St. Helena Little League

14

Mar, 2026

SHLL Celebrated its 65th Season Honoring the Herdell Family

St. Helena Little League celebrated its 65th season Saturday with a special Opening Day ceremony at Crane Park that honored the Herdell family.

The league has been a cornerstone of youth baseball and softball in St. Helena since 1961, bringing together generations of families through the love of the game.

One of them, the Herdell family, was honored for its four generations of volunteering, leadership, and commitment to youth sports and education — as players, coaches, teachers, mentors, and tireless supporters of both the league and the broader St. Helena community.

“Their enduring commitment exemplifies the spirit, sportsmanship, and service that define Little League in our town,” SHLL said in a news release.

Joe Herdell is in his fifth year as head coach of the St. Helena High Saints baseball team. His grandfather, Vaughn Herdell, was a founding member of Napa Valley Little League — later renamed St. Helena Little League — in 1961 and helped to build the first ballfields at Crane Park.

“One would be hard-pressed to find another youth sport that captivates this community more than Little League,” said Joe Herdell, “Hundreds of St. Helena youth play Little League baseball and softball every year, and it brings our community together six evenings a week for three to four months. Involvement in Little League here in St. Helena is a direct connection to our community.

”The Opening Day festivities began at 9 a.m. and welcomed players, families, alumni, sponsors and community members to mark the historic milestone.

Board president Vincent Georges delivered opening remarks honoring the league’s rich history and recognizing the businesses, volunteers and families whose commitment has sustained St. Helena Little for six and a half decades.

Herdell has served as a manager, coach and/or board member for multiple youth sports organizations in St. Helena for more than 20 years.

What has fueled his family’s commitment?“

Vivid, heartwarming memories that connect generations,” he said. “Everything from the simple smell of freshly cut grass at Crane Park, or playing your first Majors game on Opening Day, or watching an unexpected player make a sensational play, or putting bat to ball in a key situation, to the fulfilling emotions of watching one of your ballplayers really grasp the game for the first time; these are memories that stick to your core. Coaching is fulfilling in a way many things cannot match. There is no greater joy than running into a former ballplayer years after you coached them and briefly catching up on lost time; that ‘Hey, Coach!’ really drives it home.”

The family business, Herdell Printing Inc., has also sponsored youth sports teams for 40 years. Elliott Knapp, the son of Lindsay Herdell-Knapp who is in his first season of Little League baseball, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Peter Herdell, who is starting his final Little League season in the Juniors Division.

More on the Herdells
Vaughn Herdell was also a Kiwanis Club member and president of the St. Helena chapter, one of the founding members of the St. Helena Knights of Columbus, and choirmaster at St. Helena Catholic Church.

Michael Herdell played his first season of St. Helena Little League in 1961. He served in the Calistoga Cubs youth football organization as a coach, board member and president and helped build Tedeschi Field in Calistoga. He was a board member and coach for Carpy Gang youth football for four years, managed Minors and Seniors teams for five years each, and was the JV head coach for one year and varsity head coach for seven years at St. Helena High.

Stephen Herdell played American Legion ball and served as head coach of St. Helena High JV softball for eight years and as varsity head coach for one year. He was in the Native Sons of the Golden West for 32 years and also in the Lions Club.

Julie Herdell was an elementary school teacher for 14 years and principal of West Park Elementary School for 24 years. In retirement, she’s a substitute teacher and was an early board member for the Napa Valley Vine Trail.

Patty DiTomaso (neé Herdell) coached SHLL softball teams and served as softball coordinator on the board. She’s been a Soroptimist of St. Helena board member for 35 years and is a past president. She’s currently president of the Saints Athletic Association.

Joe Herdell played in the SHLL and began his coaching career there in 2004. He managed the Seniors All-Star team that won district and section titles and played in the Northern California divisional round. He’s been a SHLL board member for 11 years, president two years, and umpire in chief six years. He was also a Carpy Gang coach and board member for 11 years, serving as president. He’s also been a SAA board member for 12 years, and has spent eight years as both a JV and varsity assistant coach for SHHS football.

Natalie Herdell has been a high school or elementary school teacher for 22 years, a Carpy Gang board member for 10 years, and a Parent Teacher Group member and president for two years.

Sarah Herdell, who played SHLL Majors and Seniors softball, was an agriculture teacher and FFA Floriculture Team coach at St. Helena High for 16 years, winning two state titles, and now teaches physical education. She’s been the cross country head coach for 10 years, a volleyball assistant coach for the past five years, and coached JV softball for one year.

Thomas Herdell had a long and storied SHLL career, a highlight being a district title won by his 9-10 All-Stars in 2015. He’s served as the JV football team’s quarterbacks coach for two years, managed the Herdell Printing Crushers last year and now manages the Buehler Vineyards Rangers.

Fundraising Campaign Launched
Opening Day marked the kickoff of the league’s 2026 Capital & Community Campaign, aimed at investing in critical facility improvements that will serve players and families for decades to come.

This year’s fundraising priorities include:
• Enhanced fencing improvements to improve player and spectator safety.
• Erosion mitigation projects to protect the fields and reduce short-term maintenance costs.
• Field lighting installation to safely extend hours of play and accommodate the league’s continued growth.
• Construction of a disabled-accessible restroom facility behind the snack shack, allowing players safe and convenient restroom access close to the fields.

“These improvements are about safety, accessibility and sustainability,” Georges said. “As we celebrate 65 years, we are also looking ahead, ensuring our facilities match the heart and growth of our league, and that every player has a safe and inclusive environment to play.”

Community members and local businesses are invited to participate in supporting this transformational campaign by contacting [email protected].

Team Sponsors and Managers
In Juniors Baseball, the Rangers are sponsored by Buehler Vineyards and managed by Jason Driscoll.

Juniors Softball features the Thunderbirds, sponsored by Brannan Center and managed by Rebecca Brookman, and the Cardinals, sponsored by Darrell Quirici, DDS, and managed by Dustin Dorman.

Led by manager Matthew Heil, the Crushers are sponsored by Herdell Printing Inc. in Intermediate Baseball.

Majors Baseball includes the Eagles, sponsored by American Legion and managed by Jeff Blaum; the Red Sox, sponsored by Central Valley and managed by Perry Clark; the Pirates, sponsored by Dan Wiley Photography and managed by James Eyer; and the Giants, sponsored by Steves Hardware and managed by Ted Smith.

In Minors Baseball, the Jaguars have sponsor St. Helena Optometry and manager Jimmy Martinez, the Mustangs have sponsor Spottswoode and manager Alma Garibay, the Panthers have sponsor St. Helena Police Officers Association and manager Adam Rotello, the Tigers have sponsor Sutter Home and manager Ignacia Delgadillo, and the Lions have sponsor Amizetta and manager Cole Freidmund.

The Wolves, sponsored by Decker Vineyard Management and managed by Michael Tillotson, represent Minors Softball.

Super Rookies teams include the Lugnuts (sponsor Gott’s Roadside, manager Madeline Breazeale), Rivercats (sponsor Menegon Catering, manager Joe Filippini), and Rockhounds (sponsor Bettinelli Vineyards, manager Jason Tamagni).

In Coach Pitch are the Seadogs (sponsor Artisan Tile, manager Junior Coleman), the Volcanoes (sponsor Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty, manager Jason Ray), the Cougars (sponsor Yes Chef Napa, manager Danny Knapp), and the Wizards (sponsor Paintworks, manager Jake Boydston).

“St. Helena Little League remains deeply appreciative of its sponsors, volunteers, alumni families, and individual donors whose generosity allows the league to provide scholarships, maintain facilities, and continue its mission of youth development through baseball and softball,” the news release added.

Visit sthelenalittleleague.org for more information about the fundraising campaign.

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St. Helena Little League

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14

Mar, 2026

SHLL Celebrated its 65th Season Honoring the Herdell Family

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