The Azalea Park Little League Story

The Azalea Park Little League was founded in 1960 by a small group of parents dedicated to the principal that there is no such thing as a bad boy, and that by channeling a boy’s natural inclination would produce a better citizen.
This was a wise action that Edwin (Luke) Lukemire, Russ Harrison, Jim Goodwin, Ida Mae Fisher, Loraine Roberts, and others did for the boys of Azalea Park. Over the years the thoughts of this group of founders has proven to be quite sound.

1961: The league was eligible for tournament play and won the Area 3 title.

1962: The league moved to Cadman Field. Major Baseball won both the Area and District 3 Championships without giving up a run.

1963: The Major Baseball All-Stars won the Area and District 3 titles without giving up a run.

1964: We won both titles again. (The Major Baseball All-Stars won the Area and District 3 titles).

1965: We started a school program for eight year Olds. We also chartered a Senior Baseball program. The Major Baseball team took the Area and District 3 titles again and went to State before being beaten.

1966: Major Baseball won the Area and District 3 titles for the fifth straight year.

1967: Well, you can’t go on winning forever.

1968: Both Major Baseball and Senior Baseball All-Stars made it to the State play-offs before being defeated.

1969: The Major Baseball All-Stars won Area and District 3 titles and made a trip to the “Little Yankees Stadium” in Ft. Lauderdale to become Co-State Champions. They traveled to Gulfport for the Southern Division Tournament but lost to Forest City, NC 1-0 in seven innings. The Senior Baseball All-Stars won Area, District 3 and went to Sectionals at the Houston “Astros” Spring Stadium before being defeated - not bad for an expansion league team. The Big League had an undefeated, outstanding year.

1970: Our luck ran out.

1971: Senior Baseball ended District 3 Runners-Up. The Big League Baseball made it to the State Tournament.

1972: Senior Baseball All-Stars made it to the finals. The Big League Baseball All-Stars caught on fire this year and won the World Series!

1973: The All-Stars were beaten in the first game.

1974: The league added the Major Girls Softball program.

1975: A Senior Softball program was started. The Senior Softball All-Stars won District 3 and went to Tampa.

1976: The Big League Baseball All-Stars were runners up for District 3. The Senior Softball All-Stars won District 3, but lost in Calahan. The league added a new concession stand at the Major Baseball field and a field was built for the girls/for softball. The Major boys placed 2nd in the City Tournament.

1977: The Senior Girls won District 3, went to Ft. Lauderdale and finished runners-up in the State All-Stars Tournament. The Major boys All-Stars lost the final game of the City Tournament. The league erected fences and dugouts for the girls’ field.

1978: The Big League Baseball All-Stars won District 3 and State. The Senior Baseball All-Stars placed 2nd in the District 3 contest. The Major Baseball All-Stars won District 3 and went to North Miami where they were defeated by District 7.


1979: The league adopted a 13 year-old All-Star team. 13 Year-old All-Stars won District 3 and placed 4th at State playoffs in Homestead. The Major Baseball All-Stars did very well this year. They had 21 hits, pitched two “no hitters” and had one home run - all in six games. They placed 3rd in District 3.

1980: The Big League Baseball All-Stars won 1st place. The 13 year-old Baseball All-Stars, the Major Baseball All-Stars and the Senior Softball All-Stars all placed 2nd in District 3 playoffs. The Major Softball All-Stars won the District 3, Section 3 and became Florida State Champions at Division 3 held in Ft. Lauderdale. They went to the Southern Regional Tournament in St. Petersburg, beating Georgia in the first game, but then lost to North Carolina by a score of 2-1.

1981: The Big League Baseball team was runners-up to Union Park. The Senior Baseball All-Stars were runners-up to Delaney Park.

1982: The Senior Baseball All-Stars, under the guidance of Wirt Ferrell and Dallas Beatty, won the District 3 Championship. They traveled to Auburndale and knocked off Belmont before losing to West Tampa in the Sectionals to finish as runners-up and 5th in the State. A Rookie Softball division (ages 6-8) was added for Softball. The Major girl’s softball field was fenced.

1983: The Senior Baseball team “Mannix Mets” won Top Team Title for District 3. The Senior Baseball All-Stars, coached by Buddy Teed and Ken Pearce, won the District 3 Championship. Then they traveled to Lakeland where they won two games before being eliminated. The Senior Baseball All-Star team had a record number of hits including three Home Runs by Mario Linares and two Home Runs by David Wellons, Doug Peters and Russell Woolums.

1984: Belk’s Sporting Goods “Cardinals” represented the Top Team for Azalea Park. The Senior Baseball All-Star team and the Major Baseball All-Star team were eliminated in the early rounds.

1985: The 13 Year-Old Baseball All-Star team won the District 3 Title and had a good showing at Sectionals. Senior Baseball All-Stars placed 2nd in District.

1986: The Senior Softball All-Star team placed 2nd in the City Tournament. Senior Baseball All-Stars placed 2nd in District 3. The 13 Year-Old Baseball All-Star team was 1st in the State of Florida and were 2nd in the Southern Region.

1987: There were many improvements made to our fields. We hosted Top Team Tournament and All-Star games, for the first time in several years, on our Major Baseball fields. Major “Giants” placed 4th in District 3. Major Baseball All-Stars placed 3rd in District 3. Senior Baseball placed 3rd in District 3. Major Softball placed 2nd in District 3.

1988 was a very good year! The Senior Baseball All-Stars, coached by Dallas and Rodney Beatty, were 1st in District 3, Regional, State and Sectionals and advanced to the Senior World Series. After eliminating all of the USA teams, they finished as National Champions and 3rd in the World! Our Top Team, the Senior Baseball “Orioles” were 1st in the City Tournament. Major Baseball All-Stars placed 3rd in District 3 for the second year in a row.

1989... the winning continues. The Major Baseball “Phillies” went undefeated through the season with a 21-0 record and continued to the Top Team Tournament managing to also go undefeated winning the District 3 Championship with a 5-0 record. The Major Baseball All-Stars won District 3 Title and continued to the final game of Sectionals taking 2nd place. The 13 year-old Baseball All-Stars also took District 3 Title and placed 3rd in Sectionals. The Senior Baseball “Royals” placed 3rd in Top Team Tournament in District 3. Senior Softball All-Stars placed Third in District 3.

1990: The 13 year-old Baseball All-Stars were District 3 Champs. The Senior Baseball All-Star team placed 4th in District 3. The Major Softball All-Star team placed 4th in District 3 and Senior Softball All-Star team placed 4th in the District 3. The Major Baseball “Orioles” placed 1st in the Top Team Tournament in District 3.


1991: Senior Baseball All-Stars came within one game of going to the World Series! Senior Baseball Top Team placed 1st in District 3. The 13 year-old Baseball All-Stars and Major Baseball All-Stars both placed 4th in District 3. Major Baseball Top Team placed 4th in District 3 as well. Once again, APLL took a step ahead by being the first league in District 3 to add a Challenger Division.

1992: Senior Baseball All-Stars made it to 3rd place in District 3. The13 year-old Baseball All-Stars and Major Baseball All-Stars placed 4th in District 3. Azalea Park Softball, for the fourth year in a row, hosted the District 3 Instructional Softball Tournament. Major Softball placed 3rd in Top Team District 3 playoffs and Senior Softball placed 4th. Major Softball All-Stars placed 2nd in District 3 and Senior Softball All-Stars placed 3rd in District 3. Big League Softball All-Stars won the Sectionals, Regionals, State and World Series! Congratulations, Erin Merritt!


1993: Senior Softball “Stealers” took 3rd in the District 3 Top Team Tournament. Major Softball “Barracudas” had an undefeated season and took 1st place in the District 3 Top Team Tournament, sweeping the tournament with a combined score of 71-12. The Major Softball All-Stars won District 3 Tournament and placed 2nd in Sectionals, losing to Tampa 1-0 in the finals. Senior Baseball “Marlins” swept the District 3 Top Team Tournament, led by pitcher Tod Ewasko. Senior Baseball All-Stars took 1st place in District 3 and continued to Osceola Stadium in Kissimmee to compete in the Senior League World Series. The team finished 8th in the World!

1994: Junior Baseball All-Stars were runners-up in District 3. Major Baseball Top Team placed 7th in District 3 and Major Baseball All-Stars placed 4th in District 3. Williamsport added 9 & 10 year-old All-Stars. The 9 & 10 year-old Baseball All-Star team was runner up in District 3 and the 9 & 10 year-old Softball team finished 3rd. Major Softball “Barracudas” did not disappoint anyone this year. Again, they won the District 3 Title. Major Softball All-Stars took 2nd place in District 3.

1995: Major Softball “Braves” finished 4th in District 3 Top Team. The 9 & 10 year-old Baseball All-Star team placed 4th in District 3. Senior Softball won the District 3 Top Team Tournament playing with only nine players. The Senior Softball All-Stars, coached by Kathy Hutchinson, won the District 3 Title, and continued to Tampa where they placed 3rd in the Sectionals.

1996: Major Baseball All-Stars finished in the top six teams this season. The 9 & 10 year-old Softball All-Star team took 2nd place to Conway in the finals of the District 3 All-Star Tourney.

1997: Major Baseball All-Stars placed 4th in District 3 and the 9-10 year-old Baseball All-Stars tied for 4th in District 3.

1998: The 9 and 11 year old Baseball Tournament was introduced. In the Top Team Tournament, District 3, Major Baseball reached the semifinal round.

1999: All Top Team & All-Star teams went out in early rounds. Fall 1999: 10th Annual Fall Fastpitch Tournament Runner-Ups.

2000: The 13-14 year-old Junior Softball team won the District 3, Top Team Tournament. A Public Address system was installed.

2001: Junior Softball District 3 Spring Fling Runner-Ups. Junior Softball District 3 Top Team Tournament Champions.

Junior Softball, ages 13 - 14 won the recent District III All-Star Championship Tournament defeating Union Park Little League in Game five by stealing home. They advanced to the State Sectional Tournament in Dade city were they placed 4th overall. What a great effort and we are so proud!!! Team members are: Lindsey Bacon, Ashley Darpino, Dayna Fisher, Megan Garcia, Tiffany Godell, Sarah Inglis, Ana Irizarry, Tiffany Katz, Brittany Maxwell, Marie Pitzer, Katie Robinson, Amanda Swarthout, Stephanie Wicks, Chris Wisotzkey. The manager for the team is Sue Wisotzkey and the coaches are Craig Swarthout and Carlos Garcia.

Junior Softball Florida Sectional 3 Participants.

2001 Fall: 12th Annual Halloween Softball Tournament Junior Softball Champions.

2002: The Azalea Park Little League 9 & 10 Year Old Baseball All-Stars won the District 3 Little League Championship with a 10-3 win over St. Cloud on July 10th. The boys had a rocky start in the tournament but jelled as a team when the games were on the line. Team members are Brian Aponte, Mitchell Colley, Corey Dehoyos, Jonathan Echevarria, Eddie Hadley, Jeremie Guzman, Danny Marin, Michael McCullough, Richie Rosario, Skyler Skersick, and Baylin Trujillo. Eddie Hadley is the team manager and the coaches are Ed Echevarria , Chris Skersick, and Joe Trujillo.

9 & 10 Year Old Baseball All-Stars are Florida Little League Section 5 Runner-Ups. APLL played Winter Springs All-Stars and lost 4 - 0.

Junior Softball District 3 Spring Fling Champions.

Junior Softball District 3 Top Team Tournament Champions.

Junior Softball All-Stars District 3 Champions.

2003: The Indians, Major Baseball, made it to the semi-finals of the District 3 Top Team Tournament losing to NOK 3-2 in the 10th inning.

The Azalea Park Little League Senior Softball Lady Gators won the District 3 Top Team Tournament with a win over the Conway Little League Brewers on June 5th. Terri O'Neal, District 3 Administrator, presented the Lady Gators with a Team Plague and the girls each received a Top Team Tournament Champion T-Shirt. The Lady Gators are Lindsey Bacon, Heather Beiner, Shaylyn Brady, Callie Davis, Dayna Fisher, Kaley Hudson, Lynnsey Lash, Dee Dee Negron, Jessica Nunez, Ivonne Pacheco, Chelsea Pettijohn, Nikki Reis, Amanda Swarthout, Sarah Swarthout, Carrie Tanner and Christine Ware. Keith Lyons is the team manager and the coaches are Ramiro Nunez, Tim Brady and Bill Beiner.

2004: Azalea Park Little League now in District 24, instead of District 3. Major Baseball “Indians” Top Team District 24 Champions.

2005: Field of Dreams Grant Program Recipient.

Congratulations to Azalea Park's 2005 Top Teams ... Major BB Braves, Major SB Suns, Junior BB Cardinals, Senior BB Indians, Senior SB Eagles

2005 District 24 Tournament of Champions Winners – Senior Softball Eagles.

2006: Field of Dreams Grant Program Recipient.

Senior Softball Tournament of Champions (TOC) District 24 Runner-Ups.

2007: Congratulations to Azalea Park’s Top Teams: Majors Baseball: Yankees and A's (they are sending 2 teams this year), Junior Baseball: Yankees, Senior Baseball: Mets

2008:

2009: Congratulations to Azalea Park's "Top Teams" ... Major BB – Pirates, Junior BB – Giants, Senior BB – Diamondbacks

Azalea Park played really well Monday night (6-1-09) and it was a nail biter! It came down to that final out ... it was 6 (AP) to 5 (UP) in the bottom of the 7th. A UP player on first with 2 outs and 2 strikes on the batter, the UP player on 1st steals, then the ball gets thrown about a bit only to end up at home with AP's Catcher, Andrew, putting the tag on the UP runner at home for the third out! Ty Bussart pitched the first five innings and he only gave up one run! Azalea Park D-Backs played a great game!!
CONGRATULATIONS Azalea Park D-Backs Players ... and Coaches and Parents ... on being the 2009 Senior Baseball District 24 Tournament of Champion Runner-Ups!!

Junior Baseball All-Stars District 24 Runner-Ups
Senior Baseball All-Stars District 24 Runner-Ups
AP/Goldenrod Softball 9 &10 Year Olds All-Stars Section 5 3rd Place
AP/Goldenrod Softball 9 &10 Year Olds All-Stars District 24 Champions
AP/NOK Softball 10 & 11 Year Olds Section 5 Runner-Ups
AP/NOK Softball 10 & 11 Year Olds District 24 Champions

2010: Azalea Park Little League’s 50th Anniversary!!

Congratulations to Azalea Park's "Top Teams" ... Major BB – Dodgers, Junior BB – Brewers

Azalea Park Little League Co-Hosting, with NOK Little League, the District 24 Tournament of Champions (TOC) event.