West Duluth Little League Receives Grant from NWL

Duluth Minn.—The Duluth Huskies Baseball Club awarded the Western Duluth Little League Baseball Organization with the Northwoods League Foundation’s  ‘Share the Glove’ grant last week.  The grant includes $2,500 in Rawlings Youth Baseball equipment, spent between two sets of catcher’s equipment, six bats, 10 gloves, eight batting helmets, and one bucket of practice baseballs.

There were several representatives taking part in receiving the donation at Wade Stadium, and they were truly grateful for being chosen.  Michelle Kilroy is the fundraising coordinator for Western Duluth Little League.  When asked how they learned to apply for the grant, it was a simple answer.  “We found out through social media, being in close contact with the Huskies, and they’re pretty much in our backyard.”  It’s true, the Huskies are really close to the West Duluth Little League area, and to have the ability to provide their own community with something as awesome as this, goes a long way.

The Little League’s Safety Officer, Kari Bulthuis, emphasized the value that it brings to players in the organization.  She said that there are some kids that have nothing, and this grant is a way to provide them with brand new equipment to be able to play and not have to worry about the financing for it.  She also said that it’s a good way to place fundraising focuses into different areas, now that they have to worry less about equipment expenses.

Roger Peterson was another member of the board in attendance.  He emphasized the effect it will have on their youth players.  He thought back to the days when he would receive new equipment and how happy it made him, and he was glad to be able to provide their organization’s players with the same feeling.  With enthusiasm, he said, “There’s nothing like the smell of a new glove.”  Peterson noted that there are so many players with worn-down equipment, who need a new glove but can’t afford to buy one.  He believes that receiving this grant will make more playing opportunities available for kids in the community, because the majority of the equipment they must have to play will already be provided for them.

Both Kilroy, Bulthuis, and Peterson are parents to players in the organization, and believe that the Western Duluth Little League has the ability to keep growing due to the opportunity provided from this grant.  They want to thank the Northwoods League, the Duluth Huskies, and also Rawlings and the Gold Glove Foundation for making all of this possible.

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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team