OCCR to merge with Montgomery Little League

By Kyle Adams
Posted 3/10/21

Orange County Cal Ripken League, based out of Bradley Park in Walden, announced that the league intends to merge with Montgomery Little League. The move was initiated by Montgomery Little League and …

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OCCR to merge with Montgomery Little League

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Orange County Cal Ripken League, based out of Bradley Park in Walden, announced that the league intends to merge with Montgomery Little League. The move was initiated by Montgomery Little League and the Town of Montgomery Recreation Department.
In an email and Facebook post to the league’s families, OCCR cited the declining enrollment numbers as the primary reason it engaged in the discussions to merge.
“As our board took the idea under consideration, we had to deal with some difficult realities. The most significant being the meager enrollment in our league and the strong numbers of theirs,” the statement read.
In total, OCCR had 36 players registered for the 2021 spring season at the time the discussions begun with the Montgomery League. According to Jenn Bissinger, Montgomery’s league President, they are hoping to return to similar numbers that they saw in 2019, prior to dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak.
“Montgomery Little League is excited to join efforts and to work with the OCCR Board and community for Spring 2021,” Bissinger said. “We have expanded our boundaries over the last five years to include all residents in the Town of Montgomery, including all students who attend a school in the town.”

Out of OCCR’s 36 enrolled players, most of them are between the ages of five and eight. While their league’s borders are much larger than Montgomery’s, there is some flexibility when for players in the younger divisions. Montgomery would be able to take in any OCCR player age eight or younger, regardless of where they live.
For those players who are of “All-Star Age,” they would need to live within the borders of the Little League or attend a school that is within those boarders.
“OCCR and MLL Boards are working on getting the details organized for this coming Spring 2021. We are looking forward to providing a positive baseball experience in Montgomery for all of OCCR’s players,” Bissinger added in her statement.
OCCR has also offered refunds to those who did not want to join the Montgomery League, which is based out of Veterans Memorial Park, in the village.
“At the end of the day, it came down to what is best for the kids. Over the past few years, the market for youth baseball and softball has changed. With the current pandemic, we live in a very different time than anyone is used to. We must adjust,” OCCR’s statement continued. “Our goals in teaching the fundamentals of the game, sportsmanship and overcoming adversity are best served in a league where players can be part of a full-team, where they can get the most out of their youth baseball/ softball experience.”
While the legalities have yet to be finalized, OCCR’s Cal Ripken charter and 501-C3 status would likely be forfeited and the league’s remaining funds would be transferred to Montgomery, more than enough to cover the enrollment cost for any players who transfer leagues.
In 2016, three of OCCR’s softball teams advanced to the Babe Ruth Softball World Series, a highlight for the program, which has served young ballplayers around the county since 2011.
Over the years, a good portion of the league’s enrollment outside of Valley Central came from Pine Bush and Wallkill, as well as Newburgh and Middletown.
Registration for Montgomery Little League is still open; with plans to begin play in mid-April.