AthleticsoftheChallengerDivisionEmbodyWhatLittleLeagueisAllAboutLookingforacastofbaseballcharactersthatarelovable,welcomingandfun-loving?LooknofurtherthantheAthleticsoftheChallengerDivision—whereyou’llfindaspeedster,apowerfulsouthpaw,afutureplay-by-playannouncerandevenaplayerthatistruly“awakened.”•Kaleo,number13,isakeyleaderonthesquad.Hechatsuphisteammatesaboutbirthdays,schoolandbaseball.Hisswingandhisthrowingarmseemtobegainingstrengthandpowerastheseasonprogresses.•Malia,number1,hasinfectiouspositiveenergy.Whethershe’sspeedingaroundthebases,smackingtheballalloverthefield,orplayingcatchwithherteammatesandcoaches,Maliaishavingfun,andsoiseveryonearoundher.•Tristram,number7,issmilingallgamelong.Herunsfast,throwshardandaccurately,andgivessolidhigh5s.•Leif,number2,hasaquick,powerfulsouthpawswingandisfiercelydeterminedonthebases.LeifseemstolovelaunchingthrowstothecoachesandfellowA’steammatesduringwarm-upsandthegames.•Jalen,number3,hasaninfectioussmileandiscalmandcoolswingingthebatandroundingthebases.He’salwaysapositivepresenceinthedugoutandonthefield.•Oscar,number4,canbefoundmakingsolidcontactattheplate,dancingdownthebasepaths,chuckingtheballwithincreasingspeedandaccuracy,andyellingencouragingplay-by-playcallsathisteammates.•Oliver,number8,bringsintensitytohisat-batsthatareonlymatchedbyhisjubilancewhilerunningthebases.Hecomestotheballparkreadytobefriendly,focusedandhavefun.•Bodhi(literallymeaning“toawaken”),number5,isaconsistent,dependable,stronghitter.Hebringsgreateffortandpositivitywhetherhe’sspeedingaroundthebasesorhavingacatchwithhisteammatesandcoaches.•Nathan,number10,hustlesaroundthebases,hislonglegsinspiringhisfellowAthletics

tomovequickly.Hebringsajoyfulsmiletothefieldanddugout.•Alina,number6,isalsoaspeedsteronthebasepaths.Herswingandherfieldingareasstylishasherhotpinkhelmetandcleats.•David,number11,hasapowerfulleft-handedstroke.Hewaitsforhispitch,connectsandputstheopposingdefensetowork.•Andlastbutnotleast,Joshua,number14,bringsexperienceandjoytotheteam.Afterheconnectswithapitch,Josh’sfacelightsupashespeedsaroundthebases.Watchinghisteammates,coachesandfanscheerforhimashecrosseshomeplatewearingahugesmileembodieswhatthisChallengerleagueisallabout.

— BenMalloy