KEN DIEGEL
Westfield LL President
WESTFIELD – One longtime resident and familiar face behind the plate is set to go to bat for Westfield Little League.
Ken Diegel, 57, of Westfield has been named the city’s Little League baseball and softball president. Diegel’s nomination was officially accepted Sunday.
Diegel is replacing longtime league president John Wheeler, who retired from the post last month.
“John ran a premier district league program in the Pioneer Valley,” said Diegel. “I’ve never taken over for a legend before.”
According to Little League officials, no one else was in the running for the position.
“I’ve got so much knowledge of the program, I saw an opportunity, and said ‘yep,’” Diegel explained.
Diegel has served as umpire and chief for Westfield Little League for the last two years, and was a vice president of the city’s Little League Softball program in 2000. He has been an umpire for Little League and high school for the last 20 years.
Diegel is a retired United States Navy Submariner (1975-95), and was a district manager for H&R Block for 16 years.
“I have experience in management which is essential for Little League, and I have active experience in stressful situations,” he said.
Diegel said his first duty is the league’s capital campaign as money is needed to improve local ball fields, and overall playing conditions. Still, his top priority is making the local game more kid-friendly.
“It’s for the kids,” Diegel said. “Sometimes the league forgets that. I want to make it fun for every kid. Sometimes the league is treated as an All-Star prep league. That’s not what I like. My kids weren’t All-Star caliber kids. I want to keep it fun for (all).”
One kid-friendly idea, already approved for the 2015 season, is that six-year-olds will be able to participate in Little League. More information will become available as sign-up sessions approach.
