North Andover Youth Baseball

Spring: Bambino Division (formerly Challenger Division)

North Andover Youth Baseball's affiliation with Babe Ruth League, Inc. and its Cal Ripken Baseball program will introduce the Bambino Buddy-Ball ("Bambino") Program for players born between April 30, 2003 and May 1, 2016. The Bambino program will replace Little League's Challenger program. In its inaugural season, the Challenger program had over 30 players and has grown every year since.

The Bambino Program is for developmentally and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseball learned through the experience, the value of the Bambino program is found in the therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports; strengthening of participants’ self-esteem; the opportunities to mainstream into other divisions of play and the discipline of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play. The Bambino program provides the framework so Babe Ruth programs may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in their communities. Playing with the same equipment on the same fields, the Bambino participants have the opportunity to experience the joys of pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.

The program would be not possible without volunteers who ‘buddy’ with Bambino players. The main goal of the ‘buddies’ is to make sure players stay safe while assisting them as needed. Whether it be helping swing a bat, pushing a wheelchair, or simply playing catch, ‘buddies’ are crucial to the program’s success. And many who volunteered last year provided feedback on how rewarding it was for them to be involved.

NAYB does not charge a registration fee to participate in the Bambino Program. In 2015, a donation from the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank (498 Chickering Road) allowed NAYB to provide participants with uniforms (shirts, hats, socks, belts), equipment, end of season trophies, a pizza party and an ice cream party. With the continued support of Lowell Five, NAYB has been able to offer the Challenger and now Bambino Program with no registration fees for participants.

If you would like to make a donation to the NAYB Bambino Program please contact Chris Long at [email protected]

To register for the Bambino Program click on the "REGISTRATION" tab on the menu bar. Note there are separate registration options for Bambino players and 'buddies'.