BRENTWOOD – For generations, Brentwood had a vibrant baseball scene.
But over the decades, enrollment has dropped and organizational differences between sports leagues left America’s Pastime to the side.
Lifelong Brentwood resident Tom O’Hara is launching a campaign to revitalize the sport, especially for the hamlet’s youth.
“Thirty-five years ago, we had a robust Little League,” O’Hara told The Messenger. However, a new business model projected maintenance of the standard of players.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t happening. It was a revolving door of players and the greater Brentwood community’s sporting endeavors had changed from basketball, baseball, and football to soccer,” said O’Hara.
The worlds had been brought together, specifically with Brentwood Youth Activities (BYA), but O’Hara said, “If you’re not getting the talents, then what’s the point?”
The “hands-off” approach saw the Little League go from “bad to worse to dead,” according to O’Hara.
The BYA, for whom O’Hara had worked going back to the 1960s, was reincarnated as Brentwood Cheerleading Football (BCF).
“I wasn’t interested in fighting; we needed to collaborate,” said O’Hara. “We have a responsibility for the older kids. How can we get them [for baseball] if they’re not fielding Little League? We have a responsibility to our community.”
But O’Hara has renewed hope in the quest and now serves as President of Brentwood Baseball, formerly known as Brentwood Travel Baseball.
“Next month, we’re starting T-Ball and Little League from scratch,” said O’Hara, with the hope of coaching the younger generations to stock their long-established Travel league (ages 13-30) and the Senior Ball (ages 13-17) club at Brentwood State Park.
“We’ve been running these beautiful programs, but the ages 5-12 bracket had been overlooked [over the years]. We can’t do that anymore. Why wait for us to go into another decline? Kids deserve better.
In a letter penned to the neighborhood, Brentwood Baseball pitches itself as an organization of “residents committed to serving the community.” The board of directors has over 150 years cumulative experience with local youth baseball.
“We believe the current system is not effective, and we are motivated to implement these changes as soon as possible,” the letter reads. “Doing nothing will only accelerate decline and lead to an even bleaker future for our organization. The loss of competitive youth baseball under age 13 is already happening and will likely become permanent soon.”
The stated goal is to place “over 200 children” in the new T-Ball and Little League programs by April 1. The organization is partnering with the Brentwood Union Free School District in this mission, as well as with Perfect Game, the “country’s top baseball professional/collegiate placement company.”
“Reaching this goal with sixteen teams, Brentwood Baseball can provide training, skilled coaching, and a fun competitive environment,” reads the letter. “This effort is too great for one person or organization, so we turn to you, our friends and neighbors, and respectfully ask for your support to help us reach our goal.”
O’Hara added that the average varsity record over the last couple years is poor for the league. Of 20 games a season, Brentwood’s record is usually 1-19.
“Totally dysfunctional,” said O’Hara. “We’re going off the rails. My forty years of work would be over.”
The league’s inaugural clinic will be held from March 1-8 at Brentwood State Park.
“If we don’t work together, we don’t get anything done,” said O’Hara. To learn more about Brentwood Baseball, visit them online at brentwoodbaseball.com.
