Fences for Little League Series pushed back

But it's not because of steroids; organizers want outfielders to run more

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JT The Brick

updated 6:57 p.m. ET March 27, 2006

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Steroids aren’t to blame, but even Little League is focusing on its power hitters.

Construction started last week to push the fences back 20 feet at the home of the Little League World Series, cutting the chances for homers and creating a more spacious outfield that should lead to more doubles and triples.

The fences at South Williamsport’s Howard J. Lamade and Volunteer stadiums will be 225 feet from home plate once construction wraps up in July. The distance to the fences has been 205 feet at both venues.

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The decision to push back the fences is not intended to thwart a growing population of pumped-up 12-year-olds, but instead to give outfielders more ground to cover.

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“While home run production has remained fairly constant over the last several years, we have noticed there are few doubles and triples,” said Joseph W. Losch, senior vice president of Little League Baseball and Softball. “This move, while probably decreasing home run production by a small fraction, will increase the possibilities for other extra-base hits.”