Syracuse Challenger Baseball kicks off season with major expansion announcement

DEWITT, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — With that swing of the bat, the Syracuse Challenger Baseball season was underway Tuesday afternoon. What made everyone keep their eye on the ball, a major expansion for carrier park.

“This complex is going to be a game changer not only for Central New York and New York state, but the entire northeast and Canada,” said executive director Dom Cambareri.

The park will be getting four new astro-turf fields allowing for more games each week making it the largest state-of-the-art facility of its kind on the east coast.

Latest local news

• Saturday’s Taste of Syracuse and Greek Fest forecast
• Tell Me Something Good: Playing the blues
• Your Stories Q&A: An update on the redevelopment at the former Le Moyne Manor site
• Fundraiser to be held at Swallow’s to honor the fallen heroes
• Proposal to build new hotel causes concern over lack of parking

That’s big for the league after breaking a new record for players signed up with 250.

“It gives me an opportunity to help out in the community and help my team and be involved in a sport that I love,” said Parker Wall, who’s been playing in the league for 10 years.

The expansion creates a sense of community on the diamond and in the dugout.

“We’re going to be able to have everybody together. Juniors, adults, seniors playing at one park which is the most important thing,” said Rebecca DeJohn, the adult program director. “We want that inclusion altogether instead of having them in separate places.”

It’s an expansion that’ll be a home run for carrier park.

“This has been a dream of Syracuse Challenger Baseball and myself since 2006,” said Cambareri. “To see that dream come to full fruition in 2024 is the greatest feeling and experience anyone could be a part of.”

And the league had even more exciting news to share. A documentary showcasing the Syracuse Challenger Baseball road to the Little League Series from August of 2023 will air on PBS on June 16th.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.