As winter stubbornly turns to spring and hats and gloves make way for bats and balls, a local group dedicated to the resurrection of youth baseball in Boothbay is hoping that if it builds it, the players will come. The Boothbay Region Baseball Association (BRBA), an ad hoc group headed up by Jim Abbott, Adam Harkins, Bill Mansfield and John Splaine, is currently in its fourth year of an effort to bring organized youth baseball  back to the area.

With the proliferation of more and more extracurricular options, baseball had taken a backseat in the minds of many kids. The lack of interest reached a crisis level four years ago when the town was unable to field a Little League team, an unthinkable development and stark contrast to years past, said Mansfield.

“When I was a kid we had six or seven teams, everyone played baseball. Today there are a lot of options from lacrosse, basketball and even karate,” Mansfield said. “Boothbay has always had a strong tradition of competitive baseball. We just want to see that return.”

Jim Abbott echoes those sentiments. A volunteer umpire for the past 15 years, Abbott remembers a time when Boothbay sported five Little League teams and often had to turn kids away. After watching the number of participants drop year after year, he decided to become involved even though he had no dog in the fight.

“I don't have a child in the program but I knew something had to be done,” said Abbott, a Boothbay native who retired from the Air Force 20 years ago.“We've been gaining momentum year after year. Kids really create the excitement. If they are having fun they tell their friends, it's good peer pressure. Parents also become conditioned to view baseball as a travel sport, a fact of life in this league.”

In a few short years, the BRBA has made gains, establishing a T-Ball league and Rookie League. The goal is to create a pipeline to feed skilled players to one or more Little League teams, middle school and ultimately to the high school level.

Boothbay Region Elementary School Athletic Director John Deetjen said he supports the BRBA effort “100 percent” and while there is no baseball team at the middle school currently, he hopes to field a team next year.

“Part of the issue is we don't currently have a summer baseball program. That creates interest with the kids,” said Deetjen.

With so many spring sports jockeying for adequate field time and space at a premium, the BRBA has also faced the occasional problem of finding facilities. In part to address this shortcoming, in November the Boothbay selectmen unveiled a proposed redevelopment of Clifford Park. The conceptual plan included the expansion from one Little League baseball field to three, creating more space for the soccer and lacrosse field, a playground, a dog park, and walking trails. Included in the plans is a design for an additional lighted baseball field which would stretch the hours available for practice or games.

“For years and years, participation in baseball has dropped off, and I think it's due to a lack of field space,” said Boothbay Selectmen's Chairman Steve Lewis at a November selectmen's meeting. “Anyone with kids has witnessed this. It's been a nightmare to go down there and try and use the fields. This will now give the younger players a dedicated spot to play ball.”

In many ways Boothbay mirrors an overall national decline in youth baseball participation. According to a 2014 Washington Post article, youth participation in baseball dropped from nearly 3 million in the 1990's to 2.4 million three years ago. In the neighboring peninsulas, interest has ebbed and flowed said Paul Miner, the President for the Damariscotta-based Lincoln Little League chapter, which includes Boothbay.

“It's always a moving target,” said Miner. “Some years we'll have lots of 12 year olds age out and at the same time have a huge amount of 9 year olds to replace them.”

 Miner points to the overall decline in youth sports participation, not just baseball, and blames the advent of personal technology as the culprit. He offers a novel approach.

“Parents should grab their baseball bats from the garage and smash the X Box, the PlayStation, and the iPad,” said Miner with a laugh.

In a positive sign, Boothbay may be able to field two teams this year, a measure of accomplishment Mansfield could hardly envision three years ago.

“Anytime kids get outside, get active, and get away from their computers it's a positive,” said Mansfield. “Our group supports all activities but for me personally baseball has always been a passion can teach many invaluable life lessons. ”

For Abbott, teaching the fundamentals of baseball is not only a way for generations to connect but also a patriotic duty.

“Pure and simple baseball is America’s game, a tradition we pass along to younger generations. Baseball, apple pie, hot dogs and Chevrolet,” said Abbott. “Kids may play basketball, lacrosse, or soccer but they are still thinking baseball. When they come home at night they want to see the Red Sox; it's still the American way.”

The BRBA is currently also soliciting donations for team sponsors, scholarship funds and field equipment. Please contact League President Jim Abbott at (207) 380-0573 or email jimma1313@netzero.net regarding donations. For more information regarding sign-ups, volunteer positions and teams, contact Bill Mansfield at (207) 380-7373, John Splaine at (207) 751-9065; email velonut1@myfairpoint.net or Adam Harkins at (207) 712-1829; seapoos1@gmail.com. You can also pick up and drop off registration forms at the Dead River Office located at 216 Middle Rd., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. Send forms or contact the group by mail at BRBA, P.O. Box 818, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.