WHEREAS, for 50 years, West Springfield Little League has supported young people in the Fairfax County community by providing opportunities for athletic development and personal achievement; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League was founded by Charlie Clark and a group of local parents and community leaders in 1972, and more than 41,000 children have learned teamwork, cultivated good sportsmanship, and honed their skills in the history of the league; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League serves children between the ages of five and 13 in multiple levels, including 5T, T-Ball, 1A, AA, AAA, Majors, and Intermediate; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League has organized individual seasons with more than 1,200 children playing baseball on 100 teams at various age levels, and the league remains one of the largest and most well-organized youth baseball organizations in the region; and

WHEREAS, in 1993, West Springfield Little League formed a Challenger Division for children, teenagers, and adults with physical and intellectual challenges that earned national accolades and has grown into one of the largest such programs in the world; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League previously renovated and now plays at the fields at the Burke School Byron Avenue Park; the league has maintained its fields through the support of parents and volunteers, Fairfax County agencies, and organizations like the Davis Elkins Foundation; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League annually hosts Byronfest, a popular festival and cookout that brings the community and family members together to support players as they participate in fun activities and skills competitions, such as a home run derby; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League makes an extraordinary effort to collaborate with local businesses, building support by engaging with them in many sponsorship partnerships, and supporting those businesses through spirit days and other opportunities; and

WHEREAS, West Springfield Little League teams have consistently achieved success over the years, winning 45 District 9 championships and six state titles in 17 state championship appearances; and

WHEREAS, throughout its history, West Springfield Little League has fulfilled its mission through the hard work and generosity of volunteer managers, coaches, umpires, concession stand workers, and board members, as well as the dedicated support of parents, fans, and local businesses; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That West Springfield Little League hereby be commended on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to West Springfield Little League as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's contributions to young people in Fairfax County.