Hallettsville Little League: Enjoying success over the years

  • Rylee Trilcek, Hallettsville Alum., former pitcher University of Florida, threw out the first pitch this past Saturday to open up the little league season. photo by Charles Joseph Anthony Grafe
    Rylee Trilcek, Hallettsville Alum., former pitcher University of Florida, threw out the first pitch this past Saturday to open up the little league season. photo by Charles Joseph Anthony Grafe

    The opening day of the Hallettsville Little League season was held this past Saturday, March 23 and marked the 64th year for the baseball side of the program and the 50th year for softball competition.

    The two programs have come a long way since their origins and has become well known throughout the area and the state in producing very competitive teams as well as a wealth of baseball/softball talent.

    The two leagues have enjoyed its success in all-star competition by winning a number of area, zone and district championships as well as competing in the Texas State Little League and sectional tournaments.

    In 1989 and 1991, the 12U Major League All-Star baseball teams advanced to the state tournament in Waco, while last year’s 12U Major League team fell to Needville in finals of the sectional tournament.

    Needville went on to play for the national championship in the Little League World Series before they lost to a California team, who eventually won the World Series title.

    Some of the softball teams also enjoyed a great deal of success and at Saturday’s opening ceremonies, the 10U Softball team was recognized for winning back-to-back Little League East State championships.

    Also recognized were the Junior and Senior League Softball teams from 2004, 2005, 2006, who advanced to the World Series for three consecutive years.

    In addition to the team successes, the leagues have been the foundation for turning out state championship teams in baseball and softball at both Hallettsville and Sacred Heart Catholic High Schools over those years.

    The two programs have been the training ground for a number of the skilled athletes who have gone on to extend their talents by playing for various colleges as well as a few of the young men playing on the professional baseball level.

    At Saturday’s opening day ceremonies one of the athletes who came up through the Hallettsville Little League program, was Rylee Trlicek. She threw out the first pitch to kickoff the 2024 season.

    Rylee’s softball success is well documented where she helped lead the Lady Brahma softball team reach the state-finals at the UIL State 3A Softball Tournament in 2019.

    In 2022, while playing for the Florida Gators, Rylee helped them advance to the NCAA College Softball World Series.

    Prior to 1960, the number of young boys wishing to play baseball locally were limited to about 15 players with the town hosting one team who competed by traveling to surrounding towns for their games.

    When organizers met at that time, it was decided to form a league consisting of four major league teams for ages 10 to 12.

    There were no other age levels for the boys and because softball was not a popular sport, Little League softball did not exist.

    It would be safe to say that when those organizers met to form the local Little League baseball and softball leagues, they would not have envisioned what it would become in later years.

    The prog r a m h a s grown by leaps and b o u n d s and this year’s Little League president, Robin Threadgill said they had a total registration with over 430 ballplayers sign up to play this season. She said the league fields 41 different teams ranging from T-ball to Junior League in both baseball and softball.

    Threadgill credits the community for the success of the Hallettsville Little League and the ability to maintain and improve the fields and facilities for both players and spectators.

    “The success of our Little League truly belongs to the people of Hallettsville. We are grateful to all coaches, parent volunteers, field workers, and business supporters for their part in creating a place where our youth can learn the game of baseball or softball on beautiful fields. It takes a village, and we have the best,” Threadgill said.

    Now with the start of the season, there will be plenty of baseball and softball action to take in locally.

    Any evening Monday through Friday games will be played, so go out and watch these young boys and girls display their talent for learning to play two great sports, baseball and softball.