Travis Daugherty Leads Cambridge Youth Baseball to 425

From Little Leaguer to League Savior

Travis Daugherty grew up playing Cambridge Little League before starring at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. When the program faltered in 2022, Daugherty stepped in as president after a pivotal conversation with longtime local baseball figure Ron Antill. Antill, who died in November 2025 at age 78 after 37 years leading Guernsey County baseball, gave Daugherty the confidence to take over.

Taking the helm with only 250 players, Daugherty turned the tide season by season. The league grew to 300 players in 2023, 375 in 2024, and 400 the following summer before reaching a record‑setting 425 this season. The surge was fueled by 50 local business sponsors who helped fund new facilities, paint dugouts, and upgrade equipment.

Another major shift came in 2022 when Daugherty’s board left the national Little League charter and launched the independent Cambridge Youth Baseball League (CYBL). The move saved roughly $1,500 and gave the program local control, leading to the current 35 teams and a dominant 12‑Under Pirates squad that finished undefeated.

Community buy‑in transformed the atmosphere; volunteers now arrive without being asked, and even the youngest T‑Ball division boasts 200 participants. Daugherty looks ahead, aiming to turf at least one field and add more dugouts before his tenure ends.

The Numbers That Matter

2022 enrollment stood at 250 players after Daugherty’s first year. By 2023 the count rose to 300, followed by 375 in 2024 and 400 players last summer. This season’s total of 425 marks the highest participation in the league’s history.

The financial side improved dramatically with 50 sponsors supporting the league’s expenses. The departure from Little League’s charter also cut costs by about $1,500 and eliminated restrictive guidelines. Those savings helped fund a new building, fresh paint on dugouts, and essential field upkeep.

The youngest division saw a massive increase, with 200 kids enrolled in Tee‑Ball. Overall the league now fields 35 teams, up from a much smaller footprint just five years ago.