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CAMBRIDGE − Before he was a standout pitcher for Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and long before he graduated from Cambridge in 1994, Travis Daugherty learned the game of baseball playing Cambridge Little League on the local diamonds.
But when it came time to step up and help save the program now known as the Cambridge Youth Baseball League ahead of the 2022 season, Daugherty's ultimate inspiration came from a powerful combination: a deep-seated desire to give back to his hometown and a pivotal conversation with a giant of Guernsey County baseball.
Before making the final decision to take over as president, Daugherty sought out the counsel of the legendary Ron Antill. For more than 37 years, Antill served as the heartbeat of local baseball, teaming up with his longtime close friend Don Coss to spearhead keeping American Legion baseball alive in Guernsey County for generations.
Antill, who died on November 28, 2025 at the age of 78, was far more than a former coach to Daugherty.
"I first met Ron when I was 10 years old, and he and his wife Judy took me under their wing," Daugherty recalled. "Ron was more than a coach to me ... he was a father figure to me and a dear friend."
When the youth baseball league fell into distress, it was a mix of Daugherty's personal gratitude to the sport and Antill's direct encouragement that pushed him to step into the box.
"I can remember when I was thinking of taking over the Little League program and we had a conversation," Daugherty said. "Ron encouraged me to do it, and told me he was confident I was perfect for the job. And that was a big factor in me taking it on."
Armed with his old coach's blessing and a mission to pay his own baseball success forward, Daugherty took over the struggling league with no personal strings attached. He didn't have a son or daughter in the league, nor any family ties left in the program. He just had a directive from his mentor and a clear purpose.
More: Here are 10 kid-friendly Ohio outdoor family vacation destinations
More: Top 10 Ohio golf courses you can play in Golfweek rankings
"Everyone asks me why I wanted to get involved," Daugherty said back in 2022 when first taking on the challenge. "But if it wasn't for baseball, I wouldn't have gone to college and played baseball. I wouldn't have gone to college period. This is my way of giving back and helping out."
The rescue mission was sorely needed. Entering that 2022 season, Cambridge's youth baseball program was reeling from a leadership void, plummeting registration numbers, and the heavy hangover of the COVID pandemic.
"There weren't many people involved with the program the year before I took over, and obviously it showed with just 250 kids playing," Daugherty noted. "At first, I had to beg people to help out and we didn't have much money in year one."
Now five years into his tenure, that payback has yielded a massive dividend. Under Daugherty's leadership, the program has experienced a steady, exponential climb – growing form 250 players in 2022, to 300 in 2023, 375 in 2024, and 400 last summer. This season, a whopping 425 kids are back in uniform, marking the largest group of baseball players the local community has seen in years.
That massive jump to 425 players was made possible by an absolute transformation in community support, backed by a powerhouse roster of 50 local business sponsors this season.
"Now we are in great shape with plenty of people willing to help out – parents, volunteers and our great sponsors," Daugherty said. "Having 50 sponsors this year allows us to have money we can use to update equipment and do different projects. We just built a new building, painted the dugouts, and made other needed upkeep around the fields."
For Daugherty, seeing the community rally around the program has made the grueling hours entirely worth it.
"It's a labor of love," he added. "It's truly great to see the Cambridge community come together and give our young people a great opportunity to play the great game of baseball. I'm proud of what we have accomplished together."
But the sheer volume of kids isn't the only major shift. Last year, Daugherty and his board made the historic decision to sever ties with the national Williamsport Little League organization – a charter the Cambridge program had been a part of since 1952 – in order to launch the independent Cambridge Youth Baseball League (CYBL).
That decision, Daugherty explained came down to financial practicality and local control.
"I think we saved around $1,500 by not being chartered by Little League, along with not having to deal with lots of restrictions and guidelines," Daugherty said. "We wanted to put the focus back on our local community and find the best way to help our kids enjoy baseball."
Now operating on its own terms, the newly minted CYBL is thriving. Looking back on the remarkable five-year run and the record-setting roster numbers with a total of 35 teams this summer, Daugherty can't help but smile at how much the environment around the ballfields at Cambridge City Park have transformed.
"Quite a bit has changed; now I don't have to beg people to help out and get involved," Daugherty joked. "We have coaches that want to coach, and people who want to help out in different areas. Everyone is just willing to jump in and contribute with anything we need help with now that they have seen how we have grown over the last five years."
The newfound community buy-in has allowed the league to turn the corner that once seemed impossible when the gates first opened under his watch.
"I think many people were unsure how it was going to come out back when we started in 2022," Daugherty said. "We were still coming out of the COVID era, and that was still hurting us. And now, part of our continued growth is we are seeing those COVID babies now playing T-Ball."
With the foundation firmly rebuilt and the CYBL operating smoothy as an independent entity, Daugherty isn't content to just coast on past success. He already has his sights set on the next big milestones for the Cambridge program.
"We want to get some more work done on the fields and add some dugouts," Daugherty said. "And I've told several people before I leave, my goal is to have at least one of the fields turfed ... that's a big goal of mine."
[email protected]; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Travis Daugherty spearheads historic rebuild of Cambridge youth baseball
Continue reading...
But when it came time to step up and help save the program now known as the Cambridge Youth Baseball League ahead of the 2022 season, Daugherty's ultimate inspiration came from a powerful combination: a deep-seated desire to give back to his hometown and a pivotal conversation with a giant of Guernsey County baseball.
Before making the final decision to take over as president, Daugherty sought out the counsel of the legendary Ron Antill. For more than 37 years, Antill served as the heartbeat of local baseball, teaming up with his longtime close friend Don Coss to spearhead keeping American Legion baseball alive in Guernsey County for generations.
Antill, who died on November 28, 2025 at the age of 78, was far more than a former coach to Daugherty.
"I first met Ron when I was 10 years old, and he and his wife Judy took me under their wing," Daugherty recalled. "Ron was more than a coach to me ... he was a father figure to me and a dear friend."
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When the youth baseball league fell into distress, it was a mix of Daugherty's personal gratitude to the sport and Antill's direct encouragement that pushed him to step into the box.
"I can remember when I was thinking of taking over the Little League program and we had a conversation," Daugherty said. "Ron encouraged me to do it, and told me he was confident I was perfect for the job. And that was a big factor in me taking it on."
Armed with his old coach's blessing and a mission to pay his own baseball success forward, Daugherty took over the struggling league with no personal strings attached. He didn't have a son or daughter in the league, nor any family ties left in the program. He just had a directive from his mentor and a clear purpose.
More: Here are 10 kid-friendly Ohio outdoor family vacation destinations
More: Top 10 Ohio golf courses you can play in Golfweek rankings
A diamond in distress
"Everyone asks me why I wanted to get involved," Daugherty said back in 2022 when first taking on the challenge. "But if it wasn't for baseball, I wouldn't have gone to college and played baseball. I wouldn't have gone to college period. This is my way of giving back and helping out."
The rescue mission was sorely needed. Entering that 2022 season, Cambridge's youth baseball program was reeling from a leadership void, plummeting registration numbers, and the heavy hangover of the COVID pandemic.
"There weren't many people involved with the program the year before I took over, and obviously it showed with just 250 kids playing," Daugherty noted. "At first, I had to beg people to help out and we didn't have much money in year one."
Rebuilding the roster
Now five years into his tenure, that payback has yielded a massive dividend. Under Daugherty's leadership, the program has experienced a steady, exponential climb – growing form 250 players in 2022, to 300 in 2023, 375 in 2024, and 400 last summer. This season, a whopping 425 kids are back in uniform, marking the largest group of baseball players the local community has seen in years.
That massive jump to 425 players was made possible by an absolute transformation in community support, backed by a powerhouse roster of 50 local business sponsors this season.
"Now we are in great shape with plenty of people willing to help out – parents, volunteers and our great sponsors," Daugherty said. "Having 50 sponsors this year allows us to have money we can use to update equipment and do different projects. We just built a new building, painted the dugouts, and made other needed upkeep around the fields."
For Daugherty, seeing the community rally around the program has made the grueling hours entirely worth it.
"It's a labor of love," he added. "It's truly great to see the Cambridge community come together and give our young people a great opportunity to play the great game of baseball. I'm proud of what we have accomplished together."
Cutting the red tape
But the sheer volume of kids isn't the only major shift. Last year, Daugherty and his board made the historic decision to sever ties with the national Williamsport Little League organization – a charter the Cambridge program had been a part of since 1952 – in order to launch the independent Cambridge Youth Baseball League (CYBL).
That decision, Daugherty explained came down to financial practicality and local control.
"I think we saved around $1,500 by not being chartered by Little League, along with not having to deal with lots of restrictions and guidelines," Daugherty said. "We wanted to put the focus back on our local community and find the best way to help our kids enjoy baseball."
You must be registered for see images attach
A new era on the dirt
Now operating on its own terms, the newly minted CYBL is thriving. Looking back on the remarkable five-year run and the record-setting roster numbers with a total of 35 teams this summer, Daugherty can't help but smile at how much the environment around the ballfields at Cambridge City Park have transformed.
"Quite a bit has changed; now I don't have to beg people to help out and get involved," Daugherty joked. "We have coaches that want to coach, and people who want to help out in different areas. Everyone is just willing to jump in and contribute with anything we need help with now that they have seen how we have grown over the last five years."
The newfound community buy-in has allowed the league to turn the corner that once seemed impossible when the gates first opened under his watch.
"I think many people were unsure how it was going to come out back when we started in 2022," Daugherty said. "We were still coming out of the COVID era, and that was still hurting us. And now, part of our continued growth is we are seeing those COVID babies now playing T-Ball."
Eyes on the horizon
With the foundation firmly rebuilt and the CYBL operating smoothy as an independent entity, Daugherty isn't content to just coast on past success. He already has his sights set on the next big milestones for the Cambridge program.
"We want to get some more work done on the fields and add some dugouts," Daugherty said. "And I've told several people before I leave, my goal is to have at least one of the fields turfed ... that's a big goal of mine."
[email protected]; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Travis Daugherty spearheads historic rebuild of Cambridge youth baseball
Continue reading...
