By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Starting in the spring of 2025, children and families across Greater Essex County will have a new option for community baseball. Lakeside Little League, a newly formed umbrella organization, will serve communities from Belle River to Kingsville, Leamington, Tilbury, and Essex, offering a more streamlined approach to youth baseball.
By uniting the region under one league, Lakeside Little League aims to create organizational and financial efficiencies that will make the sport both more competitive and affordable for local players.
Lakeside Little League offers programs for children starting as young as four years old, with its “Learn to Play” program, which introduces the basics of baseball in a fun, age-appropriate way. As kids grow, they can move through the league’s offerings, from Tee Ball for five and six-year-olds to machine-pitch Single-A for seven and eight-year-olds. Players enter the kid-pitch AA league by ages nine and ten, while 11 and 12-year-olds can compete in AAA or the Majors League.
“Little League offers a competitive environment all season, which really sets us apart from other local organizations,” says Lakeside Little League President, Kurt Barr.
“And once the kids are nine and ten, there’s potential to compete at the district and provincial levels through our All-Star teams. At ages 11 and 12, they can even compete at the national and international level in the ESPN-aired Little League World Series. It’s just a phenomenal experience from start to finish.”
In addition to its structured competition, Lakeside plans to offer quality umpiring, free skills clinics, and free training for coaches and volunteers, all through Little League International. The league will also hold a pre-season draft to balance teams by skill level, ensuring a competitive and fair environment for all players.
Lakeside is not just about the games; it has long-term plans to enhance the local baseball scene. As part of its “Play Today, Play Tomorrow” campaign, the organization is working on plans for a centralized diamond facility in Essex County.
“We feel like the county is overdue for a centralized diamond facility that will serve as a hub for baseball and community,” Barr explains.
A local architect is currently working on the ballpark complex renderings, and Lakeside is seeking donations and support from local businesses, landowners, and tradespeople to bring the project to life. “It’s a pretty cool legacy to leave,” Barr adds, encouraging community involvement.
Early bird registration for the 2025 season begins on October 15, 2024, with the season running from May to June. “If your child has never played before or if you think the Little League experience may be a better fit, we can’t wait to sign him or her up. Lakeside is all about the kids, and everyone is welcome,” says Barr.
