Batter up! Legion baseball is returning to Dartmouth

For 100 years kids across the country have competed in American Legion Baseball, and after a brief pause in its program, the Dartmouth team is returning to the pitch.

Adam Moreira decided to restart the program after he saw a need for kids to have an option to keep playing competitive baseball after the school season ended without “having to spend a lot of money.”

A summer program, American Legion Baseball gives kids the chance to play baseball outside of the regular season without having to join a travel team, which Moreira said “can be really pricey for families.”

“American Legion offers local players to play very competitive baseball for a low price,” he said.

Originally established as a veteran’s organization, American Legion Baseball was formed to help the local community, especially young men, grow and become “great gentlemen,” Moreira said.

“I remember being a kid and watching Fall River versus New Bedford Legion games, and to me it felt like the World Series,” he said.

The Dartmouth team will play against nearby teams, with the potential for competing in the state tournament and the American Legion World Series.

“The biggest thing is you’re playing for your town,” Moreira said. “You’re representing your town.”

This year, the Dartmouth team is returning with its junior program for kids ages 13 through 16, but Moreira said he hopes next year there will also be a team for the senior division.

“I’m hoping with starting it back up for this year it’ll start to gain traction and interest again in town and start to draw more talent,” he said.

Kids age out of the Dartmouth Youth Activities Association’s baseball program when they turn 16, so offering a senior division would give 17 and 18-year-olds the opportunity to continue playing baseball outside of school and before starting college, Moreira said.

“The goal is to have kids be able to keep developing if they decide to play in college and just have fun and to keep getting development for high school and beyond,” Moreira said.

“[I] just want to have everyone have an option to play,” he added.

For kids interested in joining the team, there will be open tryouts in April. More information will be available on the team’s Facebook page, Dartmouth Post 307 Baseball, when a specific date and time is decided. Questions can also be sent to dartmouthlegionbaseball@gmail.com.