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 Tuckahoe received its charter from Little League, Inc. in Williamsport in 1958 and won the state title in just its second year. The team featured future NFL star, Mike Bragg, who punted for the Washington Redskins (kneeling, third from left).  The 1963 TLL Team was the second team to win a state title. Its star player was future NFL player, Barty Smith (kneeling, second from right). Smith was a standout athlete at Douglas Freeman High School and University of Richmond before playing for the Green Bay Packers.  The 1976 TLL Team was the second team to participate in the Little League World Series, the 1968 team was the first. Bud Hare (standing, far right), coach of the team, is a long standing TLL volunteer coaching for many years and still involved operating the concession stand.
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“After my three boys finished playing, I decided I wanted to continue,” Mr. Hare said. “I stuck with it year after year and got a lot of pleasure out of it between the teamwork and the interest by adults to become role models. I think the biggest impact Little League has on children is it helps them to grow, and accept a loss as much as they celebrate a win.”
The perfect example of a role model, Mr. Hare was honored recently by Ace Hardware as the Little League’s Southern Region “Helpful Hero.” A selfless jack-of-all trades, from concessions stand operator to four-time League president, Hare embodies the virtues the League hopes to instill in children: sportsmanship, teamwork, courage, and personal commitment.
A similar story could be told of Roxanne Melin. In 1993 her son started play in the Challenger Division. Thirteen years later she is director of the Challenger Division, her husband is the manager of the team, and her older son started as a “buddy” and later became a coach of one of the teams. “One day I was a parent taking my son to a game. One thing led to another, and here I am,” said Melin of her role as director. This commitment and compassion in players and supporters is what Little League and youth sports are all about.
For nearly 50 years, Tuckahoe Little League has been passing on those virtues to Henrico County’s children. First chartered in 1958, the League has grown by leaps and bounds. “When Tuckahoe Little League began there were just three fields,” Devon Corrigan, Tuckahoe Little League president, said. “Twenty years later, the facilities have been built up and many more children are involved because the folks involved in the Little League program at that time were looking to grow the league.”
Grow it has! With 12 fields, Tuckahoe Little League is one of the largest youth baseball and softball facilities in Virginia. Making maximum use of this facility, the League provides more than 1,500 boys and girls the highest quality baseball and softball program, dedicated to excellence on and off the field.
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