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Manchester Little League

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Our History

Manchester Little League History

  • 1963 Manchester Little League is formed.
  • 1982 Joe Carter becomes President. 125 children enrolled.
  • 1984 Gary Mason becomes President. 130 children enrolled.
  • 1985 Joe Carter becomes president. T-ball league established.
  • 1986 Senior League baseball established with 3 teams.
  • 1987 New scoreboard installed on the Major field on Wilbur Avenue.
  • 1988 Clubhouse addition on Wilbur Avenue. 2nd-floor room added.
  • 1988 Joe Carter coach Blue Jays to Tournament Of Champions Beat Barnegat 4-3 to complete a 23-0 season.
  • 1988 Joe Carter coach 15 yr olds to Dist. 18 title. A loss in sectional 4-3 to Franklin.
  • 1989 Big League established for 16-18-year-olds.
  • 1990 Girls softball established with 2 teams.
  • 1991 Spring > 1st meeting w/president Carter and Britt Raynor - Vice President of Ocean County Landfill, on moving the complex from Wilbur Avenue to a plot of land on Rt 571.
  • 1991 Fall > groundbreaking for John W. Hesse Memorial Complex.
  • 1992 MLL 12-year-olds win District 18 Little League title.
  • 1992 Fundraiser held to purchase lights for major and senior league fields on the new complex. Work continues on new complex now known as the “John W. Hesse Memorial Park”.
  • 1992 July > BOD voted not to start play on new fields until April ’93.
  • 1993 Long wait is over – John W. Hesse Memorial Park opens with a lavish ceremony; with the Hesse family, State Senator Connors, D18 AD Ed Scharnagal & Lenny Coleman Major League baseball President of the National League. Senator Connors presented our LL with a flag, given to us by President Bush, that was previously flown over the Capitol Building the week before.
  • 1993 Joe Carter named Williamsport Little League volunteer of the year
  • 1994 > The State LL President announces Manchester LL hosts the 1994 State Little League Finals. Charlie Hesse throws out the first ball.
  • 1994 April > Major League field named after the current president, Joe Carter.
  • 1994 July > Girls’ Softball wins District Title, loses in State Title.
  • 1994 July > State LL Finals held at MLL. Millburn defeats Vineland 6-2.  10,000 spectators attend games at MLL over 4 days.
  • 1995 April > Clubhouse dedicated in memory of Carrie-Anne Carter.
  • 1995 April > 450 children enrolled.
  • 1995 July > MLL hosts State Final Senior League. Lincroft wins, defeats Cinnaminson 11-6.
  • 1995 Sept > Joe Carter retires as president.
  • 1995-1996 MLL goes thru a change of 3 presidents, Mike Coogan, Lynn Primbernow & Cheryl Conklin
  • 1996 460 children enrolled.
  • 1996 > Girls’ Softball wins District 18 Title.
  • 1996 September > Joe Carter returns as president.
  • 1997 > League establishes planting of trees in honor of past members.
  • 1998 > MLL hosts District 18 LL Finals.  TR East American wins.
  • 1999 > Safety guards put on all fencing around fields
  • 2000 > Coach-Pitch League established for 7-8 year olds
  • 2001 > New Mayor Mike Fressola throws out the first ball
  • 2001 > 450 children enrolled.
  • 2002 > New safety screening on major field backstop. All fields re-done w/new clay, sod, and breakaway bases.  400 children.
  • 2003 > Opening day 420 children enrolled.  Mayor Fressola declares April 3rd “Joe Carter Day” by proclamation. Councilman Sam Fusaro presented Joe Carter with a street sign naming the road into the complex as “Joe Carter Boulevard”
  • 2004 > Senior League goes undefeated (21-0) in D18 Inter-League play
  • 2004 June Festival Day > President Joe Carter officially retires and introduces new president Rich Zingaro.
  • 2004 Aug > Tball field completed by Charlie Hesse & OC Landfill.
  • 2004 Sept > New scoreboard installed on Minor League field purchased by the Toms River Elks.
  • 2004 Sept > MLL and Charlie Hesse embark on a partnership to install concrete walkways throughout the complex on a yearly basis.
  • 2004 Sept > Joe Carter donates 24'x36' storage garage to MLL.
  • 2005 > Softball program resurrected at MLL.
  • 2005 March > Two Announcing booths installed by MLL volunteers.        
  • 2005 June > Festival Day recognizes Chaz Hesse and family with Memorial and Tball field naming ceremony.
  • 2005 Aug > MLL sponsors benefit 1 pitch softball fundraiser game for Derek Biederstadt.
  • 2005 Aug > MLL & Lakewood Blue Claws announce "Manchester Little League Day" at Blue Claws stadium.
  • 2005 Nov > Snack stand expansion and major improvements completed.
  • 2006 Feb > MLL moves forward with the Musco Lights project for Field 3.
  • 2006 Feb > MLL allows coaches to wear “Approved Only" MLL shorts.
  • 2006 Mar > Manchester LL sign on Rt 571 gets lights.
  • 2006 Apr > Flower gardens created for Joe Carter and Britt Raynor behind dugouts.
  • 2006 June > TOC brought back to the LL level at MLL.
  • 2006 June > MLL begins a new "Super 50/50" raffle.
  • 2006 July > MLL hosts the 2006 District 18 twelve-year-old finals.
  • 2006 July > MLL loses its dear friend, Mr. Gary Mason.
  • 2006 Aug > MLL sponsors benefit 1 pitch softball fundraiser game for Brian Malast.
  • 2006 Oct > Charlie Hesse & OC Landfill install needed retaining wall for Feld 3.
  • 2006 Nov > MLL completes the installation of the Musco Lights project on Field 3.
  • 2007 Jan > D18 announces that MLL will host the Junior League Sectionals Championship games.
  • 2007 Feb > Plans begin to install a new bathroom facility on LL complex.
  • 2007 Feb > League begins planning the Indoor Training Facility project.
  • 2007 Mar > Newly created "Mason Memorial" is completed near Field 3.
  • 2007 Mar > 1st Annual Mandatory Parent Meeting
  • 2007 Apr > Field 4 Clubhouse & new bathroom facility completed.
  • 2008 > Concrete sidewalks installed to various fields.
  • 2008 June > Joseph Pushkal Sportsmanship Award (yearly) established at MLL.
  • 2008 July > League continues working on groundbreaking of an Indoor Training Facility.
  • 2009 > League creates the Mason Invitational Tournament in honor of their dear friend, Gary Mason
  • 2009 > ITF project breaks ground on MLL site
  • 2009 > Wall ball area installed on complex
  • 2009 July > 13-year-old District 18 Baseball champions
  • 2009 July > 12-year-old District 18 Softball champions
  • 2009 July > “The Shack” is installed for the selling of MLL clothing
  • 2010 > ITF Grand opening on Festival Day
  • 2010 > ITF Dedication ceremony for Charles J Hesse III.
  • 2010 > Equipment storage sheds installed throughout the complex.
  • 2011 > Mezzanine wall murals installed in ITF.
  • 2011 > ITF Training and Workout schedules introduced to all players.
  • 2011 > Complex security lighting installed throughout the complex.
  • 2011 > CFBL Fall program established at MLL and District 18.
  • 2011 > ITF Parking lights donated and installed.
  • 2012 > Mason Invitational Tournament expands to the Big Field
  • 2012 > Field 2 infield skinned for the girls softball program.
  • 2012 > Brick paver fundraiser begins for MLL members in Monument Park.
  • 2012 > Brand new scoreboards purchased and installed on 3 fields.
  • 2012 > Field 1 transformed into Joe Carter Stadium with brick walls in left & right field and simulated Yankee stadium and Monument Park in center field.
  • 2012 > Monument Park named after Carrie-Anne Carter
  • 2013 > Manchester Little League is 50 years old.
  • 2013 > Clubhouse Expansion Project.
  • 2013 > MLL JR Baseball wins; Districts, Sections & State Championships.
  • 2013 > MLL JR Softball wins District 18 Championship.
  • 2014 > Expansion of Clubhouse 1 bathrooms and Concession Stand completed.
  • 2014 > MLL Softball 10/11 District Champions.
  • 2014 > CFBL Junior Champions - Manchester Hurricanes.
  • 2014 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
  • 2015 > MLL Softball 10/11 District, Sectional, and State Champions.
  • 2015 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
  • 2015 > CFBL Senior Champions - Manchester Seals
  • 2015 > CAC 20th year anniversary, recognized with custom one of a kind CAC Patches
  • 2016 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
  • 2016 > CFBL Big League Champions - Manchester Seals.
  • 2017 > Raynor Field (Fld 4) Infield Redone with New Sod & Clay.
  • 2018 > Manchester Little League is 55 years old.
  • 2018 > Joe Carter Stadium Infield Redone with New Sod & Clay.
  • 2018 > 10 year Anniversary of the Mason Invitational Tournament
  • 2018 > Manchester Junior Yankees Interleague North Champions.
  • 2018 > Manchester LL 8U All-star team is District 18 Champions.
  • 2018 > Manchester LL AAA All-star team is District 18 Champions.
  • 2018 > 1-Pitch Softball Fundraiser in Honor of Dear Friend Captain Robert Kiefer
  • 2019 > Manchester LL Hosts 8-9-10 New Jersey State Finals
  • 2020 > Manchester LL Presents the opening of the Robert Kiefer Pavilion to the Kiefer & Bakker Family.
  • 2020 > Manchester LL Presents the Carrie-Anne Carter Clubhouse "Overhang" to the Carter Family.
  • 2020 > Senior League Champions in District 18 & the NJ Section 3 Champs.
  • 2020 > Mason Invitational Tournament Majors Champions.
  • 2021 > Newly installed home plate Halo on Carter Stadium Field. Thank you Mr. Carter!
  • 2021 > Senior League Champions in District 18.
  • 2021 > MLL continues its tradition with its 13th Annual Mason Invitation Tournament.
  • 2021 > Field 2 Announcing Booth Project.  Thank you Mr. Carter!
  • 2021 > The Hesse Family & OCL Sidewalk Project continued this Fall.
  • 2022 > Manchester Little League runs its 14th Annual Mason Invitation Tournament
  • 2022 - 1-Pitch Softball Fundraiserfor- Together For Thomas
  • 2022 - Successful Gift Auction held at Manchester Little League!
  • 2022 - Field 2 gets overhauled to build it back to a baseball field.  Thank you Mr. Carter!
  • 2023 - Manchester Little League is 60 Years Old.  Congratulations!!!
  • 2023 - Manchester Little League play on complex for the 30th year.  Congrats!!!
  • 2023 - Joe Carter announces Field 2 renamed to "Zingaro Field".
  • 2023 - The Mason Invitation Tournament "MIT" has it 15th year Anniversary for the tournament.

Contact Us

Manchester Little League

P.O.Box 216 
Lakehurst, New Jersey 08733

Phone: 732-341-8320
Email: [email protected]

Manchester Little League

P.O.Box 216 
Lakehurst, New Jersey 08733

Phone: 732-341-8320
Email: [email protected]
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