Press Release

American Baseball Comes to Macedonia

General Manager of U.S. Team Donates Equipment to Local League
May 15, 2007

Vermont Partnership 2007 helps bring baseball to Macedonia (large photo)	General Manager of U.S. Team Donates Equipment to Local League (large photo)

Efforts to introduce baseball to Macedonia got a big boost on Tuesday when C.J. Knudsen, General Manager of the Vermont Lake Monsters, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team, handed over uniforms, bats, balls, and other equipment donated to Macedonia’s first youth “Little League”-style baseball organization. 

“Both Macedonians and Americans love team sports,” said Knudsen.  “Athletic competition is an excellent way to promote friendship and mutual understanding between peoples and countries.”

Ljuben Tevdoski, Head of the Youth Sector of the Agency of Youth and Sport, attended the ceremony, along with representatives of NOVA and QSI International Schools in Skopje.  In addition to Macedonians and Americans, members of the Macedonian baseball organization include many other nationalities as well. 

Mr. Knudsen traveled to Macedonia as part of the Vermont Partnership 2007, which marks the long-standing relationship between Macedonia and Vermont.  Begun in 1995 as primarily a military-to-military relationship between the Macedonian Army and the Vermont National Guard, the Partnership has grown, and this year includes crisis management exercises, the establishment of university partnerships, economic development discussions, and support for the Macedonian youth baseball organization. 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Vermont Lake Monsters is a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Washington Nationals, a Major League team.  Players on minor league teams are professional athletes who, if they prove themselves, can be promoted to the Major League team with which they are affiliated.

“Little League Baseball” is the name of a non-profit organization in the United States that coordinates local children's baseball leagues throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world.  The Little League was founded in 1939 with three teams in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  There are now millions of Little League players in thousands of local Little Leagues around the world.

Macedonia’s “Little League” was started in December 2006 and is playing its first season in 2007.  Boys and girls from age 7 to 13 are welcome to participate.  For more information, please email baseballMK2007@yahoo.com