Writer / Christina Cochran
For generations of Center Grove and Bargersville families, Little League baseball meant more than innings, home runs and championship titles. It meant Saturday afternoons at the ballpark, friendships forged in the dugout and the excitement of seeing your name printed in the weekly league newsletter.
For siblings Chris Ryan and Alli Chance, those memories became the inspiration behind bringing Bargersville Little League back to their community after nearly 25 years.
The area’s baseball roots stretch back to the mid-1960s, when Center Grove Little League played at McNabb Fields near Mount Auburn Church before relocating to Honey Creek Fields, now Ray Skillman Park. Between 1967 and 1999, the league captured 19 District 12 All-Star championships. Its 1980 Majors team remains the only Johnson County team to win a state championship, coming within one game of advancing to the Little League World Series.
Ryan remembers those years fondly.
“I actually played in the old Center Grove Little League from ages 6 to 18, competing with many of the same friends from kindergarten through high school graduation,” he says.
He still has every jersey, but his favorite memories extend beyond the games.
“I remember hanging out at the ballpark with friends and teammates on Saturday afternoons, chasing down foul balls, pooling money for candy at the concession stand, and trying to sneak into the press box to ‘announce’ the games over the loudspeakers.”
When the original league ceased operating under its Little League charter in the early 2000s, recreational baseball continued locally, but the traditional Little League All-Star program eventually disappeared. Years later, as their own children began playing baseball, Ryan and Chance noticed families facing a familiar dilemma: remain in recreational leagues or transition exclusively to competitive travel baseball.
“We strongly believe that it doesn’t have to be one or the other,” they explain.
Determined to restore that sense of community, the siblings began pursuing a new Little League charter. The process required cooperation from neighboring Greenwood and Franklin Little Leagues, securing playing fields, purchasing equipment and recruiting volunteers.
With support from local families and businesses, Bargersville Little League officially returned.
Unlike programs centered exclusively on competitive play, the revived league welcomes children of all experience levels, from first-time players to seasoned travel athletes.
“Our goal with BLL is to provide ALL kids the same opportunity for quality development and instruction, as well as skill-appropriate gameplay,” they explain.
The inaugural season welcomed players ages 4 through 12 across three divisions, with plans to expand through age 13. Younger players enjoy instructional clinics and simplified schedules, while older divisions offer competitive games designed to complement travel baseball commitments.
The league’s first season delivered memorable victories, including an undefeated District 12 tournament run by its Minors All-Star team. The boys advanced to the state tournament in Middlebury, Indiana, ultimately finishing fifth.
Yet some of the most meaningful victories never appeared on a scoreboard.
Chance recalls a fifth grader who joined despite having no previous baseball experience. His teammates celebrated every effort, encouraging him even through strikeouts. When he finally recorded his first hit during the season’s last game, the entire team erupted.
“Hearing from his parents how happy he was and how accepted he felt reiterated why we are doing what we are doing,” Chance says.
For Ryan, a community night at Bluff Creek Church offered another reminder. Players ranging from preschoolers to teenagers gathered for baseball activities, with older athletes helping coach the youngest participants.
“It was the first event where the entire BLL community was together in one place,” he says.
Looking ahead, the siblings hope Bargersville Little League becomes a lasting home for generations of young athletes, regardless of where their baseball journeys lead.
They also hope today’s players will watch the Little League World Series and recognize that the same dream is within their reach.
Registration for the spring 2027 season, serving ages 4 through 13, is expected to open in January. Families interested in participating, volunteering or sponsoring the league can follow Bargersville Little League on Facebook or email BargersvilleLL@gmail.com.
