3&2 is pleased to announce that we are now affiliated with the Little League Baseball. We’ve all heard of Little League and probably even used the phrase to describe youth ball in general, but what is it in the context of league at 3&2 this year?
Little League is what’s known as a sanctioning body in youth baseball and softball. Sanctioning bodies, such as Little League, Perfect Game, Triple Crown, USA Baseball, etc… have certain membership requirements and rule sets to play under to promote the sport by playing their brand of ball. Each level of play you complete, qualifies you for the next level of play. The progressive levels for most sanctioning bodies, such as Little League include: Local Levels (ie. 3&2 League), District Levels, State Levels, Regional Levels, and World Levels.
What this means to you as a potential 2026 6th grade 3&2 league (5th grade playing up to 6th grade is also fine) team is absolutely zero change to the league experience you signed up or are planning to sign up for if you’re good as is…same games, same rules, same costs, no surprises.
Same is true if you are interested, BUT NOW….if you participate in our league and if you or some of your players want to play beyond traditional 3&2 league, you now have a pathway for them to play in the progression of levels, culminating in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA in August. That didn’t exist here in Kansas City before now. There was no Little League Charter here, and now there is through the Royals Crown Leagues and RADS. Members of that consortium of leagues like 3&2 are therefore sanctioned, chartered members of Little League.
What's next? If you play 6th Grade 3&2 league, you’re in! We'll fill you in on other qualifying details as the season approaches and the timeline of the Pathway to Williamsport.
Final note alongside league, 3&2 also intends on hosting a series of Little League tournament events throughout the spring/summer for teams in our league and others to play one another and get used to playing that brand of ball. These events will replace our League Team-Only events of previous years, but will still be discounted events, and focus on like-skilled competition at all age levels for our teams.
Bring on spring!