Last week, Calistoga Little League held an election in its final effort to recruit new board members and volunteers, but with no applicants to fill a dozen open positions, the choice to shutter the chapter was clear.
“It’s not a decision we came to lightly,” said Aime Dunstan, Calistoga Little League president. “We’ve had this same kind of lack of volunteer commitment from the community for several years; and for the four of us this year to take on the responsibilities of 10 to 12 people, as a board, was really challenging.”
The 2024 season kicked off in March with only enough youth to field t-ball and one minor-level softball team. All remaining registered 35 baseball and softball players were integrated into St. Helena’s Little League program, and for the first time in the League’s 62-year history, opening day took place not at Tedeschi Field, but at Crane Park in St. Helena.
It was then, at the beginning of the season, that the Calistoga league’s board members sounded the alarm – that it would be the club's final season if participation from both kids and parents did not pick up.
“Calistoga is a different place than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago,” Dunstan said. “A lot of the homes are second or third homes… there's not as many young families with children in town.”
The Calistoga league was founded in 1962 and has fielded teams continuously since – except for 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted team sports. Since the league’s return in 2022, it has struggled with waning interest from both players and the parent volunteers needed to operate the nonprofit organization.
“I’m really grateful for the people who have given their time and their talent to Calistoga Little League because it takes a lot to coach a team and to be a leader and a role model to these kids and it takes a lot to fill a board role,” Dunstan said, adding that the shutdown is more a symptom of changing demographics than of community willingness to volunteer.
Luckily, the neighboring league, which has not suffered decline in interest, but rather has been growing, and has a full, 15-member board, invited Calistoga’s young players to join its ranks.
“St. Helena was very welcoming to our players,” Dunstan said. “The families were so kind and supportive, and the overall experience was really fantastic.”
Anna Marie Longo, St. Helena Little League’s 2024 president and longtime board member, oversaw the integration of Calistoga’s players into St. Helena, whose numbers then grew to 260 players for the year.
“I thought it was seamless having Calistoga players as part of our league – or really rather, bringing our two leagues together – and extending to be more of an upvalley community,” Longo said. “We are enthusiastic and prepared to see this continue and to hopefully make it a more permanent, official combination.”
Calistoga City Councilmember Lisa Gift’s son, Fin, was one of dozens of players who transferred into St. Helena’s Little League this past season.
“At the end of the day, St. Helena Little League and their president, they welcomed Calistoga Little League with open arms and have been nothing but gracious,” Gift said. “We’re incredibly grateful that we've been able to combine forces, and all the kids are able to play. Because at the end of the day, that's what it’s about; it’s about the kids having a good time.”
Gift said her hope is that Calistoga can work out an agreement to keep the legacy of Tedeschi Field alive by offering the St. Helena league use of the field for practices and games – something that Dunstan said she is currently discussing with Calistoga Parks and Recreation.
“Calistoga has a pretty strong record of preserving historic use, so I’m confident that they would support this,” said Dunstan. “We’ll work together to make the best of this transition so that baseball can live on, and Little League can live on, in Calistoga.”
Registration for St. Helena Little League’s 2025 season will open in October. Longo said the chapter plans to run an outreach campaign in Calistoga to raise awareness about the merging leagues. Questions can be emailed to Longo at president@sthelenalittleleague.org.
