Key Takeaways
- Ingram Little League received $25,000 from Little League International’s Disaster Relief Fund after July 2025 floods completely destroyed its facilities serving 200+ children
- The Hill Country Floods killed more than 135 people and devastated the City of Ingram and surrounding Texas areas
- Combined support totaling over $2.5 million from Little League partners and the Houston Astros Foundation will rebuild three baseball/softball fields, two practice fields, and batting cages for the 2026 season
- League registration has already increased ahead of reopening, with families eager to return to youth baseball and softball
- Little League’s newly established Disaster Relief Fund has supported five leagues affected by natural disasters in 2025
Community Impact of Hill Country Floods
The July 2025 Hill Country Floods struck the City of Ingram, Texas with devastating force, destroying homes and businesses while claiming the lives of more than 135 people. Among the losses was the complete destruction of Ingram Little League’s facility, a community anchor that served more than 200 children and their families.
The flood damage eliminated not just playing fields but a gathering place central to the local youth sports ecosystem. The facility’s destruction left families without access to organized baseball and softball programs during a period when community connection became critical to recovery efforts.
Financial Support Through Disaster Relief Fund
Little League International responded with a $25,000 grant from its Disaster Relief Fund, established in 2025 specifically to assist leagues recovering from natural disasters. The donation provides immediate financial resources to prepare Ingram’s fields for the 2026 season.
“Little League is all about community, but unfortunately, natural disasters like the Hill Country Floods occur every year in communities all around the world,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Following the devastation, however, it’s often our local Little League fields that become the first place that families and neighborhoods turn to for recovery and to return to a sense of normalcy.”
The Disaster Relief Fund represents Little League International’s formalized approach to supporting leagues facing emergency situations. Before Ingram, the fund supported four other leagues affected by natural disasters in 2025: Martinez Evans (Georgia) Little League, Canton (North Carolina) Little League, Indian Rocks Beach (Florida) Little League, and North Asheville (North Carolina) Little League, which also received the 2025 Carl E. Stotz Little League Community of the Year Award.
Multi-Partner Reconstruction Effort
Ingram Little League’s recovery extends beyond Little League International’s contribution. The league secured support from multiple Little League Official Partners, including the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, Musco Lighting, Rawlings, and Pitch In For Baseball & Softball.
The Houston Astros Foundation contributed a $2.5 million initiative to the broader recovery efforts. Combined, these funding sources will finance construction of three new baseball/softball fields, two practice fields, batting cages, and additional amenities. The investment also covers equipment and operational necessities required to run a full season.
“This grant will have an incredible impact. The greatest impact of the flooding involved our community,” said Mark Hensley, Ingram Little League President. “Our opinion is that all of these kids need a win right now.”
Registration Growth Signals Community Need
Ingram Little League has already documented increased registration for the upcoming season, indicating strong demand from families seeking to re-engage with youth sports programming. The registration uptick suggests the facility’s return will address a concrete community need during the recovery period.
“We’ve already seen an increase in our registration for next year,” Hensley noted. “There are a lot of kids and parents that are looking forward to getting out on these fields. It’s going to be a great thing for this community.”
The registration data provides measurable evidence of how youth sports facilities function as recovery infrastructure following disasters. Families appear ready to participate even before construction completes, viewing the 2026 season as a milestone in returning to pre-flood normalcy.
Role of Youth Sports Facilities in Disaster Recovery
Little League fields serve dual purposes in disaster-affected communities. They function as recreational venues during normal operations, but become gathering spaces and symbols of recovery following emergencies. The organization acknowledges this pattern occurs across communities worldwide experiencing natural disasters each year.
Wilson emphasized this dynamic: “As the Ingram community recovers from the destruction they faced this summer, we are proud to provide the league with this donation to help support their efforts and provide the families, volunteers, and most importantly, the children with a place to write their own Little League story.”
The Disaster Relief Fund operates on the principle that baseball and softball fields provide families with their first experience of normalcy after disasters. Little League International commits to ensuring fields and equipment are available when communities reach the recovery stage where organized youth activities become feasible.
Looking Ahead
Ingram Little League’s 2026 season represents both a functional milestone and a symbolic one. The multi-million dollar facility investment positions the league with improved infrastructure compared to pre-flood conditions, while addressing the immediate need for youth programming in a recovering community.
The league’s reconstruction timeline targets spring 2026, giving the organization several months to complete facility work, recruit volunteers, and finalize operational logistics. Registration increases suggest families will show up when fields open, testing whether the investment translates into sustained participation and community benefit.
The Ingram case also establishes precedent for how Little League International and its partners respond to member leagues facing disaster situations. With five leagues receiving support from the Disaster Relief Fund in its inaugural year, the organization demonstrates both capacity and commitment to emergency assistance within the youth baseball and softball ecosystem.
via: Little League International
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