A Legacy of Community and Baseball: The History of West University Little League

West University Little League (WULL) stands as a testament to the power of community, volunteerism, and a shared love for baseball. From its humble beginnings as part of Houston Little League to its current status as one of the largest leagues in the nation, WULL's journey is a story of growth, adaptation, and unwavering dedication to providing children with opportunities for athletic development and personal growth.

The Early Years: From Houston Little League to Independent Organization

The seeds of West University Little League were sown in the 1950s when it was established as a part of the broader Houston Little League. However, the desire for local control and a more focused approach led to a pivotal decision in 1954. In this year, WULL separated from Houston Little League, marking the birth of an independent organization dedicated to serving the youth of West University and surrounding areas.

A Vision for the Future: Securing Playing Fields

The leaders understood the importance of having dedicated spaces for the children to play and hone their skills. Recognizing the shrinking availability of public land and the ever-present threat of losing playing fields to development, WULL took a proactive approach.

In the 1990s, WULL joined forces with other local sports associations to purchase South Campus lands and the fields by Pershing Middle School. This foresight proved crucial, allowing WULL to expand its programs and serve a growing number of young athletes.

The sports fields and facilities at South Campus are the product of a twenty-year evolution of concerned citizens’ thinking and planning about how best to ensure that the places that our children play are protected against potential encroachment from commercial development and school construction.

The Stella Link Redevelopment Authority and McGovern Park

The Stella Link Redevelopment Authority (SLRA) was formed in 1989 as a public-private partnership to help address crime and other problems associated with certain dilapidated areas along the Stella Link corridor southwest of downtown Houston. Working with the City, local neighborhood associations, and private foundations, SLRA raised funds to purchase 22 acres of dangerous properties nearby and between Pershing Middle School and Mark Twain Elementary School. The area was redeveloped as the John McGovern Campus Park, which included space dedicated to youth sports fields, a public library branch, a new YMCA, a day center for senior citizens, and a private park and walking trail. The 7.5 acres dedicated to youth sports fields was initially developed into two baseball fields and a softball field, to be utilized by Braes Bayou Little League, West University Little League, and West University Softball Association. Following the merger of the Braes Bayou and West University Little Leagues in 2005, the baseball and softball leagues that played at McGovern Park formed Greater West University Area Sports Association, which purchased the sports fields and has operated and maintained the land and facilities ever since.

South Campus: A Permanent Home for Youth Sports

During the development of the fields at McGovern Park, the families at the heart of SLRA recognized that those fields alone would not be sufficient to accommodate the needs of the area’s growing youth sports organizations. In the face of shrinking public acreage available for youth sports league use, and with the knowledge and experience gained in the development of McGovern Park, community leaders recognized the compelling need for a more permanent solution. The area’s youth sports organizations needed a sizable property, which could be privately purchased and developed, free of the threat of those facilities ever being lost or taken away. In 1998, a number of local families personally guaranteed a bank loan so that SLRA could purchase 75 acres of land just east of Stella Link Boulevard, just south of the 610 South Loop. South Campus was born.

Using the McGovern Campus Park as a model, SLRA sold 12 acres at the northwest corner of the original South Campus tract to a group that founded and built the Emery Weiner School. At the other end of the tract, a smaller portion of the land was sold for the development of the St. Catherine’s Montessori School. In 2003, the South Campus Sports Association was formed as a separate section 501(c)(3) organization by four area youth sports leagues-West University Little League, Braes Bayou Little League, West University Softball Association, and the Near Town Soccer Club-with the singular purpose of purchasing and developing the remaining acreage. Later in 2003, the Southwest Football League and Houston Youth Lacrosse joined the South Campus family. Thanks to the generous donations from area families, corporations, and charitable foundations, the SCSA development is complete and encompasses the following:

6 baseball fields
5 softball fields
4 soccer fields and 3 futsol courts
3 football/lacrosse fields and press boxes
3 concessions stand and restroom facilities

The fields and facilities at South Campus are used year-round by over 5,000 area youth.

Expanding Horizons: The Merger with Braes Bayou Little League

WULL further expanded its reach and impact by merging with Braes Bayou Little League. This strategic move broadened the league's player base and strengthened its position as a leading youth sports organization in the region.

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A League for All: The Challenger Division

WULL's commitment to inclusivity is exemplified by its Challenger Division, a baseball program for boys and girls ages 5 through the final year of high school or 22 (whichever comes first) with physical and mental challenges. The most fundamental goal of the Challenger Division is to give everyone a chance to play baseball and have a rewarding experience, regardless of limitations. This program affords every child the opportunity to participate in a structured athletic program and have a wonderful time. The Challenger Division was originally developed in 1989 and is Little League International's way of providing boys and girls with challenges the opportunity to experience the emotional development and the fun of playing Little League baseball. Today, more than 22,000 players participate in the Little League Challenger Division nationwide.

The Challenger program also helps to establish strong bonds of friendship and understanding between Little Leaguers from other programs and Challenger children in an atmosphere of sharing and caring.

Tri-Sports: A Collaborative Effort

West University Tri-Sports Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, with membership consisting of West University Little League (WULL), West University Softball Association (WUSA), and West University Soccer (WUSC, a division of Rise Soccer Club).

Tri-Sports is responsible for all aspects of the management, maintenance, improvement, and operation of three publicly owned youth sports field campuses in and around West University and the Southside Place.

Tri-Sports was formed in 1982, at the request of the City of West U, by representatives of WULL, WUSA, and WUSC. Tri-Sports was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1987.

The Tri-Sports field campus portfolio consists of 7 fields on 6 acres at West U Elementary School, 2 fields on 2 acres at the West U Recreation Center, and 3 fields on 5 acres at Pershing Middle School. In total, there are 7 baseball fields, 4 softball fields, and 8 soccer fields. All fields are lighted. Four baseball fields and 3 softball fields in the spring are converted for use as soccer fields in the fall. The large soccer field at Pershing may be converted to 3 smaller short-sided fields, as needed.

The mission of Tri-Sports is to manage all aspects of its three public youth sports fields campuses for the benefit and betterment of the health and welfare of children and families in West University Place, Southside Place, and neighboring communities.

Tri-Sports is run entirely by volunteers. The initial funding for Tri-Sports was provided by West U, Southside Place, and matching funds available from the Houston Independent School District. When that matching funds program was eliminated in 1987, the three Tri-Sports member leagues picked up the funding difference. Every year since 1982, West U and Southside Place have provided funding to help Tri Sports offset about half the costs of its field management, maintenance, improvement, and operation activities.

A World Series Memory: The 20XX Champions

The Senior Little League World Series, which is affiliated with the regular Little League World Series that's played in Williamsport, Pa., every year, is for players who are sophomores in high school or younger, so it's essentially a 16-and-under tournament. There were 10 teams in the World Series, and the Texans had to play their best. The Texans lost a game to New Jersey, but it was a double-elimination tournament and they still had a chance. "Since we lost to New Jersey, we had to beat Wisconsin. Otherwise, we would have gone home," said Gauntt. The Texans said they had a great time in Maine, and not just on the field or in the winner's circle. "We got to hang out with the guys from the other teams," he said. "It was pretty friendly there. There wasn't any big rivalry or anything. "We knew we had something special from Day 1, just from the chemistry and the results on the field," said Farney, thinking back about 10 years. "The first tournament we ever played, we won. Neal, Gauntt, Resnick, Luna and Farney are all high school juniors now in Houston. Neal attends St. John's, Gauntt is at Episcopal, Resnick goes to Westside, while Luna and Farney attend Lamar.

Farney, normally the shortstop for the West University Little League all-star team from Houston that won the title, was playing second base when a batter for California hit a popup with two outs in the bottom of the last inning and Texas clinging to a 9-7 lead. "So on ESPN they said, 'Farney's got it,'" he related. "I waved my hands as far as I could and yelled (for the catch). And Matt had kicked off his shoes, and Michael Resnick had thrown his glove. Matt is Matt Luna, one of his teammates on that Senior Little League team from Texas and also one of his teammates on the Houston Heat Black team that's playing in the WWBA Underclass tournament. Michael Resnick was another member of the Senior Little League champs who's playing for the Houston Heat. All five of those guys have played together for years, many of them since they were young kids. They feel that's one of the reasons they won the Senior Little League title.

"They had a pool out in left field that noone had ever hit the ball into before," he said.

Farney said all the players on the Senior Little League champions came from a compact area in Houston, which he estimated at two square miles. Farney has watched the tape of the World Series championship game about 12 times. Every time, he catches the ball for the final out.

"People always ask me, 'What happened to the ball,'" Farney related Saturday at the WWBA Underclass World Championship in Fort Myers, Fla. "I should have kept the ball, but I didn't care. That ball would have been a nice collector's item, but it's long gone by now. Nobody on the team has it and nobody knows where it went.

A Year-Round Commitment: Spring and Fall Ball

WULL offers baseball from our Tadpole division (5 years old) up through our Senior division (15 and 16-year olds). Our league runs throughout the year with Fall and Spring Ball.

Volunteerism: The Heart of WULL

Volunteerism is essential to WULL, as it is the parents who run the organization. All teams are assigned Dugout Duty in the WULL Concession Stand and run every aspect of the league.

WULL Mission Statement

West University Little League is a non-profit volunteer organization whose mission is to assist children (5-16) in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being.

WULL Today

Today West University Little League is one of the largest little leagues in the country with approximately 1500 players.

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