NORTH VINELAND LITTLE LEAGUE ROTARY CENTER
CHALLENGER LEAGUE DIVISION
North West Avenue and Wheat Road Vineland, New Jersey


In 1990,Vineland Rotary Club President, Dr. Albert Marsh, challenged the club to construct an all-purpose handicapped accessible club house at the North Vineland Little League, Dr. Charles Cunningham Park, so that any mentally or physically handicapped boys and girls, ages 5 to 18 years old, could have the opportunity to play baseball.

In February 2004, fourteen (14) years later, ground was broken for the construction of a 40’x 136’ building consisting of a meeting room, office, equipment room, concession stand, and bathrooms, all handicapped accessible.

Vineland Rotarians, Charles Parrish and Luigi Tramontana Sr., chaired the construction of the project. Contributions of money and gift in kinds came from the Vineland Rotary Club, Dr. Albert Marsh (in memory of his wife, Angela) and local businesses, along with many other contributions from the community. Fellow Rotarian, Glenn Kahley, donated his time and talent as the architect for the project.

In April 2005, the Vineland Rotary Club, in keeping with Dr. Marsh’s dream, was complete and dedicated as The North Vineland Little League Rotary Center. The total cost was in excess of $400,000.00. In April 2008, three (3) years later, two Challenger League baseball teams, Delgado Electric and Dondero Jewelry with 32 kids, played their first game.

 

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Established by Little League baseball in 1989, the challenger program enables physically and mentally challenged boys and girls ages 5 through 18 to enjoy the game of baseball with children the same age or ability. Games will be held at The Rotary Center, a handicapped accessible facility, located at Cunningham Park, West Avenue & Wheat Road, consists of handicapped accessible restrooms and locker rooms, a meeting room, kitchen and concession stand area, restrooms and storage space.

Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age and can include as many as 15-20 players who can participate in one of three levels: Tee-Ball, Coach-Pitch or Player-Pitch. Each player gets a chance at bat. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, when a predetermined number of runs have been scored, or when three outs are recorded. Little League recommends that no score be kept during games. The Challenger players wear the same uniforms and safety equipment as other Little League players.

The Challenger League will be available to all mentally and physically challenged youth in Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem & Atlantic County. Player Registrations Are Free and Accepted Year-Round.

We look forward to each coming year to have more kids, families and volunteers involved in this very worthwhile project. If interested, please call Luigi Tramontana Sr. at 856-691-2442 or Joe Delgado at 609-381-0450 for more information. 

Click Here to Learn More About the Challenger League