ECCYBSA, building on momentum, prepares for new season

Published 11:33 pm Friday, February 17, 2023

The Elizabethton Carter County Youth Baseball and Softball Association is preparing for what they hope to be one of their most successful seasons to date. Association President Kevin Vaughn has seen a steady increase in participation and hopes that the league can ride the momentum it has built in the last few years. Vaughn shared, “we are going to start with a kick-off on April 1; all the teams are going to play that day and it will also serve as a fundraiser.” The league has purchased new pitching machines and believes that these machines will help facilitate a higher level of instruction, “we are incorporating the 7-8-year-old boys and the 7-9-year-old girls with pitching machines instead of coach pitch.” The league feels that kids will not only benefit from higher instruction but learn more fundamentals, including letting them see a real ball pitched at them instead of a coach pitching at them.

Vaughn also shared the incredible progress the league has seen, “unbelievable progress, we had 400 kids last year signed up, spirits are high and have more help this year than ever, with vendors calling me wanting to be in our league with new teams coming in as well.” The league brought out new uniforms last year, which helped with the overall look of the league and plans to do that once again this year with the new sublimation jerseys.

The league also desires to be part of the community, “active and a real part of the community,” Vaughn shared. He also talked about listening to the community and bringing Saturday games back, “a lot of people shared with us bringing Saturday games back so people just come sit down and eat a hot dog and enjoy a game.” The hope would be to pull some kids back from travel ball back into the league. Vaughn also shared his hope for the future of the league, “we want this league to be something the community can be proud of; we want our league to be known as a league that is not about winning but teaching and having fun.” This has been a real focus of the league for the last several years; to provide a league that offers a safe, fun environment for kids to fall in love with the game of softball or baseball.

If you are interested in partnering with the league or in finding out more information you can go to the Elizabethton Carter County Youth Baseball and Association Facebook page; also, schools will be receiving information about signups this week. The league is also looking for people to help umpire this year “this is a paid volunteer position, our only paid volunteer position,” Vaughn shared. The League will continue to have live online signups until Feb. 25 and will have in-person signups on Saturday the 18 at the Lions Board Room from 10 am-3 pm. The cost is $60 per child with a $5 discount for additional children.