Nearly 2.7 million kids around the world participated in Little League baseball/softball in 2005.

Coupeville’s Central Whidbey Little League was just one of thousands of American leagues to contribute to that large turnout.

This year, however, a lack of volunteers could have led to the local organization’s demise.

“The first question was ‘should we dissolve it and send kids north and south (Whidbey),’” CWLL president Bob Martin said.

Refusing to do so, Martin, a first-year league president, along with several other board members rallied to keep the league in Coupeville.

First and foremost, the board needed to fill all 11 positions.

“We didn’t even have a complete board this year until we kind of ran out and started pressing people to fill positions,” Martin said.

Those problems were quickly resolved, but CWLL still needs support.

The organization, which has over 200 kids signed up to play T-ball, softball and baseball this spring, is low in numbers at several positions. And tryouts for the various teams already got underway March 4.

Everything from umpires, coaches, to scorekeepers are still needed.

“If you love the sport or like helping kids it’s the prefect thing to get out there and do,” CWLL umpire and chief Dan Vorhis said.

Vorhis has volunteered his time as an umpire and coach for the last four years with CWLL and several years with South Whidbey prior to that.

He said the experience couldn’t be more rewarding and encourages those who have kids or had kids involved in the past to help.

“You get back what you put into stuff,” he said.

It’s not just the manned positions that need support, but beyond.

All CWLL teams currently play at Rhododendron Park, which lacks several key elements including adequate backstops, dugouts, bullpens, storage facilities, scoreboards, chain-link fences and proper field drainage.

“There’s two inches of water on the field right now, it’s a mess,” Martin said.

Island County currently maintains the park, but only two people look after all county parks and there are limited funds.

“They’re doing an awesome job with what they have,” Martin said.

He hopes, however, that community members will also step up and help. And his wishes just started to get granted.

The Coupeville Lions Club recently offered to build dugouts and Lumbermen’s offered to donate the supplies.

This is just the kind of community spirit Martin hopes to see continued.

“This league is all about being a volunteer,” he said.

Martin wanted to make it clear CWLL needs volunteers, but so does every other league around the area, including North Whidbey Little League and South Whidbey Little League.

“We just want to let people know that baseball season’s starting now and there are Little League teams functioning in their towns and people need to step up…it doesn’t just happen,” he said.

•Note: Registration deadline and final tryouts for CWLL are March 11.

Want to help?

CWLL is in need of volunteers for all positions. If you would like to support the community and ensure the continuation of Little League in Coupeville download a volunteer application form at www.centralwhidbeylittleleague.org and mail it to: PO Box 222, Coupeville, WA 98239 or e-mail Bob Martin at volunteer@centralwhidbeylittleleague.org.

If you would like to make a donation to CWLL please contact Laura Fox at donations@centralwhidbeylittleleague.org.