Taneytown youth leagues report high participation, lower fees and fundraising; homecoming planned for Oct. 11

Chris Deal, the football director for the FSK Junior Eagles, told the Taneytown Athletic Association meeting in September that more than 140 children signed up this year, allowing the organization to field seven teams. He said registration was lowered to $200 this season to reduce costs for families and that volunteer and sponsor support increased.

The change in fee appears to have helped participation, Deal said: “We’ve had over 140 kids sign up, and we were able to have 7 teams.” He said the program has more than 22 coaches and highlighted cooperation with the Taneytown High School coaching staff; he named Coach Cunningham as regularly assisting the 13-and-under squad.

Deal described new sideline equipment paid for by sponsors — canopies for wet days and a player “tunnel” used on game days — and said the league receives raffle proceeds at home games, typically between about $300 and $500 per event. He said the association had “probably had close to $20,000 in sponsors this year” and spent about $18,000 on equipment.

Association members discussed safety and on-site medical coverage. Deal said the Carroll County league does not require a medic on site but that the club arranges for a local medic, Craig Bear, to attend at least older youth games as a best practice. He also described occasional police visits that have helped manage dispersal after late games.

Softball and cheer reports followed. A representative identified as Stephanie said softball has four recreational teams (roughly 60 girls) in age groups 8, 10, 14 and high school, plus three travel teams (10U, 13U and 18U). She said the travel 18U team’s first tournament is at the Westminster Sports Complex and that softball applied for a self-help grant with a submission date noted as Sept. 24.

Tisha Tracy Miller, reporting for Tony Tom Baseball, said the fall baseball season had about 90 children registered across T-ball and 8U–14U teams. She said many teams play in the Frederick County League and that the organization is trialing a 14U team in a York County league. Miller said a “Zombie Fest” tournament will use all fields the first weekend in October and that organizers will erect a temporary orange construction fence around the T-ball field for that event.

Facility and scheduling issues were discussed. Staff said that fields and storage remain tight and that groups are sharing space; the city can supply combination locks but asked organizations not to change combinations so maintenance crews can access equipment and fields. Association staff also noted outstanding facility tasks — field paint and a building back door — and said some remaining funds need to be used by June 30 next year.

The association finished by identifying a homecoming committee and asking for community involvement for the Oct. 11 homecoming event. The group’s next meeting was set for Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.