By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
It has been an exceptionally busy spring for Brandon LaRosa.
And he wouldn’t want it any other way.
The president of the Zeeland Little League since 2019 has seen continued growth in participation in both its baseball and softball programs. This year, more than 1,100 kids have taken part in Little League-sponsored programs on 11 fields in the Zeeland area, ranging from 4-year-olds in T-ball to the Majors baseball and softball programs up to age 12, LaRosa said.
“Every field that you see around Zeeland – we’re on it, including all the way out to Drenthe (Grove Park),” he said.
LaRosa estimates about 800 kids have taken part in the Zeeland Little League’s baseball program this spring, while another 300 have played in its softball program.
The Little League program in Zeeland has undergone a transformation during LaRosa’s leadership. When he started, the program was largely limited to 10-to-12-year-olds, whereas the T-ball and other introductory levels were run separately by Zeeland Recreation.
“(I wanted to change the structure) so that when you get involved as a 4-year-old with T-ball, you already see what the whole program looks like, and you know the growth and structure of what my kid would be doing from (ages) 4 to 12, and just how it’s all going to be laid out,” LaRosa said.
Now, the Little League program begins with T-ball and coach-pitch leagues for beginning players. The structural change has helped get more volunteer coaches involved with Little League earlier and resulted in those same coaches staying on longer. About 300 volunteers coached in the program this season, LaRosa said.
“When you get them in the door early and I can meet these guys early, and I get them to continue to coach, then they’ll coach their kids going all the way up because they enjoy the program, they enjoy what we’re doing,” LaRosa said.
“It’s getting the right people involved early and letting them understand what our culture is about, so that you have the right people involved going up, and you don’t have those situations you see going viral on the internet.”
Participation in Zeeland Little League under its current structure has grown from a little less than 800 participants in 2021 to this year’s number of more than 1,100, LaRosa said.
“I keep asking if we’re going to build any more fields, because we’re running out of space,” he said.
The growth in Zeeland Little League has taken place even as travel baseball and softball programs locally have grown in popularity. LaRosa has tried to structure Little League in such a way that accommodates kids who do want to play travel ball.
“Travel ball can be great,” he said. “I grew in Jacksonville, Fla., playing travel ball. I played a hundred games a summer and traveled all over the country. I get it. You just need to make sure you’re getting out of it what you’re putting into it.
“We structure our league so that kids who want to do travel ball can do that. And there are plenty of kids that we do lose because of travel ball tourneys that overlap. I totally understand that. I just want kids playing ball.”
The Little League softball program in Zeeland got a major facilities upgrade in 2020 with a more than $500,000 renovation of the softball field at Huizenga Park, a project that the program raised all the funding for. LaRosa says the league has a five-year plan where it is looking at opportunities for adding more fields, including the possibility of building turf fields that can be restored to playing condition after a rainfall more quickly than a grass and dirt field.
This week marks the beginning of All-Star competition, where the top players from Zeeland compete against the best players from other West Michigan Little League programs. There are six all-star teams from Zeeland this season – four for baseball (12-and-under, 11-and-under and two 10-and-under teams) and two for softball (11-and-under and 10-and-under), LaRosa said.
Zeeland Record
It has been an exceptionally busy spring for Brandon LaRosa.
And he wouldn’t want it any other way.
The president of the Zeeland Little League since 2019 has seen continued growth in participation in both its baseball and softball programs. This year, more than 1,100 kids have taken part in Little League-sponsored programs on 11 fields in the Zeeland area, ranging from 4-year-olds in T-ball to the Majors baseball and softball programs up to age 12, LaRosa said.
“Every field that you see around Zeeland – we’re on it, including all the way out to Drenthe (Grove Park),” he said.
LaRosa estimates about 800 kids have taken part in the Zeeland Little League’s baseball program this spring, while another 300 have played in its softball program.
The Little League program in Zeeland has undergone a transformation during LaRosa’s leadership. When he started, the program was largely limited to 10-to-12-year-olds, whereas the T-ball and other introductory levels were run separately by Zeeland Recreation.
“(I wanted to change the structure) so that when you get involved as a 4-year-old with T-ball, you already see what the whole program looks like, and you know the growth and structure of what my kid would be doing from (ages) 4 to 12, and just how it’s all going to be laid out,” LaRosa said.
Now, the Little League program begins with T-ball and coach-pitch leagues for beginning players. The structural change has helped get more volunteer coaches involved with Little League earlier and resulted in those same coaches staying on longer. About 300 volunteers coached in the program this season, LaRosa said.
“When you get them in the door early and I can meet these guys early, and I get them to continue to coach, then they’ll coach their kids going all the way up because they enjoy the program, they enjoy what we’re doing,” LaRosa said.
“It’s getting the right people involved early and letting them understand what our culture is about, so that you have the right people involved going up, and you don’t have those situations you see going viral on the internet.”
Participation in Zeeland Little League under its current structure has grown from a little less than 800 participants in 2021 to this year’s number of more than 1,100, LaRosa said.
“I keep asking if we’re going to build any more fields, because we’re running out of space,” he said.
The growth in Zeeland Little League has taken place even as travel baseball and softball programs locally have grown in popularity. LaRosa has tried to structure Little League in such a way that accommodates kids who do want to play travel ball.
“Travel ball can be great,” he said. “I grew in Jacksonville, Fla., playing travel ball. I played a hundred games a summer and traveled all over the country. I get it. You just need to make sure you’re getting out of it what you’re putting into it.
“We structure our league so that kids who want to do travel ball can do that. And there are plenty of kids that we do lose because of travel ball tourneys that overlap. I totally understand that. I just want kids playing ball.”
The Little League softball program in Zeeland got a major facilities upgrade in 2020 with a more than $500,000 renovation of the softball field at Huizenga Park, a project that the program raised all the funding for. LaRosa says the league has a five-year plan where it is looking at opportunities for adding more fields, including the possibility of building turf fields that can be restored to playing condition after a rainfall more quickly than a grass and dirt field.
This week marks the beginning of All-Star competition, where the top players from Zeeland compete against the best players from other West Michigan Little League programs. There are six all-star teams from Zeeland this season – four for baseball (12-and-under, 11-and-under and two 10-and-under teams) and two for softball (11-and-under and 10-and-under), LaRosa said.
Kamer Named Honorable Mention All-State
Zeeland West junior catcher Bri Kamer was recently named a Division 1 honorable mention All-State player by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.
Kamer hit .447 for the Dux this past spring with 37 RBIs. Of her 38 hits, she had eight doubles, a triple and a home run. She had an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.100.
Defensively, Kamer threw out 11 baserunners attempt to steal in 32 attempts for a percentage of 34.4%, and picked off two other runners. She caught 137-1/3 innings during the season.
West finished the season with a record of 18-12, 10-2 in the O-K Black Conference.
Kamer hit .447 for the Dux this past spring with 37 RBIs. Of her 38 hits, she had eight doubles, a triple and a home run. She had an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.100.
Defensively, Kamer threw out 11 baserunners attempt to steal in 32 attempts for a percentage of 34.4%, and picked off two other runners. She caught 137-1/3 innings during the season.
West finished the season with a record of 18-12, 10-2 in the O-K Black Conference.
2026-27 MHSAA Officials Registration Underway
By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online for game officials for the 2026-27 school year.
The MHSAA registered 9,330 officials for the 2025-26 school year, an increase of 4.9 percent from the previous year’s total.
All officials who register may sign up for up to two sports as part of their registration. Officials also will receive membership in the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), which comes with a variety of educational and training resources and the NASO’s Shield liability insurance that will provide $6 million in coverage for officials while they are working both MHSAA and non-MHSAA events.
For new and returning officials, a $70 fee covers registration for up to two sports. Officials may register for additional sports at $16 per sport.
To avoid a $30 late fee, all fall sport registration applications must be received by Aug. 17. Winter sports registrations must be received by Nov. 16 to avoid the late fee, and spring sports registrations must be received by March 24, 2027.
Online registration can be accessed on the Officials page. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 332-5046 or by e-mail at register@ mhsaa.com.
New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2025-26 must complete an officials' registration test, derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook, and the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Links to the Officials Guidebook, Principles of Officiating presentation and the football and basketball mechanics manuals can be found on the “New Officials” link on the Officials page of the MHSAA website and completing the registration process.
While on MHSAA.com to register for the upcoming school year, officials also can register for Officiate Michigan Day 2026, set for July 25 in Grand Rapids.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the first session at 9 a.m. at DeVos Place. The day-long event will feature dynamic speakers and presenters providing knowledge in several sports and all levels including collegiate and professional.
Cost is $45 if officials register by the end of June, and $50 beginning July 1. Visit MHSAA.com/ OMD for more information.
MHSAA.com senior editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online for game officials for the 2026-27 school year.
The MHSAA registered 9,330 officials for the 2025-26 school year, an increase of 4.9 percent from the previous year’s total.
All officials who register may sign up for up to two sports as part of their registration. Officials also will receive membership in the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), which comes with a variety of educational and training resources and the NASO’s Shield liability insurance that will provide $6 million in coverage for officials while they are working both MHSAA and non-MHSAA events.
For new and returning officials, a $70 fee covers registration for up to two sports. Officials may register for additional sports at $16 per sport.
To avoid a $30 late fee, all fall sport registration applications must be received by Aug. 17. Winter sports registrations must be received by Nov. 16 to avoid the late fee, and spring sports registrations must be received by March 24, 2027.
Online registration can be accessed on the Officials page. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 332-5046 or by e-mail at register@ mhsaa.com.
New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2025-26 must complete an officials' registration test, derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook, and the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Links to the Officials Guidebook, Principles of Officiating presentation and the football and basketball mechanics manuals can be found on the “New Officials” link on the Officials page of the MHSAA website and completing the registration process.
While on MHSAA.com to register for the upcoming school year, officials also can register for Officiate Michigan Day 2026, set for July 25 in Grand Rapids.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the first session at 9 a.m. at DeVos Place. The day-long event will feature dynamic speakers and presenters providing knowledge in several sports and all levels including collegiate and professional.
Cost is $45 if officials register by the end of June, and $50 beginning July 1. Visit MHSAA.com/ OMD for more information.
