Princeton NJ Family Feature Press Releases

Princeton Youth Baseball Expands To Include Princeton-Cranbury Babe Ruth

 (Princeton, NJ) — The Princeton Youth Baseball Association (PYBA) and the leadership of Princeton-Cranbury Babe Ruth have joined forces to provide an improved baseball experience for the Greater Princeton Area youth.  PYBA is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization committed to developing a range of positive, effective player development programs for the area’s boys and girls of all ages and skill levels.
 
Upon completing their final year of Little League eligibility at the age of 12, players can now experience a smooth transition to the next level of community-based recreational and competitive baseball.  “During my 10 years of experience with youth baseball in Princeton, there unfortunately has always been a gap between the Little League program and the logical next step,” says Rick Hrabchak, president of Princeton-Cranbury Babe Ruth and long-time Trustee and former Treasurer of PYBA.  “We believe that this has been a disservice to the community.  Now, we are removing that uncertainty and confusion and offering players and their families a seamless transition to the next level, Babe Ruth Baseball, through the same baseball organization.”
 
Kurt Marttila, President of the Princeton Youth Baseball Association, which includes Princeton Little League and Princeton Girls Softball, sees this coordination of baseball programs as a way to foster a continued relationship among players and coaches and to eliminate unnecessary stresses and burdens on players and their families. “We know that our 12 and 13-year-olds are already facing significant changes, dealing with constant developments in their peer groups, attending bigger or different schools, and developing new talents and areas of interest.  Our hope is to provide continuity to their baseball experience, as well as to set the stage for improved recreational and competitive baseball and softball at all levels in the Princeton area.”
 
The PYBA Board of Trustees has recently implemented a number of changes aimed at improving the overall experience for its players, managers, coaches and families.  “We’ve been very pleased with our progress over the past few years,” says Marttila. “Ours is a completely volunteer-run organization, and I really cannot say enough about our volunteers – those serving on the Board, the managers and coaches, the many parents and siblings who have provided invaluable support with things like field maintenance and our concessions operations.”  By combining some of the administrative and back-office duties, the leagues hope to streamline their operations, improve communications and make more coordinated, strategic decisions regarding baseball and softball in the community.  
 
REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING SEASON IN ALL LEAGUES IS NOW OPEN!  Visit the websites below for more information.

About PYBA: The Princeton Youth Baseball Association is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization serving the families of the greater Princeton area by providing baseball and softball programs for almost 500 girls and boys from 5 to 15 years old.  PYBA’s primary goals are to encourage good sportsmanship, develop playing skills and teamwork, and teach the rules of the game to encourage a life-long enjoyment of our nation’s pastime.  PYBA regularly utilizes playing facilities at Grover Park, Farmview Fields, Community Park, Marquand Park, Greenway Meadows, and Hilltop Park.
 
Princeton Youth Baseball Association is an umbrella organization overseeing the following programs:
 
Princeton Little League Baseball offers recreational baseball programs for boys and girls aged 5-12.  We are committed to making our program enjoyable and instructional. Our focus is on teaching the fundamentals of the game, as well as good sportsmanship.  www.princetonlittleleague.com <https://www.princetonlittleleague.com>
 
Princeton Girls Softball, also chartered by Little League Baseball International, offers recreational softball programs for girls from the ages of 5-15. We are committed to making our program both enjoyable as well as instructional. The teaching of softball fundamentals along with good sportsmanship is stressed. www.princetonsoftball.org <https://www.princetonsoftball.org>
 
Princeton-Cranbury Babe Ruth League (PCBRL) is the next stop after the Princeton Little League Baseball and Cranbury-Plainsboro Little League Baseball, offering recreational and competitive baseball programs in two divisions: the 13-Prep program, designed to ease the players' introduction to the larger (60/90) field; and the Majors division for 14-15 year olds.  www.leaguelineup.com/pcbrl <https://www.leaguelineup.com/pcbrl>
 
Contacts:

Kurt Marttila, President, Princeton Youth Baseball Association: 609-213-4939; kurt.marttila@gmail.com

Richard Hrabchak, President, Princeton-Cranbury Babe Ruth Division of PYBA: 973-632-6422; hrabchak@hotmail.com <mailto:hrabchak@hotmail.com>
 
Jon Durbin, Information Officer, Princeton Little League: (609) 924-2438; jonwdurbin@gmail.com