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September 5, 2022 SPORTS Little League participation on the rise post-COVID-19 By Max Ralph The Associated Press S OUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Little League International said participation in its baseball and softball leagues was up this season, and team managers are optimistic about another bump next year coming off the first full-scale Little League World Series since the pandemic. After the number of participating teams dropped 7% from 2020 to 2021, mostly because of COVID-19, the organization saw a 17% rebound this season, Little League spokesman Kevin Fountain told The Associated Press. Little League’s baseball and softball programs now reach approximately 2 million children in 80 countries, he said. The growth comes amid a push by Major League Baseball to reach young fans by encouraging bat flips and engaging them on TikTok, among other initiatives. This year’s Little League World Series (LLWS) was the first since 2019 to include international teams. The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19, and only American teams competed last year. Australia’s representative in the Williamsport area in August was the first LLWS team to come from Brisbane North Little League in Queensland. They were eliminated after two games but still hope to have made an impact Down Under. “Hopefully what we’ve done here will encourage more and more boys and girls to play,” Australia manager Keith Land said. “Back home, we’ve already had our sign-ons for the next season, and numbers in our region have just blown up. Everyone wants to play again because they’ve read this story.” Youth baseball participation in the U.S. was steadily increasing pre-pandemic, according to annual surveys from 2013 to 2018 by the Sports Fitness & Industry Association. The Aspen Institute also reported a 3% increase in participation among 6- to 12-year-olds between 2015 and 2018. The surge appears to have resumed, and not just in the U.S. “I’m sure we’ll see a spike in registrations,” Canada manager Ulysses Yan said. “From what I hear back home, it’s all over the news, and people are following and loving it across the country. Just want to hopefully promote NWSL’s first free agency period opens with controversy By Anne M. Peterson THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13 Welcome Home! Knights of Pythias Active Retirement Center 3409 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 Phone: (360) 696-4375 Website: www.koprc.com Options for seniors 62 + and under 62 with disability LITTLE LEAGUERS. Honolulu’s Esaiah Wong slides into home plate ahead of a tag by Curacao catcher Emery Hansen during the Little League World Series Championship baseball game in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on August 28, 2022. Participation in Little League baseball and softball was up this season. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar) baseball in Canada.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, even a local American team making a trip to South Williamsport boosted interest. Hollidaysburg, a town of about 6,000 just 124 miles away from the Little League World Series complex, represented the Mid-Atlantic Region this year. It was the first team from Hollidaysburg in LLWS history, and it won three games before getting knocked out by Texas. “We’re talking to a lot of different people that have younger kids and kids that are 1 and 2 years old. Boys, girls — all sorts of different people that are excited to come and be a part of this and see that the dream is possible,” Hollidaysburg manager Jim McGough said. “We’re excited to get home when everything’s finished and help the next group to be able to have this dream as well.” Editor’s note: The Honolulu team from Hawai‘i won the Little League World Series Championship game, defeating Curacao 13-3 on August 28, 2022. Writer Max Ralph is a Penn State journalism student. Subsidized and affordable Private Pay Rates Call or e-mail for more information: (360) 696-4375 or lori@koprc.com We offer options for a lunch meal, housekeeping and laundry. Centrally located in uptown Vancouver, WA Wondering when our next issue is published? Sign up for e-alerts at <news@asianreporter.com>! STAYCATION Find a place, then make time to make it yours. Get started with an affordable home loan. AP Sports Writer T he National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) opened its first free agency period last month amid a dispute over which players are qualified. Players with expiring contracts and at least six years of service are eligible for free agency for the first time under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The NWSL put out a list of 26 free agents, including national team players Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn. Teams are allowed to negotiate with available players but cannot officially sign them until November 15. But the NWSL Players’ Association (NWSLPA) said the list should include players with an option year on their current contracts — adding an additional 22 players. The league said those players aren’t free agents until teams exercise their options, while the NWSLPA says any player who has six years of service with a standard player agreement should qualify. “As someone who’s been in this league since Day 1, it is extremely disappointing that the league is trying to obstruct our right to free agency,” Angel City forward Jasmyne Spencer said in a statement. “Free agency was one of the most important issues that we fought for when negotiating the CBA. Players should have free autonomy over their careers.” The dispute will be worked out in arbitration this month. “In my first four months as commissioner, we have worked closely with the NWSLPA to resolve disagree- ments where possible and have had many instances where we have found solutions. However, we have always known that will not always be the outcome, particularly in a first-ever collective bargaining agreement between the parties, and that’s why labor agreements typically have neutral arbitrators to determine interpretation disputes. We look forward to the resolution of this open question in a respectful manner,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said. Member FDIC Let’s create tomorrow, together. bannerbank.com/home-loans