With the country reeling from a global pandemic and tensions rising with protests against racial injustice, The Courier-Post covered Merchantville Little League Coach Vince Martinez as he looked for a way to bring his team of 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds together. “With everything that was happening in the world and with Black Lives Matter movement, I thought we needed to unify the team and we could do that with all of the kids wearing the same number,” Martinez said. And in baseball, where numbers mean everything, there’s only one numeral that could achieve his goal - Jackie Robinson's No. 42. Martinez, who played baseball at Pennsauken High School and Camden County College, was applauded by MLL parents for celebrating the life and values of a true sports hero.
Gardening Good Works
Cindy Hertneck, member of Merchantville's Garden Club & Incredible Edible, will often be seen elbow deep in vegetation spots around town working hard to keep our community sustainable and beautiful. Every year Garden Club volunteers plant, weed and water an abundance of foliage around town including planters throughout the downtown, at Borough Hall, along the bike path, the Merchantville Circle garden, Morrissey Park, and adjacent to Cigar Alley. Please consider contributing your time to helping the Garden Club keep our town beautiful during this busy time of year. Contact Cindy Hertneck at (609) 472-4626 if you would like to join the Garden Club.
MLL Registration
Bob Wetherspoon, President of MLL, wants to remind everyone that baseball and softball registrations are now open for what will hopefully be our Late Summer and Fall Season. If you want to sign up- click on the "sign up" button on this page or go to www.merchantvillelittleleague.org and click on the available programs to sign your son or daughter up today. Also keep an eye on our Facebook Page over the next couple of days as we send out a special tribute to our graduating Seniors. These girls have played in some of the biggest softball games at MLL in the last 10 years and we want to send them off to college the right way!
MLL Celebrates Seniors
Merchantville Little League has been honoring their graduating seniors through pictures and Senior Spotlight tributes on their Facebook page. #13 Kallie Anderson is a Senior at Haddon Heights High School. #18 Alexa Sherr, a senior at Collingswood High School, came to our team in the summer of 2017 and quickly became one of our leaders on and off the field. #8 Kassidy Press, a senior at Audubon High School, is a softball player who came to us in her sophomore year and has played on our Girls Senior Team since 2018. We at MLL congratulate our graduating seniors for jobs well done. We know they will be awesome at everything they do and, will absolutely miss having them with us!
Kallie was named captain of this year’s softball team at HHHS and was one of last year’s Carpenters Cup Reps for Haddon Heights. When she was 7 years old Kallie decided that coach pitch softball was the best thing ever and she hasn’t looked back since. Kallie started her career pitching and playing the infield but, found her special place in the 2 spot on our ball field. She is an absolute ROCK STAR behind the plate and a great young lady out in front of it. Kallie will be starting Rutgers University this fall to attend their nursing school program.
Alexa in just 3 short seasons compiled a whopping 111 hits, 75 RBI’s and 11 HR’s. “Play Metallica for her” when she walks up to the plate- our coaches used to yell when she stepped in the box!!!! Alexa has led us to so many victories and she also became the face and the voice of our team. Every new player that has come through our Mustangs team has always commented on how welcoming that monster player Alexa is!!! We wanted her to know that we can’t thank her enough for doing that and also wanted to let her know SHE WILL ALWAYS be part of who we are! Alexa will be attending The University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study Nursing and we are sure she will become a leader in that field as well!!
Kassidy has always been a leader and all of MLL will miss having her in the batting order on our fields. She hit one of the most important home runs for her Mustangs in the 2018 Senior Little League State semi-final games when she took a fastball on a 2-2 count in the 3rd inning over the right field fence to give our team a 2-1 lead over Bayonne Little League that ended in a 11-1 rout. Kassidy is enrolled at the University of Delaware this fall to pursue a Sports Studies and Athletic Training major.
Little League Postponed
Dear Players, Parents, Sponsors and Members of Merchantville Little League: “This is much bigger than any game.” Merchantville Little League along with every other Little League worldwide received the following directive from Little League International: “with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , the Little League International Board of Directors and staff is now strongly recommending that all of its local Little League programs suspend or delay the start of their seasons until no earlier than at least, May 11, 2020.“ Due to this and for the health and well-being of our players and members we are suspending ALL LEAGUE operations including – practices, games, scrimmages, meetings and even our opening day ceremonies and league wide picture day now through at least May 11, 2020. Please look for updates on our Facebook page and from our email system at Blue Sombrero as well . Please contact Robert Wetherspoon, President MLL, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.
Support the Scouts
Hey everyone, it’s time for the Boy Scout Troop 119 Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. This is one of the few fundraising events they hold all year and they need your support. This event takes place on Saturday, February 29th, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at Trinity UMC Church, 36 W. Maple Avenue, Merchantville. Tickets are: Adults $10, Seniors $8 and Kids $5 and are available at the door. The funds will benefit scouting activities for the boys and the newly-formed girls troop. Thanks for your support!
PYAA Spring Soccer
Online registration for PYAA Spring Intramural Soccer is open until Monday, February 3, 2020. In-person registration will take place on Thursday, January 27th, at the PYAA Field House Located on Elm Avenue from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Please use this link to register. If you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and make sure you select the appropriate box while registering. Returning coaches are eligible for a one time $20 discount. If you are a parent who would like to coach or volunteer this spring please message us via Facebook or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to receive the code.