For generations of young baseball players in Greenbelt, spring and summer evenings at the ballpark have meant much more than wins and losses. At Greenbelt Little League, the focus remains centered on development, teaemwork, sportsmanship and giving every child an opportunity to grow both on and off the field.
Founded in 1951, Greenbelt Little League recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, and continues a long-standing tradition of youth baseball in the community. The league serves players ages 3 to 15 and currently features 20 teams across four official divisions: Tee Ball, Minors (subdivided by skill into coach-pitch, machine-pitch, and kid-pitch), Majors, Intermediate and Juniors.
Games and practices are played across five fields in Greenbelt: McDonald Field, Braden 1 (Juniors) and Braden 2 (Intermediate, Majors and Minors), Braden 3 (Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch), McDonald (Majors and Minors) and Schrom (Coach Pitch and Tee Ball) along with Driskell Park in Hyattsville (Machine Pitch). All these fields have become gathering places for local families throughout the baseball season.
For many seasons, the league operated independently and then in 2018 voted to join the Little League International organization. Little League offered more structure and allowed for a focus on player development over the prior focus on competition, said Ben Friedman, the league’s information officer and head coach of the Greenbelt Cubs Juniors team. Today, each division uses a player draft system that allows coaches to build balanced rosters while ensuring every player receives opportunities to contribute throughout the season.
“Every player is given opportunities to bat and play in the field,” said Friedman. “The goal is to keep kids engaged in baseball while creating fair opportunities for everyone involved.” Teams typically consist of 12 to 14 players, allowing coaches to balance instruction, development and playing time. The league’s structure also introduces players to progressively more advanced levels of baseball as they get older.
The Divisions
The Minors Division focuses on players under 10 years old and uses machine pitch to help athletes develop hitting and fielding skills before transitioning into full kid-pitch competition. The Majors Division, for players ages 10 to 12, continues player development with increased competition. Intermediate Division players, generally ages 11 to 13, compete on fields featuring 70-foot basepaths and a 50-foot pitching distance, while the Juniors Division introduces players ages 13- to 15 to full-size baseball fields.
The Postseason
As the regular season wrapped up on May 19, teams have now shifted their focus toward postseason play. According to Friedman, Greenbelt Little League will send one team from each division into district tournament competition with hopes of advancing through states and regionals, and eventually the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Greenbelt will also host postseason baseball this summer. Friedman confirmed that Braden 2 will host the 10U (10 and under) tournament beginning June 27, with up to five teams expected to participate.
“Depending on the number of teams, the tournament could run four days,” Friedman said. “Hosting events like that is important because it brings the community together and gives our players a chance to experience tournament baseball close to home.”
The Lessons
For Chris Hurst, head coach of the Yard Goats Intermediate team, youth baseball teaches lessons that extend well beyond the game itself. Hurst, who has coached Little League baseball for four years, believes the sport teaches accountability, resilience and confidence. “The players who work really hard are the players who are going to be the most successful,” Hurst said. That’s something that’s applicable wherever they are in life.
A teacher by profession, Hurst said coaching allows him to combine his love for baseball with his passion for education. “There’s really nothing better than the opportunity to teach baseball,” Hurst said. “You’ve got a bunch of energetic kids who want to compete and be a part of a team. It’s fun to see them get better every day.”
He also emphasizes the importance of outdoor activity in a generation increasingly surrounded by screens and technology. “It’s important that they get outside, play hard, get sweaty, feel the sun and breathe fresh air,” Hurst said. “That experience matters.”
Improved Facilities
The league has also benefited from major facility improvements in recent years. In 2024, the City of Greenbelt invested millions of dollars into upgrades at Braden 1 and Braden 2, including new stadium lights, upgraded fencing, covered dugouts and turf grass installations.
Hurst praised the city’s commitment to supporting youth baseball and said the upgrades have dramatically improved practice and game opportunities.
“The support from the City of Greenbelt has been enormous,” he said. “The new fields make the kids feel respected and excited to wear Greenbelt across their chest. From a coaching perspective, we’ve had more opportunities for practices and games, and the players have improved because of it.”
As Greenbelt Little League continues its decades-long tradition, league officials and coaches remain focused on creating an environment where young athletes can develop skills, build friendships and create lasting memories through baseball.
Cam Crossett is a graduate student at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the Greenbelt News Review.
