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For 63 years, the Howard Palmetto Baseball & Softball Association (HPBSA) has been the cornerstone of Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay’s baseball community, serving generations of families as Florida’s largest recreational baseball league. Our mission remains simple: to foster a love for the game, community, and character development.
Our fall season is in full stride, and we’re thrilled to report a resounding success across all programs.
Our inaugural Sandlot Baseball program has been a standout, attracting more than 130 young athletes and almost 40 volunteers providing a nurturing environment for skill development and friendship. Meanwhile, our T-Ball Stars program has successfully reintroduced the game’s fundamentals to six teams of 4- and 5-year-olds, fostering a love for baseball in our youngest players and getting them prepared for the next level.
Our 11 elite HP Aces teams, spanning 7U to 14U divisions, are excelling in competitive play, with top performers poised to return to the top of their class in Spring 2025. Additionally, softball has made a triumphant return, with 18 teams participating across 8U, 10U, and 11+ age divisions – a remarkable resurgence after a multi-year hiatus.
As we look to the future, we’re excited to unveil several upgrades that will enhance our players’ and coaches’ experience. Two new fields at Chapman Park are slated for completion by January, providing a foundation for further growth and more time for practice. The smaller field will be utilized by our youngest players in the two Atom Divisions, while the larger multi-purpose field will serve Bantam, Midget, and Juvenile divisions.
To complement our new fields, we’re expanding our training offerings through partnerships with local facilities. Our players will gain access to batting skills training and defensive clinics, while our dedicated all-volunteer coaches will receive specialized training and support. We’re also thrilled to announce that Chick-fil-A will assist reviving our concession stand at Suniland Park, providing convenient, quality food options for families to enjoy on-site.
For Spring 2025, we’re enforcing HPBSA draft rules for softball, ensuring equal competition and unique community-building opportunities. This format allows one coach, assistant coach, and their children to form a team core, while the remaining players are drafted – a format that has been successful across all baseball divisions.
Mark your calendars and join us for two exciting opening day events: Feb. 7’s Baseball divisions’ Opening Day Party at Suniland Park and Feb. 8’s T-Ball Opening Day at Marlins Park.
We’re eager to see the Spring and Fall 2024 players and all of our incredible coaches return for a record-breaking 2025 season. With over 80 teams anticipated across 10 divisions we’re confident that this will be our best season yet.
At Howard Palmetto, we’re not just building baseball and softball players; we’re building young leaders. We teach teamwork, sportsmanship, and resilience – essential principles that extend far beyond the playing field. For parents seeking to spend quality time with their children, we provide a platform to create lifelong memories, coaching, cheering, and growing together.
We invite you to join our HPBSA community and become part of a tradition that’s been shaping South Florida’s youth for 63 years. Softball registration opens soon, while baseball registration is open now.
Sign up today or find more information at http://howardpalmetto.com/.
Ronald K. O’Brien II is President, Howard Palmetto Baseball & Softball Association.
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