National Americanism Commission Chairman Richard Anderson delivers the commission's report to the National Executive Committee Thursday morning during the organization's annual Spring Meetings. Photo by Lucas Carter

Legion Baseball to create department website network

Members of The American Legion National Executive Committee passed three Legion Baseball resolutions Thursday morning during the organizations' annual Spring Meetings. The resolutions included the creation of a national Legion Baseball department website network, naming of the 2017 and 2018 regional tournament sites and dates, and the commendation of the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Baseball website

The approval of Resolution No. 5, which is the creation of a national American Legion Baseball department website network, will give all 50 departments the ability to have a new, powerful and mobile-friendly baseball-specific website on one single hub. Currently, each department creates its baseball website independently. The new format will allow the departments to utilize one template which will have a similar look and feel across the platform. Each department will have the ability to opt-in and participate, with the majority of states expected to join prior to the 2017 season.

Targeted for a release in the fall of 2016, the website network will feature powerful tools, including scheduling, standings, statistics and social media integration. The ability to create team-specific and zone-specific pages is also expected.

“This is a terrific proposal to help continue to capitalize on our strong registration numbers and continue moving the program forward,” said Baseball Committee Chairman Gary Stone. “Sites that are more interactive and easier to use for the general public will be tremendously helpful and will help solidify our strong brand. We are excited to be able to reach out to more potential players and coaches to join in the great tradition of American Legion Baseball.”

In collaboration with the Legion's Media, Marketing and Communications Division staff, Legion Baseball staff has been working with multiple content management system vendors with significant experience in creating website networks for governing bodies. Legion Baseball will select a proposal from the technology providers in the near future.

Regional tournaments

The approval of Resolution No. 9 names the Legion Baseball regional tournament sites and dates for 2017 and 2018. The road to Shelby, N.C., for The American Legion World Series goes through eight eight-team regional tournaments each year. The champions from each of the regional tournaments will go on to participate in the American Legion World Series, which has continued to grow with record-breaking attendance in 2015 and with games streamed live on ESPN3 and aired on ESPNU.

“It is great to see how much our national tournament is growing,” Stone said. “We are excited to be able to host regional tournaments in these tradition-rich communities with the wonderful support of the local Legion posts, Legionnaires and volunteers.”

The dates for regional tournaments will be Aug. 2-6, 2017, and Aug. 8-12, 2018 in the locations listed below:

Region 1 – To be determined

Region 2 – To be determined

Region 3 – Asheboro, N.C.

Region 4 – New Orleans

Region 5 – Napoleon, Ohio

Region 6 – Dickinson, N.D.

Region 7 - Missoula, Mont.

Region 8 – Denver

Taylor Hooton Foundation

The Taylor Hooton Foundation (THF) was formed in 2004 in memory of Taylor E. Hooton, a 17-year-old high school athlete from Plano, Texas, who played American Legion Baseball and took his own life on July 15, 2003, after using anabolic steroids.

Taylor Hooton’s parents, family and friends founded the THF after learning of the growing number of middle school, high school and college students illegally using and abusing anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), unregulated dietary supplements, and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APEDs).

As two tenants of The American Legion Baseball Code of Sportsmanship are “keep myself fit” and “keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body,” the THF is widely recognized as a leader in education on the topic of youth APEDs in the United States, Canada and Latin America. With the passing of Resolution No. 12, The American Legion commends the Taylor Hooton Foundation for its efforts in providing parents, coaches and other adult influencers with knowledge and tools to help raise awareness about the dangers of appearance and performance enhancing drugs by making the right choices with respect to healthy lifestyle.

For more information on the Taylor Hooton Foundation, visit www.taylorhooton.org.