Baseball season is officially underway in Marple. The Marple Township Little League (MTLL) and South Marple Little League (SMLL) are bringing renewed energy to local fields as players and families return for spring competition. With leagues opening registration earlier this year and schedules now filling up, teams are back practicing, competing, and building skills in a fun environment that emphasizes sportsmanship and development.
South Marple Little League kicked off its spring season following a successful winter registration, with strong participation and plenty of excitement from young athletes eager to return to the diamond. On April 10, the league celebrated its first-ever Night Baseball under the lights, with State Representative Jen O’Mara throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Opening Day followed on Saturday, April 11, beginning with a parade from Loomis Elementary School, where players, families, and coaches walked together through the neighborhood to the SMLL fields to start the festivities. Looking ahead, the league will host its annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 6, featuring games, food, and raffles for all to enjoy.
This year marked the 75th anniversary of MTLL, as players and families, along with participants from the league’s Challenger division, came together to celebrate the start of the season with a festive parade and a full day of games. The celebration continued into the evening, when parents and coaches hosted a Beef and Beer at Barnaby’s to raise funds in support of the league. Looking ahead, players are especially excited to come together again on May 7 for the league’s annual “Night at the Phillies.”
Down the road in Newtown Square, the Newtown Square Petticoat League (NSPL) is excited to announce unprecedented registration numbers for the 2026 Spring Season, with over 500 athletes, seven Rebels travel teams and 41 In-house teams. This growth has come with challenges, and the generous volunteers who run NSPL are encouraging all parents to volunteer and help as much as they can. NSPL had a fantastic start to their season! Opening Day was on Saturday, April 11th, and was a day filled with fun, laughter and community spirit. They are excited to announce their lineup of upcoming events and encourage all members of our community to come out to show their support.
For more than 50 years, NSPL has proudly served our community by providing girls with the opportunity to learn, play, and grow through the game of softball. What began as a small local program has evolved into a vibrant league of over 450 players each year, representing families from Newtown Square, Broomall, Marple, Edgemont and surrounding areas.
“We are grateful for our players and families, sponsors and volunteers that remain committed to our league,” said NSPL Board Member Jason Natale. “We’ve had an incredible start to our 2026 season,” Jason added that Opening Day was a smashing success with the classic parade to Troop Field, featuring the National Anthem sung by Abby Kubacki, Annabella Pickering, Maggie Trinkle and Rowan Bardo and the ceremonial first pitch thrown by Township Supervisor Cheryl Grosso.
NSPL has a great lineup of upcoming events, including their Night at the Phillies on April 29th and Family Fun Day at Troop Field on May 16th. Stay tuned for more events to be announced soon! Details about the above events are listed on their website NSPLSoftball.com.
The start of the season reflects more than just a return to the field. It showcases the dedication of volunteers, the enthusiasm of young athletes, and the strong community support behind each league. As the spring season continues, these programs will keep building skills, friendships and lasting memories for players and families alike.