by Carl “Bull” Crapper

Everyone is busy these days. We pack more into our schedules now than ever before. We go, go, go all the time. Many parents, including myself, are basically chauffeurs these days. They take the kids to school, and they pick them up in the afternoons. Then, they’re off to ball practice or ball games at night. You have church on Wednesdays and Sundays, and you have ball on the weekends. This on the go lifestyle lends itself to some things being neglected. Mom and Dad just don’t have enough time to do it.

Valley entrepreneur and tech investor, Elon Jobs, understands this busy lifestyle. He’s a busy parent himself. He’s been working on a solution for some time, and he just released an app to help parents with their kids’ transportation needs. Jobs’ new app is called Husl, and it is basically Uber for kids.

Jobs knew parents would like the idea of the app, but he knew many would have reservations leaving their kids in the hands of strangers. So, Husl has put some safeguards in place to protect kids and help parents feel comfortable. Jobs said, “All Husl drivers have to pass background checks, and they can have no criminal history. They also have to have a valid drivers license. Also, there has to be two or more kids on every ride. A child cannot ride alone for any period of time. Additionally, a camera must be installed in every Husl driver’s vehicle. Mom and dad can view the camera at any time from the Husl app. Mom, dad, a grandparent or approved guardian has to choose the kids’ destination in the app, and they will receive notifications when the kids are picked up and dropped off at their destination. Parents should feel confident about their kids’ safety because of the safeguards we’ve put in place.”

Another neat feature of the app is that it allows parents to request a certain driver. So, if parents or kids know and like a certain driver, they can request that driver. Parents really like this feature, and it makes them feel at ease when they know they’ll have someone they know and trust driving their kids around.

Unlike Uber, Husl users pay a monthly fee of $35 per child. Uber users pay per ride. Husl users receive a $5 discount for each additional child. The app is live now, and Valley parents are downloading it like crazy. It’s the talk of the select ball parents community; they are the majority of the early adopters. They love the app.

One mom said, “It’s so nice not to be at the ball field every freakin night of the week. I can actually stay at home and cook supper for a change. Plus, I can clean the house myself. I’ll be able to spend less on Husl than on my house cleaning lady now, so it’ll help us save money. My son and a few of his teammates ride to and from practice together now, and they always ride with Mr. Billy. They love Mr. Billy. Husl is awesome!”

One dad said, “I’ll actually be able to cut my grass now. Before, I was never home in the evenings because I was always chasing the kids around to this and that activity. Also, I’ll be able to get some honey do’s done around the house. I won’t have to hear my wife constantly nagging me about getting things done around the house. Thanks Husl!”

Adoption of Husl will continue to increase. It’s huge in The Valley, but word is starting to spread outside The Valley as well. Jobs thinks it’ll be a household name like Uber in the coming months. He said, “Word of mouth is really helping us. Parents love having extra free time because of Husl. It will be a household name in the not so distant future.”

The app can be downloaded via the Apple and Android stores, and it is free to download. It will be interesting to see Husl’s growth going forward.

by Heeza de Seaver

Pro Palestinian/pro Gaza protests have broken out at colleges across the country in the past couple weeks. The protests at Columbia University and UCLA have gotten the most attention, but there have been some other high profile protests as well. At some of the colleges, the protesters have been treated with kid gloves, and the colleges have given concessions to them. At other schools, the protests have been squashed, and the protesters have been arrested.

5 pro Palestinian protesters showed up at the Valley Institute of Technology, affectionately referred to as Valley Tech, yesterday morning at approximately 8:30 am. Valley Tech is located in the Valley Plaza strip mall in Valley City just off Hwy. 13. Valley Tech is the anchor of the strip mall, and it’s located in the old Dougie’s Dollar Den. Valley Tech is an online college, so students are not there on a daily basis. They have 164 students currently, and they have 8 full time employees at the location in Valley City.

Valley Plaza security guard, Andy Fife, saw the protesters get out of a vehicle in the parking lot. He quickly told all the tenants including Valley Tech to lock their doors. The protesters headed to Valley Tech, but they couldn’t get it in. So, they stood in front of Valley Tech and began protesting and chanting. Fife said, “I called my deputy, Barney Griffith, to come join me. Generally, I only call him when there’s a big sale at one of the stores and for the annual Valley City Circus in the parking lot. I wanted him there in case these people started acting a fool.”

Fife said, “I let them protest until Barney showed up, and then I told them that they had to leave. They yelled some obscenities at us, and they told me that I was a Fascist colonizer. Barney wanted me to call the police, but I told him that we could easily handle these light weights. They said they weren’t leaving, and I told them we can do this the hard way if you want to. I told Barney I would get the 3 guys, and he could take care of the 2 gals. We had to drag each protester away to their vehicle. A couple were way too big to carry, so we just drug them one by one. One of the girls did give Barney some trouble, so he just picked her up and dropped her by their vehicle. They didn’t resist me; they didn’t want any smoke. They know I don’t play.”

The protesters had their eye on the American flag in the parking lot after being dragged to their vehicle. Fife said, “They said they were going to take the down the American flag and raise a Palestinian flag, and I told them they better not think about doing that. You better not mess with Old Glory. I told them that I would mace them in a heartbeat. They got in their car and drove off.”

It’s surprising that protesters showed up in Valley City. This idyllic town has never experienced anything like this, but things are crazy these days. Fife said, “I don’t think these morons even go to school at Valley Tech; they were probably paid. One of them misspelled Palestine on her sign; they probably couldn’t locate Palestine on a map if their lives depended on it. They better be glad we got rid of them before Gary’s Gun Shop opened up. His customers would’ve treated them much harsher than Barney and me.”

None of the protesters could be reached for comment. Valley Tech put out a statement thanking Andy and Barney for taking care of the situation.

by “Stretch” DeTrooth

Golf is a popular sport among Valleyans. Unfortunately, there is only one course in The Valley, so most people have to travel outside The Valley to play. The growth and buzz in The Valley is obviously being noticed by people outside The Valley and outside Mississippi. Famous real estate developer, politician, and celebrity Ronald Krump has decided to capitalize on the economic growth in The Valley and build a golf club.

Krump’s organization is well known for having beautiful golf courses across the globe. The Valley recently came on their radar, and they decided to build a course here after doing their due diligence. They chose some prime property along the Strong River between Strong River Bend and Valley City to build their course. The reasonable land prices along with the low cost of labor were important factors in their decision; the natural beauty of the Strong River Valley didn’t hurt as well.

I was able to visit with Krump via Zoom during one of his court recesses, and he was excited about his new project in The Valley. Krump said, “The Strong River Valley is a great place, a great place. I’ve been seeing the economic development and growth in the The Valley, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, the people of The Valley are great people, great people, and I can’t wait to bring this first class course to The Valley. It’s going to be a great course, great course.”

The Valley National Golf Club will immediately be one of the top public golf courses in Mississippi, it will be one of the top courses in the South. The renowned golf course architect, Dom Fazio and his firm Fazio Golf Design, is designing the course. It will have a very nice and spacious clubhouse with a restaurant and several large meeting rooms. The space can rented for weddings, events, and gatherings. The restaurant, which will be called Cypress Grille, will be a first class restaurant that serves steaks, seafood, catfish, and fine wines.

The golf club will have a few things that really set it apart. It will have a few water hazards that also serve as catfish ponds. The Cypress Grille will be a “farm to table” restaurant; they’ll serve fresh catfish from their ponds. Also, the Strong River will come into play on holes #1 and #18. Golfers will have to tee off over the river on #1, and approach shots on #18 will have to be hit over the river. There will be a very nice large bridge over the river that is a larger version of the famous Swilcan Bridge on #18 at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Golfers will use this bridge to cross the river on holes #1 and #18.

Krump said, “I can’t wait to try some fried catfish from our ponds. I can’t wait! We wanted to really feature the Strong River with our course layout, and we did that. It’s a beautiful river, beautiful river. I can’t wait to play on the course, and I can’t wait to open it for the great people of The Valley.”

The facility will be a big deal for The Valley. It should attract people from around the state and the South. The club is set to open in late June. The SRVO will keep you updated.

by Ima Phibber

Spring is finally here! Valleyans have been hard at work recently planting their gardens for the summer. According to a recent online survey, more people than ever are planting gardens to help save money on their grocery bills. Food inflation has hit Americans and Valley residents very hard over the past few years, and it seems like there is no end in sight.

A few Strong River Bend (SRB) residents recently decided to create a community garden for SRB residents to help cut down on food costs. Johnny Greanthum is heading up the project, and the garden will be called the SRB Community Garden. Greanthum is a retired teacher, and he has a passion for gardening. Greanthum said, “People are struggling economically right now. Grocery prices have gone through the roof. I wanted to come up with a way to help people, and I think this community garden is going to help a lot of people in the community.”

The first hurdle that Greanthum had was finding a spot for the garden. Thankfully, the town of SRB is allowing their town park to be used. SRB is allowing Greanthum and his crew to cultivate one acre on a vacant area in the town park. Also, seeds and gardening equipment were donated by Strong River Bend Feed & Seed.

Greanthum is very excited about the garden, but he wants everyone to know there are a few rules.

• You must be a SRB resident to get food.
• You don’t work, you don’t eat. (It’s in the Bible)
• Take only what you need.

Greanthum said, “We had to create a few rules, because people are crazy these days. You give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile. We will have a volunteer at the garden from 7:00 am- 7:00 pm each day to help residents. Also, we will have a work log for everyone to log their work in the garden. Remember, you don’t work, you don’t eat! We will also have cameras monitoring the garden 24/7. We hope SRB residents will make this a family affair to teach their kids about the value of hard work and gardening. Plus, it’ll help people save money on their grocery bills. We’ll plant a variety of vegetables including squash, cucumbers, okra, and more. It should be a win-win for everyone.”

Most people in SRB are excited about the community garden, but a couple SRB residents I talked with are not happy about it. One resident said, “I’m not in favor of this. It’s too much like communism to me. Are they gonna want us to live in communes next? Plus, people don’t want to work these days. I bet the vegetables just rot before they’re picked.”

Another SRB resident said, “I was excited to learn about this, but I’m not so enthused now. I understand they’re using genetically modified seeds to grow the crops. Plus, I hear they’re not going to use organic fertilizer. Nope, sorry! Can’t do it!”

Seeds were planted over the past couples weeks, so the garden should be coming along nicely in the coming weeks. Greanthum has created an interesting concept, and I’m anxious to see if this catches on elsewhere. SRB residents should contact Mr. Greanthum with any questions.

by “Stretch” DeTrooth

We introduced Blind Billy Ball (Triple B) and his seeing eye dog, Slugger, to Valleyans and the world last year around this time. You can read our original story HERE. Triple B and Slugger cut their teeth on calling rec league games, and they’ve done a great job. But, Triple B thought it was time for a new challenge. He has overcome challenges his whole life, and he’s always up for a new one.

Triple B said, “Slugger and I have had a great time calling rec league games. You have to start somewhere right? But, we want to move on to bigger and better things, and I thought it was time to take the next step to travel ball. I had a talk with Slugger, and he agreed with me. I understand that we’re going to have to prove ourselves all over again. We had a ton of doubters when we started calling rec league games, but we ended up being the best umpire in the league. I believe we can do the same with travel ball.”

Triple B and Slugger already have some doubters, and I talked with some at a recent travel ball tournament. One coach said, “I think Triple B and Slugger are going to be in for a rude awakening. It’s a big step up from rec league. The players are better, and the game is much faster. There’s also going to be a lot more pressure on them; all eyes are going to be on them. In the rec league, all the parents and kids love to see Triple B and especially Slugger. If he misses a call, no big deal because Slugger is so cute. It won’t be like that at travel ball tournaments. Are they ready? We’ll see.”

An umpire said, “I hope Triple B knows what he’s getting into. It’s like walking into a lion’s den game after game. These parents and coaches are ruthless, I mean ruthless! I only do this for the money; I don’t do it because I enjoy it. I’ve had to get on blood pressure meds since I started calling travel ball games.”

Triple B has big dreams, and he hopes travel ball is just the next step. “I’d eventually like to make it to the Big Leagues with Slugger. I know the deck is stacked against me, but that’s my dream and I’m gonna give it my all. Heck, I know that I’m better than Angel Hernandez right now. Maybe, I could loan Slugger to him for a fee”, said Ball.

It will be interesting to see how the next step goes for Triple B and Slugger. No one thought they could call games to begin with, and they’ve proved a lot of naysayers wrong. I think they have what it takes to take the next step to travel ball. The SRVO will keep you updated on Triple B and Slugger throughout the season.

by Emma Embellischer

Zyn nicotine pouches have become very popular over the past few years. You see a ton of people popping these pouches these days. Many people have given up dipping, vaping and smoking cigarettes in favor of the pouches. The pouches are much cleaner and appealing; you don’t have to worry about snuff in the corner of your mouth. Plus, you don’t have to worry about hiding your vape and discreetly blowing out smoke in public places. Many famous people including Tucker Carlson use the product. They even came on the radar of Congress recently; Senator Chuck Schumer spoke about curtailing Zyn advertising to minors. That sparked somewhat of a firestorm on Capitol Hill, and you had some lawmakers including Marjorie Taylor Greene throwing barbs back at Schumer talking about a “Zynsurrection.”

Social media is more popular than ever these days. Many people spend hours each day on social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and MySpace. Because of this, many companies pay people to push their products on social media, and these people are called influencers. Influencers push every product imaginable including Zyn pouches. Twin sisters from The Valley have gained notoriety recently for pushing Zyn pouches and becoming “Zynfluencers.”

Jacki and Ricki Ledbetter are twin sisters from Valley City. They are well known in and around The Valley. They’ve owned Ledbetter Sisters Construction for about 8 years, and they do small construction jobs in The Valley. They have had a small social media following for a while, and they mainly posted about work and construction. They are pretty, funny, and everybody loves their Southern accents. They vaped until 2022 when they discovered Zyn pouches. They both switched to Zyn pouches, and they started posting videos about Zyn.

Their fans, mostly men, loved the videos about Zyn. Their following began to grow exponentially, and they became what is known as Zynfluencers. They were able to quit their construction jobs, and be social media influencers full time. Zyn is just one of their clients; they also work for HeyDude, Wrangler and others.

Ricki said, “This all just kind of happened. We loved the product, and people loved our videos about them. Plus, most Zyn users are men, so it’s different to have two hot chicks promoting the product. Plus, I think it helps that we’re twins with a Southern accent. Daddy always told us that we’d be famous one day. He always wanted us to be country singers like Shania Twain or Faith Hill. But, he loved some Red Man tobacco, so I’m sure he’s smiling down on us from heaven.”

Jacki said, “Zynning sure beats construction. Some people, mostly women, look down on us for pushing Zyn, but we don’t care. I think it’s better for you than vaping. We gone keep Zynning to the bank baby! Also, if you have a product you need to push, hit us up!”

Health experts have warned about the harmful side effects of using Zyn pouches. But, health experts don’t know the long term side effects of Zyn yet. Many Zyn users say the negative side effects are much less than other nicotine products, but time will tell. Whatever we find out, I’m sure people will keep Zynning.

by Heeza de Seaver

The weather in The Valley in 2023 was not ideal. We had a late freeze, and then we had a very bad drought that took a toll on the vegetation in The Valley. There are countless dead trees all around The Valley. Also, the late freeze and drought took out the landscaping trees and shrubs for thousands of residents. Last year was a tough year especially for the farmers, but it has also provided a huge opportunity for some businesses.

Greenleaf Landscaping & Tree Cutting Co., owned by Gary Greenleaf, is seeing massive growth currently. Greenleaf’s company has been in business for about 15 years, and he is well respected in The Valley. Greenleaf said, “I’ve done pretty well over the years, but the current environment is the best I’ve ever seen by far. We are blowing and going right now, and I think we’re just in the 1st inning. Everybody needs new landscaping, trees cut down, and a lot of people need both. Nobody wants to do that kind of thing themselves anymore, so that’s why my phone is blowing up.”

In the past, Greenleaf has had 4-5 employees at any given time. Currently, he has 40, and he plans to add more. “Greenleaf said, “I’m starting guys at $50 per hour, and I’m hiring people from all walks of life. I’ve hired 7 guys that were in college; a couple were at MSU and a couple were at Ole Miss. I even had one guy quit medical school to come work for me. I about fell out when he said he wanted to come work for me, but he said he could make a killing and he wouldn’t have any college debt. I also had a CPA quit accounting to come work for me; I guess he thought he might like landscaping over the ledger.”

Greenleaf said, “A lot of my guys are going to make 6 figures doing landscaping and cutting trees. That ain’t bad! Plus, we got years of work ahead of us. I plan to double my workforce over the next few months. There’s a ton of demand for our services, and I gotta have the manpower to get the work done.”

With this massive growth, there has been some growing pains for Greenleaf. He said, “I don’t even know all my guy’s names now. I don’t have a training program for guys cutting trees and running chainsaws, and I guess I need to create one. I’m basically just telling them to watch a couple Youtube videos on how to run saws and cut trees. Some of the landscapers don’t know the names of the different types of plants I like to use. I got to hire another HR person too. I hired one, but she wasn’t on board with me paying my guys in cash. So, I had to let her go. But, we’ll figure it out.”

I asked Greenleaf what he attributed to his company’s recent growth, and he named multiple factors. Greenleaf said, “There is a ton of work, and a lot companies can’t find good workers. I don’t have a problem with that. I pay all my guys in cash. Cash is king! They know not to deposit more than $10K at one time. Also, we do good work, and we’re dependable. This year, we started offering a 10 year warranty on all our landscaping. If a plant dies within 10 years, we replace it. I figured that drought last year was a once in a lifetime kind of drought, and it shouldn’t happen again for a long time. Plus, if we keep blowing and going like we are, I’ll be retired in 5 years living in The Bahamas.”

Young men and women looking for a good career path should consider Greenleaf Landscaping and Tree Cutting Co. according to Greenleaf. He said, “Forget college and come make $50 per hour out of the gate. Work hard and be dependable, and you’ll be a supervisor in no time making $75 per hour or more. Be smart, save your money, and you’ll have a great start on life. You won’t waste four years, and you’ll have no college debt.” If you’re interested in joining the Greenleaf team, call 1-800-50P-HOUR.

by “Stretch” DeTrooth

Turkey season is in full swing in The Valley and Mississippi. Hundreds of avid turkey hunters are hitting the woods each day trying to bag a big gobbler. Turkey hunters are very passionate, and they put in a lot of time and effort to chase turkeys all across The Valley. However, some turkey hunters take it too far and ignore private property lines. This issue has come to the forefront this season as more hunters than ever are trespassing on private property.

In an effort to combat this issue, multiple law enforcement agencies including the MS Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have formed the Turkey Trespassing Task Force (TTTF). Tirk Longbeard is heading up this joint law enforcement task force. Longbeard is a veteran of over 30 years in law enforcement, and he’s excited to head up this task force. He said, “We know turkey hunters tend to trespass, but it’s really bad this year in the state and especially in The Valley. We’re going to have officers all across the state, but our main focus is The Valley. We’ve gotten a ton of reports early in the season about Valleyans trespassing on private property. I’m not gonna tell you all the tactics and assets we’re going to use to catch the perpetrators, but they better watch out. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

I was able to talk with Jake Shortspur who is a deputy on the task force, and he gave me some information on the tools the task force may use. He said, “We may use drones to monitor some areas, and we may have officers in the woods early in the morning with night vision goggles and heat sensor cameras. The task force is serious about this issue, and we’re going to do all we can to stop trespassers.”

A couple Valleyan turkey hunters I talked with are not happy about the TTTF. One said, “I’m pretty ticked off about this stupid task force. I’m afraid these idiots are gonna scare off the birds. This is all overkill in my book. It’s hard enough to kill a dern turkey, and these sapsuckers are gonna make it even tougher. Also, don’t these people know the Lord’s prayer? Forgive our trespassers…”

Another hunter said, “I have been guilty of trespassing trying to kill a turkey. It just happens you know. You hear one gobble, and you go after the dern thing. I don’t start out on someone else’s land, the dang turkey just might lead you onto somebody’s else’s property. These jack wagons have taken this too far. I guess we’ll just have to sit on the ground and call them up; there ain’t gonna be no chasing after em. We’re gonna be like lazy deer hunters now, and just sit there waiting for a dern deer to walk out. I’m not happy.”

The TTTF plans to make an example of trespassers. In addition to possible arrest and certain fines, TTTF will post the pictures of trespassers on social media and digital billboards around The Valley. So, you turkey trespassers better be careful the remainder of the season.

by Carl “Bull” Crapper

People across central MS are starting to realize The Valley is on the rise. We have a lot going on right now, and our future is looking bright. The list of recent accomplishments and new attractions is pretty long, and now you can add one more to it. Eddie Cousins, a local entrepreneur and philanthropist, is developing some prime real estate off Hwy. 13 on the Strong River.

Cousins is building what he calls a RV park/resort and spa, and he’s going to call it the Strong River Valley Camping Resort and Spa. He said, “I’ve been throwing around different ideas on what to do with this prime property, and one day I had an epiphany. I’m going to build a RV park and resort. You see RV parks popping up all over the place these days, and there is really only one option in The Valley- the D’Lo Water Park. It’s a great park, and it’s been around a long time. But, my resort will offer a lot of amenities you won’t find at other RV parks and resorts.”

It’s going to be a family resort for all seasons. For the kids, we’re going to have a petting zoo- ponies, goats, pigs, and more. Additionally, we’ll have a 9 hole putt putt golf course. The kids can swim in the river of course, but the resort will have a very nice above the ground pool as well. We’ll also have a nice playground with slides and more.

Cousins said, “Of course we’ll have hookups for RVs and campers, and we’ll have pads for tent campers. We’ll offer canoe and kayak rentals for the family. Also, we’ll have a small bait shop for the anglers. We’ll also have a restaurant not just for campers but for anyone that wants to eat there, and we’ll have some of the best catfish in The Valley. But, there are a few things that will really separate us from everyone else.”

Cousins’ resort will offer noodling or hand grabbing expeditions. He’s contracted with Big Willy’s Outfitters to offer noodling. Cousins expects a lot of people from outside The Valley to stay at the resort just for the noodling. Additionally, the resort will offer a zip line course with multiple lines over the majestic Strong River. The resort even had golfers in mind; it will have two short golf holes that require golfers to hit the ball over the river to the greens. A bridge will be constructed for the golfers and campers that want to go to the other side of the river to hike on the resort’s hiking trails.

Last but not certainly not least, Cousins’ resort will have a spa. Cousins said, “There ain’t another RV park/resort around that has a spa. Unfortunately, I ran out of funds, so I wasn’t able to build a nice bungalow for the spa. For now, the spa will be housed in a small portable building, and it will have a window unit. Hopefully, we can build that bungalow in the future. I’ve contracted with two masseuses to treat our visitors- Achara Chen and Dao Wu. Both ladies have a lot of experience, and our visitors will love them.”

Construction on the resort is expected to be completed in early May 2024. Stay tuned to the Strong River Valley Camping Resort & Spa’s Facebook page for updates. Cousins and his crew can’t wait to see you this summer!

by “Stretch” DeTrooth

In recent years, travel or select baseball and softball has grown substantially. There are more teams than you can shake a stick at, and new teams are being formed all the time. This has made baseball and softball more popular than ever in The Valley and in Mississippi. Kids are learning the game at a younger age, and many are becoming better and more refined players earlier than past generations.

However, there are some drawbacks to this surge in travel ball, and one is the decline of the local recreational (rec) leagues. Many of them are struggling to survive because many local players are now foregoing rec to play travel ball. Some kids play rec and travel ball, but most play one or the other. Many rec leagues have shut down, and more will probably shut down in the future unless something changes.

The Valley Youth Sports (TVYS) is going to try to change that trend this year. Their board, which is led by Bob Mamfred, is implementing new measures to lure parents and their kids back to TVYS. Mamfred said, “We came up with some unconventional things to hopefully attract more families this year. We had to do something; we’re almost at the point of shutting TVYS down. It’s really a last ditch effort. I guess we’ll see if it works.”

TVYS is pulling out all the stops. For 10U, 12U, and 14U boys games, a boy from each team will be randomly selected 15 minutes before game time. The two boys from opposing teams will play a quick 5-10 minute game of Fortnite that will be watched by an umpire. The Fortnite winner’s team will be start the game with a 1-0 lead.

Additionally, all kid pitch teams will be able to play with an additional player on defense. TVYS is calling the player a “rover.” You can put him or her anywhere on the field except in front of the pitcher. One coach said, “I coach 10U boys, and our catcher can’t catch a cold. So, I’m gonna put a good player behind our catcher to hopefully cut down on passed balls and steals.”

Another rule change that the kids are super excited about is that each team will be allowed to have a dog present in the dugout during games. One 12U softball coach said, “Our girls get a little uptight sometimes because their mom is yelling like a crazed lunatic, and they need something to calm them down. We’re gonna bring my lab to home games, and he’ll be an emotional support animal for my girls. Hopefully, he’ll have a calming effect on my girls, and help them focus a little better.”

TVYS is adding one more thing to spice things up. Games that are tied at the end of the last inning will have a dance off to decide the winner. Each team will get to pick 3 players to dance on the field. The umpire will pick the dance and or song, and the umpire/s will decide the winning team based on the dance off. Many of the kids I talked with really like this idea. One 11 year old boy I talked with said, “I hope we’re tied at the end of every game, and I hope the umps pick the Griddy. Can’t nobody out Griddy me! The other team doesn’t have a shot.”

Mamfred said, “Some people have laughed at our new changes for this year, and some have said they’re too gimmicky. But, I think it’s going to be a home run, and I think other rec leagues will copy our ideas. Signups are way ahead of last year at this time, so parents and kids are already excited about it.” Additionally, TVYS will give rings to all players regardless if their team wins their league or not. Bling for all! Time will tell if these changes will save TVYS, but it’s definitely going to make things more interesting for the kids.