06/23/2026
🏆⚾ Congratulations to our 2026 Community Leadership Award Winners! ⚾🏆
The Olivia Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize 212 Youth Baseball as this year's Community Leadership Award recipient!
For decades, 212 Youth Baseball has provided opportunities for youth throughout our area to develop their skills, build friendships, learn teamwork, and create lasting memories on and off the field. Their dedication to investing in our youth and strengthening our communities has made a lasting impact on countless families.
Thank you to the volunteers, coaches, board members, sponsors, parents and supporters who have helped make 212 Youth Baseball such a tremendous success over the years.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! 🎉⚾
The 212 League was founded in the 1980s by Don Orth, Tom Smith, and Steve Berg. Recognizing a growing demand for organized youth sports opportunities, they created a program that would give local children more opportunities to play baseball, develop their skills, and build lifelong friendships. What started as a response to a community need quickly became a cornerstone of youth athletics in our area.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the 212 League is that it has always been driven by volunteers. From its very beginning, parents have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to make this program successful, and that tradition continues today. The BOLD Youth Baseball Organization now operates the league, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade from both BOLD and BLHS. Through T-Ball, Minors, and Majors divisions, the league provides opportunities for children of all skill levels to learn, compete, and enjoy the game of baseball close to home.
Beyond the local league, the organization also oversees traveling teams from 8U through 14U and hosts a highly successful annual tournament each May for 9U, 10U, 11U, and 12U teams. This event brings athletes, families, and visitors from across the state to our communities, creating a positive economic and social impact while showcasing the dedication of the many volunteers who make it possible.
The success of the 212 League would not be possible without its current board members: President John Benson, Treasurer Matt Fischer, Darin Ditterich, Andrew Mathiowetz, Mark Neubauer, Derek Wertz, and Mike Benson. Their leadership, along with the many volunteers who support the organization, continues the vision established more than four decades ago.
For their commitment to youth development, community involvement, and the positive influence they have had on generations of young athletes, the Olivia Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 2026 Community Leadership Award to the 212 Baseball League.