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MILFORD JUNIOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SETS NEW STANDARDS

By JML News Desk, 01/24/19, 9:00AM EST

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Junior Major League spent 2018 creating a new culture.

Milford, Connecticut – Junior Major League spent 2018 creating a new culture. Under new leadership for the first time in many years, JML decided it was time to raise expectations. With over 400 players playing 300+ games, JML increased their registration and offered a better-quality product.

The league stayed busy all year with 10 weeks of winter workouts, regular season play, tournament teams, camps, Sandlot and free clinic nights.

Junior Major League took as much pride in an awesome picnic and home run derby as they did in winning their first Cal Ripken District Championship since switching over from Pony. When we asked, President John Wezenski, if winning Milford’s first Babe Ruth state title in 15 years was the highlight of his first year as president, his response was unexpected, “Winning the states was fantastic for our program, the boys worked hard and earned every win along the way, but I take just as much pride in knowing that every JML coach worked hard every time out to provide each player from T-Ball to Babe Ruth with a positive experience.”

For the first time ever, Junior Major League proudly partnered with the recreation department to organize the Milford Royals Baseball team for special needs children. Providing them with their own “home field” and a great experience was a highlight of the 2018 season.

When asked to grade the 2018 season. Wezenski said “I give the players, coaches and parents an A.” While he wouldn’t provide a grade for the league, he did say, “we are going to keep working hard to provide a quality product for the baseball players of Milford and we will keep raising expectations so that every player (ages 3-18) improves their skills and becomes a better person along the way.”

The players seem to like the increase in expectations. A player from the 13u state championship team said, “we won because we worked harder and prepared better than our opponents. Now we have to stick together and work even harder to reach the 2019 World Series.” A 12-year-old player chimed in with this comment, “Pressure is on us next year to repeat as champs, that’s okay, we like the pressure.”

So, what’s in store for 2019? “A lot,”

Wezenski said, “a new website, phone app, increased focus on player instruction, the addition of a coach pitch division, travel teams and hosting Cal Ripken 10u states and 8u regionals for the first time ever.”