By Jay Compton

jay.compton@middlesboronews.com

 

The Pineville/Bell County Little League and the Middlesboro Little League have merged under one charter. Both boards have met and their request to merge was approved by the Little League national organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania last week.

“We no longer have a Middlesboro charter and Pineville-Bell County charter. We have one charter for Little League Baseball,” said Kristy Burnett, the treasurer for what was the Pineville-Bell County Little League. “This allows us to combine the entire county with no boundary line other than the county line. This is going to allow for more competition between our kids and provide a better feeder program for our middle school and high school teams.”

She said the merger will also give Middlesboro-Bell-Pineville more competitive teams when it comes time for the All-Star tournaments.

“Instead of a Pineville-Bell County All-Star team and a Middlesboro All-Star team showing up at the same venue, we’re all going to be playing together. It will be the best of the best representing the entire county which includes Middlesboro and Pineville,” Burnett said.

Signups for the league are open through Friday, March 22.  Forms can be picked up in Pineville at Fuson’s Sporting Goods and First State Bank’s Pineville Main location. Burnett said anyone interested can email her at kristy.burnett@ourfsb.bank and she can email the form.

Information is available on the Pineville Bell County Little League Facebook page.

Plans are for the teams to be redrafted and practices to start after Spring Break with the goal of Opening Day around the first week of May.

“We’ve got access to two great fields. We’d rather have a centralized location, but we’re going to make it work,” Burnett added.

According to the Pineville-Bell County Facebook page, children 3 to 8 years old playing Wee Ball, Tee Ball, or Coach-Pitch will play at the field closer to their home. That’s the Middlesboro Little League Field for those in the Middlesboro area and the Lone Jack fields for those in the Pineville area.

Baseball and Softball will be playing at the Middlesboro fields.

Baseball 9-12 (age by 8/31/24)

Softball. 9-12 (age by 12/31/24)

Softball 13-16 (age by 12/31/24)

Baseball 13-16 (age by 8/31/24)

Kids Coach-Pitch and up will be eligible for All-Star selection at the end of the season.