MSBL League Profile: Red River Adult Baseball League, David Pratt, League President
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
David Pratt has been the League President of the Red River Adult Baseball League, located in Shreveport, Louisiana, since 2009, following in the shoes of Brian Horn, David Petersen, Jim Cardelli, and Jay Williams. The league began in 1993 and now consists of two divisions and a total of nine teams.
“I just enjoy providing the opportunity for these guys to play. It certainly carries a load of stress with it, but it’s all worth it. If I’m being honest, my favorite part is right after the last championship game, when I can take a deep breath and say we made it through another successful season.” David Pratt
We asked David, our 2015 MSBL Honor Roll inductee, if he would mind sharing his experiences with our readers and he readily agreed to answer some questions for us. Please enjoy!
League name: Red River Adult Baseball League
Your name: David Pratt, League President
What is the history of the league and how did it start? The league began in 1993 as the Shreveport-Bossier Men’s Senior Baseball League. The first president and league founder was Brian Horn.
What age divisions of play are now offered? Two divisions: 18+ & 30+
How many teams are anticipated this year? 18+ 4 teams, 30+ 5 teams. 9 total
When does the league begin play and when will it finish, including any playoffs? Our season begins the weekend of April 27-28 and will conclude with the playoffs the last weekend of August.
When did you personally start playing in the league? I began playing in 2001. I turned 27 that year. Back then the league was only 30+, but you could have three players on your team that could be 27 to 29. A friend recruited me to his team as one of their under-30 exceptions. I sure wish I could have been playing from the end of my college career and not missed those years until I turned 27.
What is your personal baseball playing history? I was an all-district shortstop in high school. I went on to play at TCU for two years in the old Southwest Conference and finished up with two years at Centenary College of Louisiana back when it was still a Div. 1 baseball program.
When did you become president? 2009
Who were your predecessors and are they still involved in any capacity? Brian Horn 1993-1999, David Petersen 2000-2004, Jim Cardelli 2005-2007, Jay Williams 2008, David Pratt 2009-current. Jay Williams still plays in our league when he gets the opportunity. The prior presidents are not involved in any capacity. I didn’t realize that I am the longest tenured president in our league history until I just answered this question for you. Wow. It has been longer than I realized.
What is your most memorable MSBL moment as a president or a player? I have had so many great moments being associated with this league that it is hard to think of just one. We used to get to put an all-star team together and play an exhibition against the professional team in town at their stadium. That was fun.
Our professional team left town years ago and that opportunity is gone, perhaps forever. Playing in MSBL regional tournaments were always a blast. I have been to tournaments in Memphis, Birmingham, New Orleans, Dallas, and Houston…and we hosted our own regional tournament a few times.
Our team came close to winning tournaments several times, but finally breaking through and winning the Texas Cup in Houston is a good memory. The best memories are just hanging out with our buddies on our league team and playing baseball in the summer. This will be my 24th year playing in the league and having fun with friends has always been what it’s all about.
What challenges did you face when you started the league or when you took over? The league was a bit unstable when I was presented with the opportunity to become league president. We weren’t financially stable and the popularity of the league was fading a bit. There was a decision to be made about the age divisions. The original group was getting older and they wanted to stay competitive, understandably. But, if we didn’t bring in younger guys the league would age out and possibly disappear.
We lowered the age from 30+ to 25+ and initially, the older group left the league to start their own league. But after a few seasons, they came back and we began offering two age divisions under the same league umbrella. We would try a season or two at 25+, then lower the limit to 23+, then 21+, and eventually got to where we are now at 18+. The older division was at 35+ and then got lowered to the current age limit at 30+. We even had a 45+ division with four teams for several years.
What are your biggest challenges today? Fields are our top challenge every year. We do not have adult-sized public city fields in Shreveport. The neighboring city has one field but does not allow league play on it. It is reserved for travel ball tournaments only. The private schools are not inclined to allow us on their fields and the public school fields have become too expensive and the process through which we have to work with the school boards is not realistic.
It is frustrating to have been good stewards of the game and good tenants at the ballparks for over 30 years now and most of the local schools just don’t want anyone on their fields or don’t want to keep the fields up during the summer.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction? Just seeing the guys playing the game they love. I understand that it takes a while to get to the point in life where you are literally just happy to be playing ball. You have to get past that point where winning is everything and where a bad call by an umpire sticks with you the rest of the night. If you ever get to the point where you realize, in the middle of a game, that you are with friends on a nice summer evening, still playing the game you have loved forever, you’ve gained a level of appreciation that eludes many.
What do you see for the league in the future? Our league has evolved over the years. Most noticeably, we have moved from a league with 10 teams per age division with two real competitive teams per, to 4 or 5 teams per age division where anyone can win any game. The talent has become concentrated, and it makes for some really good baseball.
I think this version will continue for some time. As long as someone will allow us to play on their field, I believe the league will continue to produce good baseball. If we are denied field access by the few that allow us to use them now, that could be a fatal blow.
What is the reason for the continued success of the league? The commitment level of the players. The diehards come back year after year. Each team has those players that you can pencil in for every game. They make plans around their baseball schedule. Those guys are the heartbeat of our league. As long as those guys still exist, the league will be successful.
What part of running the league do you enjoy most? It’s not collecting money, that’s for sure! I just enjoy providing the opportunity for these guys to play. It certainly carries a load of stress with it, but it’s all worth it. If I’m being honest, my favorite part is right after the last championship game…when I can take a deep breath and say we made it through another season. The rainouts, rescheduling, the heat, and so many other factors provide pressure to make it all work for everyone involved. You do the best you can and hope others see what you are pushing for and climb on board.
Do you still play in the league? Yes. I am 48 now and I play in the 18+ division. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to say that now that my body seems to be falling apart at a much more rapid pace than it used to. It’s year to year now.
What is the history of your league team’s participation in any MSBL national tournaments? For many years our league sent a team to Florida. Then it was just a group of guys that would join an existing team from another league for a few years. Now, we have a family that plays in Arizona almost every season in the Father-Son Division. Larry Goswick and his two sons, Brandon and Shane, have been traveling out west for many years to participate.
What would you say are the most important accomplishments in your league? The league still being in existence after 31 years is THE major accomplishment. It has been an uphill fight the whole way. I am proud of the many individuals that have been playing over 20 years in our league. And, we have many more that have been playing over 10 years in the league.
I also have to give a special shout-out to our coaches. Nobody wants the responsibility of coaching, and I have seen many teams die off as soon as their long-time coach hangs them up. But, the ones who step up really care and they make the sacrifice to keep the opportunity alive for their guys to play. If it weren’t for their commitment and hard work, this league wouldn’t make it. Thank you, coaches!
How valuable is your relationship with MSBL? It is soooo valuable. Being affiliated with MSBL instantly legitimizes our league. The guidance that MSBL provides is invaluable. I have asked many questions over the years to Steve Sigler and he has always steered me in the right direction. The network of MSBL presidents is also really beneficial. I reached out to many of them in our region this summer to gauge league pricing from the group as our field rental and umpire prices continue to rise.
For new presidents, MSBL provides you with the tools you need to get going or not skip a beat if you are taking over an existing league. I remember when I took over and I didn’t have a clue where to start. I reached out to Steve and he sent me all the info to get me going. I’ll tell you one thing, the group insurance for fields through MSBL is a life-saver. We would never be allowed on the fields without it and we couldn’t afford it without MSBL providing the policy. I am very thankful for our partnership and a great relationship with MSBL.
What advice would you give to new league presidents? My bit of advice would be to have your finger on the pulse of the league. Hear from the players what’s working and what’s not. Don’t be afraid to ask. Playing in the league is an advantage because you’re right in the middle of it. If you can play, do play. It is helpful.
If I hear of a player that has moved to our area and joined our league after playing in another league somewhere else, I seek them out in the second half of the season to ask them what are we doing well and not doing well. The only way to grow as a president and better the league is to get the feedback.
How important is family support? If I didn’t have the family support, this whole chapter of my life wouldn’t have even happened. My wife (Keeley) and three daughters (Addison, Morgan & Brynn) have always been supportive of my men’s league participation. I was playing ball in college when my wife and I met. So, she’s always known what baseball means to me. I had already been playing in the RRABL for 5 years when my first child was born. My three kiddos have only ever known me playing in, and being president of, our league. It’s no big deal for them.
We have a unique situation where my wife is a dance studio owner and instructor. We literally live a life where she is pursuing the sport/art that she loves and I get to pursue mine in my way as well. It works for us! I applaud the wives and girlfriends of our league members who understand the love these guys have for baseball and they support that. The number one reason I get year after year for guys who leave the league is that they have a new baby at home. I can’t relate.
I had three babies over the years and the thought never crossed my mind that I might have to quit playing. If it’s important enough to you, it should be important enough to your family as well to support you in it. It goes both ways too, and we have to support them the same way in what they love and deem important. That’s why I have been to way too many dance competitions to count over the last 22 years of marriage!