In 2022, a group of all-star Girls with Game® from Midway Little League traveled from their home fields in Hewitt, Texas, to Greenville, North Carolina, where they not only made memories that would last a lifetime, but also clinched the Little League Softball® World Series (LLSWS) Championship – their fourth in two decades.
When they returned, they received a champions’ welcome from a community known for its dedication to youth sports. Since then, capitalizing on the team’s success on the field, the league has seen growth in registration numbers both for the regular and Fall Ball seasons as they continue to strengthen their program to be a place for players of all skill levels to play the games they love.
To learn more about the work that Midway LL is doing within its community, Little League® sat down with Todd Ivy, League President, and Rebecca Smith, Softball Vice President, for a Local League Spotlight, a series of content created to help other leagues learn from each other’s success stories.
Building Your Community
Rebecca Smith (RS): Our community’s location is unique because we sit between Hewitt and Waco, and Midway is our school district, so our name comes from there rather than an actual “Midway” city. The Midway community is really strong and supports the Little League program, which is why we have success. Families sign up their kids and want to play throughout the season, and then in the summer, when tournament season begins. We have a very invested community that follows our All-Star teams and comes out to the games.
- To help offset some of the costs associated with running the program, Midway LL hosts fundraisers throughout the season, which have also helped with complex enhancements, including a new lighting system. The fundraisers bring the community together, relying on donations to put the event on and create a memorable night of fun. Last season, they hosted a “family night,” which brought everyone together to enjoy food trucks, raffle prizes, and Little League games.
Capitalizing on Big Wins
Todd Ivy (TI): Success through the Little League International Tournament has definitely had a positive impact. We saw an increase in registration following our softball team’s run in the 2022 Little League Softball World Series. But, I think even more than registration, people remembered the history of the league and our past wins in the World Series tournaments. I think the community felt the nostalgia and remembered the historic strength of the program and started coming back by registering their kids to play, signing up as volunteers, or just attending games and being a part of the community.
RS: We had the biggest Fall Ball registrations that we ever had the fall after both our baseball and softball teams competed in the Southwest Region tournament in 2025. So, I do think there was a direct impact there.
Growing Your Softball Program
RS: We have a successful high school program, and while our Little League program sees fewer numbers as the girls get closer to the Majors Division, what we have been able to do is give our girls a shot on the All-Star teams before moving on to the high school program. It can be harder to keep the older players in the league because not as many people are staying in rec leagues in the older divisions, but with our history of World Series and Region tournament appearances, especially recently, it motivates these girls to want to have the All-Star experience and stay in the program. With more of the games being broadcast on TV and the fun traditions we have tied to our All-Star teams, even if they don’t make it as far, kids want to stay and have a shot at playing in the summer. It is a very fun time for them and creates lifelong memories. Outside of All-Stars, we also just run a strong program that makes sure it is fun for everyone, whether they are the best on the team or there because they love playing with their friends.
Recruiting Volunteers
TI: Each age level tends to have three or four parents who really want to be involved and play a bigger role. I try to get with those parents earlier in their time as volunteers so they can help us recruit for their division and the ones below them as new parents sign their kids up, especially at the Tee Ball level. We really like to keep those three or four parents active beyond practice and games, since we also usually lose a couple of parents as coaches as their kids grow older and play in the higher divisions of play. So, really, it is about getting with the Tee Ball and Coach Pitch volunteers and letting them know that we need them and that there is a role for them as their player gets older.
To learn more about the Little League program and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org.
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