound is level in a 17” (deep) x 48” (wide) box measuring 17” from 4” in front of the pitching block

rearwards and centering the 48” width on the pitching block.

– 90’ FIELD / The pitching block sits 10” above home plate with the front 60’ 6” from the back apex of home plate.

The top of the mound is level in a 34” (deep) x 60” (wide) box measuring 34” from 6” in front of the pitching block

rearwards and centering the 60” width on the pitching block.

– The grade for the front of the mound drops 1” for every linear foot starting 4” in front of the block (60’ field) and 6”

in the front of the block (90’ field).

FIELD MAINTENANCE TIPS

TARPS

Once removed from the field, hang tarps on the fence line.
Place tarps on the Mound and Home Plate area after every practice or game unless the field is to be used immediately following.

DRYING AGENT

Use drying agents sparingly and only for games; overuse can adversely affect the playing surface.
Apply drying agent an hour or more before game time so it will have time to work.
Use no more than 3 bags of drying agent per field. If more drying agent is needed, the field is too wet for play and the game

should be cancelled until the field dries naturally.

REMOVING WATER FROM THE FIELD

Use wet/dry vacuums and/or use sponges and wring out in buckets.
Do not use brooms to sweep puddles from skinned areas into the turf. This damages the turf and creates valleys

in the skinned areas.

Annual Awards

Paul Massey Award Winners

2003 - Mik Villo - Umpire

2005 – Steve & Libby Lord – Manager, Coach - Treasurer

2006 – Mike Lewan 1991-Present – President 2001-2002, Umpire

2007 – John Donaldson 1995-Present – President 2002-2003, Umpire

2008 – Tony Albano - Umpire

2009 – Barry Meuse 2002-Present, President 2013-2019, Commissioner, Manager, Coach

2010 – Rene Belanger – Commissioner, Manager, Coach

2011 – Dean Mitchell – Commissioner, Manager, Coach

2012 – Jeff Bigler – Commissioner, Coach

2013 – Paul Murphy 2002-Present – President 2004-2013, Coach, Umpire

2014 – Jeff & Kathryn Smith 2008-2017 – Coach; Spring Book Designer

2015 – Bob Powers 1982-2015, Umpire 33 years

2016 – Terry Trenchard 2002-2009 & 2015-2017 – Commissioner, Manager, Coach, Record Six All Star Championships

2019 – Glen Copeland 2008-2019 – Commissioner, Manager, Coach

Barry Meuse Volunteer of the Year Award

2019 - Jacque Wagner

2021 - Heath Bope

Manager/Coach of the Year

2019 - Erik Frazier and Eric Potholm

2021- Ryan Kennedy

Senior Umpire of the Year

2019 - Michael Lewan

2021 - Steve Dressing

Junior Umpire of the Year

2019 - Alex DePumpo

2021 - Lawson Richkowski

Good Sport of the Year

2019 - Aidan Potholm

2021 - Gary Barton III

What is FHLL's waitlist policy?

I’d like to volunteer to be a team Head Coach, how do I do that?

We always need new volunteers to help each season. When registering your player, select that you would like to volunteer to be a Head Coach and someone from the league will contact you. Don’t worry if you’ve never coached baseball before. We have many coaching resources and can help place you with a parent that has previous coaching experience. All Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and any volunteers that come in contact with a ballplayer must complete a background check, concussion trainings and be approved by the Board of Directors prior to assignment to a team.

What are the various volunteering opportunities that are available?

FHLL is an all-volunteer league and to be successful, we rely upon parents to perform some volunteer activities throughout the season. During the on-line registration process, please indicate if you are willing to volunteer as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach. All Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and any volunteers that come in contact with a ballplayer must complete a background screening and be approved by the Board of Directors prior to assignment to a team. Other volunteering opportunities for parents include umpiring, field setup (raking, setting out bases, applying lines), post-game field clean up, and concessions.

What equipment does my ballplayer need?

Each ballplayer will need their own fielding glove, bat, and batting helmet. Our Dugout Swap has a great selection of gently used gloves, bats, batting helmets, and baseball bags that are free to our FHLL families. Click here to learn more about Dugout Swap. Catchers are welcome to use their own catcher’s gear or may pick up gear at our Dugout Swap. T-Ball/Single A Divisions - sneakers or cleats are acceptable. AA Division - Seniors - cleats are required for players. In addition, all players are required to wear protective cups.

Are uniforms provided?

Are practices and games scheduled during holidays?

When are practices and games typically scheduled?

In T-Ball and A-Ball, there are typically around 2 events, one practice and game per week. Games are usually on Friday evenings or on Saturday. For AA, AAA, Minors, Majors, IM, Juniors and Seniors, there are usually one practice and two games per week. Weekday games are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with weekend games on Saturday. Practices are generally on a non-game day and around the coaches’ schedules. You are not able to request specific practice or game days. Weekday events start between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm and Saturday events are typically scheduled between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

When does the Spring Season Start and End?

Players will be assigned to teams in late February, with practices beginning in early March. Regular season games run from the last week of March to late May. AA through Majors Divisions host a Season Ending Tournament, which generally concludes by the first weekend in June. FHLL hosts an Opening Day Ceremony at Red Stevens Field at Carl Sandburg Middle School on [Date]. At the Opening Day Ceremony, all the teams are in their uniforms, are introduced and march around the field as a team. The ceremony includes, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Little League Pledge, a few announcements, and awards, and concludes with the throwing of the First Pitch for each division. Individual and team pictures will occur that day.

When do we find out what the team assignments will be?

How are team assignments made?

T-Ball and A-Ball: Typically, these ballplayers are placed on teams based upon parent requests, neighborhood, and school. Parents should make these and player/friend grouping requests during the registration process. FHLL Player Agents will work to accommodate these requests. There are no skills assessments for T-Ball and A-Ball. Please note that all requests cannot be guaranteed.

AA, AAA, Minors and Majors: Each ballplayer, even those who have played FHLL before are required to attend one of the two planned skills assessments, which occur during the last Sunday in January and first Sunday in February. Please note this is subject to change. At assessments, each ballplayer will be asked to perform a few basic baseball skills, like throwing, catching, fielding, and hitting. The skills assessments are not a tryout, but a process that helps the league place your ballplayer in the appropriate division and to balance out teams during the player placement process.

Can we request a specific coach or teammate during registration?

How do I register my child to play Fort Hunt Little League?

What if I don't live in the boundaries of Fort Hunt Little League?

There are certain exceptions that could apply even if your player does not live or attend school within our boundaries. Please contact one of our Player Agents, Amy Apostol or Erin Anne Cardman if you have any questions regarding your player's eligibility.

Little League has launched League Finder, where parents can simply enter an address online, and the database will find the league in which the address resides.

In accordance with Little League rules, we suggest that you identify your home league and consider registering there before you look into waiving into a different league.

Waiver Process -- Out of Boundary Waivers

If you seek to have your child participate in a league outside of where they live or go to school, there is a waiver process that parents can use in coordination with the local leagues. Little League International provides general information for parents on the waiver process.

In order to permit a child from outside the league boundary, the league must request a temporary waiver of Little League rules and regulations. This is a formal process that involves a release by the home league, positive vote by the gaining league board and an approval process that is conducted at the District, Regional, and national levels by Little League International. Waivers, if granted, are for the current season only. Therefore, you are required to request a waiver for each season in which your child will play.

Fort Hunt Little League requires that parents requesting a waiver of the boundary rules demonstrate hardship or other unique circumstances that support the request through a written submission for consideration by the FHLL Board. Our league’s Player Agents can work with parents throughout the waiver process and in preparation of the supporting information.

Divisions of Play Information

Who is eligible to participate in Fort Hunt Little League?

FHLL offers baseball programs from T-Ball through Seniors division for boys and girls. The following criteria must be met to be eligible to play in FHLL:

Age: FHLL is open to players with a “League Age” of 4-15. "League Age" refers to a player's age as of August 31 of the current year for the Spring season. The Fall season uses a player's age as of August 31 of the following year.

Click here to determine your ballplayer’s League Age

Residency: FHLL is open to players living within our boundaries. Little league sets the criteria for how a player is considered a resident of our boundaries. In general, a player is eligible to play within FHLL if a player's parents or a player's court-appointed legal guardian resides within the boundaries, or the player attends a school with the boundaries.

Waitlist and waiver info

Unlike other youth sports organizations, Little League International has regulations that establish boundary requirements for each local league that are intended to maintain a sense of community in the player experience. Each local league has a distinct boundary map that cannot overlap with other league jurisdictions.

Per rules established by Little League International, there are three options for where Little Leaguers can play.

1. Children whose primary residence is within the local league’s boundary can play for that hometown league.
2. Children can play for the league where their school is located.
3. Children from divided homes may choose to play in a league in whose boundaries either parent resides. 4. Children who are League Age 4-7 (meaning their age on August 31st of the current year is 4, 5, 6, or 7) may register for any Little League program they choose, regardless of geography- or school-related eligibility requirements. These players are fully eligible for all aspects of league play, including International Tournament play, provided they have continuous and unbroken participation within the specific league where they initially registered under this option.

School Eligibility

The following FCPS schools are within boundaries for FHLL: Waynewood Elementary, Stratford Landing Elementary, Fort Hunt Elementary, Hollin Meadows Elementary, Walt Whitman Middle School, and Carl Sandburg Middle School. If your child attends a school within boundaries, (regardless of your home address), your child is considered ELIGIBLE to play for FHLL. Our league will require proof of school attendance, via completion of this form.

enrollment form

Completion of this form is required only once in a participant's little league career, unless school enrollment changes. If you are unsure whether FHLL has a school enrollement form on file for your child, please contact one of the player agents to confirm.

Little League Waivers -- Unique Circumstances

Little League Waivers -- Unique Circumstances
In addition to the more common out of boundary waiver process, Little League offers a waiver process in a few unique circumstances. These are summarized here:

II(a) and II(d) Waivers
This rule allows a player who has previously qualified under residency for a league and played in the league to remain in the league after having moved to a new residence or school.
As long as the player lived within the boundary and played with the league, they may continue service with the league if the player’s address or school location changed, the league’s boundary has changed, or the player is a sibling of a player who previously qualified for II(d).

IV(h) Waivers
If a person has previously resided within the league’s boundaries for two or more years while serving that league as a dedicated manager, coach, or member of the local league’s Board of Directors for two or more years, his sons and/or daughters are eligible to try out and be selected by teams in that league provided such service to the league from which the person has moved has continued and subject to written agreement from the league within whose boundaries they currently reside.

In both cases, a II(d) or IV(h) waiver form will need to be completed and then approved by the District Administrator. The completed form needs to be accompanied by proof of residency documents for the previous address that was within the league boundary.

How to Request a Boundary Waiver with Fort Hunt Little League
To request a waiver in order to affiliate with FHLL for the season, you should submit a written request by email asking Fort Hunt Little League to waive its geographic boundary restrictions and permit you to play.

This request should be sent to the FHLL President, Vice President, and Player Agents. These officials will prepare the request for consideration by the FHLL board. The Player Agents are your direct points of contact for questions and support as you go through the waiver process.

The request for a waiver should be prepared somewhat formally in the format of a word document letter or email that can be transmitted to the broader little league organization. There is no general form for the waiver request, as we recognize that all situations and requests are unique.

The request should include background information about your child, including date of birth, division level, past baseball experience, and reason(s) for wanting to play in FHLL. The rationale typically focuses on community ties, coaching opportunities, and player connections that will make this a more meaningful experience for your family. It should not simply be a statement of liking one league more than another or thinking one league is better than another. If you have any supporting documents, please provide those as well.

With that information in hand, the FHLL board can vote regarding whether to waive you in so that you can play in our league. After we submit your waiver request to Little League International, LLI officials will communicate the request to your home league and coordinate approval of release.

EQUIPMENT SWAP

The Dugout Swap program provides an opportunity for FHLL players to swap gently used baseball clothing or equipment that has become unused or outgrown.

The Dugout Swap cannot be successful without the generous donations from our community. The program accepts donations and conducts swaps year-round. Dugout Swap events typically occur at the beginning of each season or during league training sessions, however, individual meets are available.

Schedule a donation pick-up/drop-off or collect items.

WHAT TO DONATE

Batting Gloves
Belts
Catcher's gear
Cleats
Gloves
Helmets
Pants
USA Bats
Socks (only new)

FHLL is asking everyone to look through garages, attics, and sheds for items to donate to The Dugout Swap.

HOW TO DONATE

Any donations can be brought to practices and given to your coaches or you can schedule a time for a pickup HERE. We will have designated times for field drop offs as well throughout the year. Please contact Gillian Livesay and Tricia Kordon at DugoutSwap@gmail.com with any questions.

On behalf of the FHLL board and all the league, thank you for your consideration and generous equipment donations.

The Dugout Swap Team

Parents Corner