When the first pitch crosses home plate on Opening Day, the crowd roars, the smell of popcorn fills the air from the snack bar, and the focus is entirely on the kids. But for the small army of volunteers at Sunset Community Little League (SCLL), that moment is the culmination of months of behind the scenes hustle.
To the average observer, Little League is a springtime hobby. To the Board of Directors, it’s a year-round mission. “There really isn’t an off-season for the Board,” says Reo Long, Public Information Officer for SCLL. While families are enjoying their winter break, the board is already in the trenches. Registration opens in December, followed by a frantic January of securing volunteers and hosting evaluations. By February and March, the board is playing a high-stakes game of logistical chess, building up to 40 teams for 450 players and mapping out practice schedules across limited local fields.
The scale of the operation is immense. This spring, the league expects to field roughly 170 volunteers. Each team requires a manager, at least two coaches, a scorekeeper, and a team parent to run effectively. “The biggest behind the scenes task right now is securing enough volunteers,” Long explains, “Over 100 players registered in the final three days alone. It makes it difficult to project how many teams we’ll have. Sometimes, we have to call every single parent in a division just to find the help we need.” For those on the fence about volunteering, Long offers a reassuring perspective: “Most parents are hesitant because of work or not knowing enough about the sport. But we are 100% volunteer-run. The parents are a team too. The more people supporting a team, the more they can rely on each other.”
The commitment often runs deep in the DNA of the volunteers. Long’s husband, Taylor, grew up in Piñon Hills playing for Sunset from age 6 to 16. When their oldest son started playing, the couple noticed the league was struggling with organization. Following a mass departure of board members in 2022, the Longs stepped up to save the league from folding. Since then, SCLL has doubled in size! “Most of our board members wear multiple hats,” Long says. “We have 12 great members, and all of us also coach or serve as team parents. Three sets of board members are married couples, so it’s a family effort.”
Unlike some neighboring towns, the Tri-Community lacks dedicated municipal parks. This makes the league’s partnership with the Snowline Joint Unified School District (SJUSD) a literal lifeline. “Without the partnership of the school district, we would have literally nowhere to play,” says Long. “Because we don’t have lights, every weekday evening is a race against dusk. We are also fully responsible for all maintenance and improvements.” To tackle these costs without raising registration fees, the league relies on community sponsors. In 2023, those funds purchased $10,000 worth of specialized ballfield clay to repair six main fields that had suffered from years of neglect.
This year, the league is using its April 11th Opening Ceremony to honor the people who make the season possible. The 2026 “Hometown Heroes” presentation will recognize three SJUSD employees who have gone above and beyond:
- Lucy Jimenez (Phelan Elementary): The “unofficial lost-and-found liaison” and the heartbeat of the league’s home base.
- Robert Chacon (Director of Risk Management): A Sunset alum who helps bridge the gap between youth sports and district facilities.
- Freddy Johnson (Serrano High Athletic Director): A homegrown athlete and long-time Sunset coach who continues to volunteer even with his new responsibilities at Serrano.
When asked what keeps the volunteers coming back, often until well after dark on school nights, Long doesn’t hesitate. “They’re our baseball family,” she continued, “It was a lot of work to earn back the community’s trust, but it has been worth it. Watching a young player get their first hit, or seeing the miracle recovery of players like Josh Eberhart and Jace Haynes back on the field, it’s an incredible testament to this community.”“I want our kids to have the same kind of memories and friendships my husband has from his time here,” Long concludes. “I love seeing the kids around town, at church, and at school. I hope others feel the same.”
As the Old Guard of volunteers works shoulder-to-shoulder with new parents, the goal remains the same as it was in 1981 when the league was officially formed. And that’s creating memories that last a lifetime.
While player sign-ups are closed, Sunset Community Little League accepts volunteers year-round. Visit their website for more information on how to apply!
