LAC SAINT CLAIR little league

World’s Largest Youth Sports Organization Offers Lessons in Baseball and Life

BY ANNA SWARTZ

“Little league International is the biggest youth sports organization in the world,” says Lac Saint Clair Little League President Matt Crippen. “It’s a great community-based league, and it gives kids a chance at all skill levels to compete.” Approximately 600 boys and girls ranging from 4 to 16 years of age participate in the league each spring and summer.

Crippen, 53, has been involved with Lac Saint Clair for 18 years. It all started when he registered his two oldest children, then 4 and 5 years old, to play. All of Crippen’s four children have been active in the league, and his youngest, at age 11, is still involved.

“Baseball is America’s pastime, always has been,” Crippen says. “It’s a great opportunity for a young kid to give it a try and see how they like it. It’s a chance to make new friends and have a new experience.” Crippen himself has met some of his best friends through the league, which is run by all volunteers.

Most games are played Monday through Thursday, except for one or two makeup games due to a rainout. Crippen says the league’s two state-of-the-art fields are located behind American House Lakeshore on Jefferson. The senior living community is the former site of St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church, which is how Lac Saint Clair received its former name of St. Gertrude Baseball Association.

History of Lac Saint Clair

President Emeritus and Girls Divisions Director Mike Fremont has been involved as a coach or board member since 1980, when Lac Saint Clair was still called St. Gertrude. At that time, six different leagues existed in St. Clair Shores. When the city decided on a reorganization in the mid-1980s resulting in one league, the St. Clair Shores Baseball Softball Association, St. Gertrude decided to remain a separate league. About 12 years ago, Fremont says, St. Gertrude joined the National Little League Assocation and changed their name to Lac Saint Clair.

“I really think two leagues [in the city] makes everything more competitive, "Fremont says. “It gives people options.”

Fremont’s son Mike Jr. and daughter Kristine were both involved with the league. Fremont reminisces about some epic wins, including one Bronco state championship win for his son in 1986 and one Little League state win for his granddaughter Hannah Fremont in 2014. Fremont served as a coach for both his son and daughter, and he coached alongside his son for Hannah’s team.

Life Lessons

Fremont sees importance not just in winning, of course, but in the lessons learned by participating. “I think playing organized sports [is beneficial] when you’re out there with likeminded individuals who want the best for their kids,” Fremont says. “The kids have to get up early and go to practice. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of life lessons. You have to cover your bases, and you’re backing each other up. That’s what you do in life.”

Fremont also currently teaches baseball for St. Clair Shores-based nonprofit Kids on the Go, as well as St. Clair Shores Adult and Community Education classes. In addition, he was previously the Lake Shore High School softball junior varsity team coach for about 10 years.

Registration & Season Info

Lac Saint Clair is open to all St. Clair Shores residents, as well as neighboring communities. A boundary map is available on www.lacsaintclair.org.

Regular season starts May 1 and ends by July 4. Practice begins in April. Teams are likely formed for the spring season. However, to see if there are openings for girls, contact Coach Mike Fremont at coachfr3@gmail.com or (586) 531-2352.

Also, Lac Saint Clair will have a boys second season in the summer, from mid-July through end of August. They also hope to have a girls fall season with practice starting in mid-August with games in September and October. Email lacsaintclairlittleleague@gmail.com for more details.

The league is always looking for sponsors. For more information about becoming a sponsor, find information at www.lacsaintclair.org