By Communications Division SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. August 22, 2009   Little League Baseball and Softball is intent on providing a rewarding experience for all Little Leaguers, and through ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program), Big Pocono Little League servicing Tannersville and Reeders, Pa., has helped its players, coaches, and volunteers play the game safely.   Started in 1995, ASAP encourages Little League volunteers to submit details of successful safety programs that have been adopted in their league for publication nationwide. The program enables local leagues to share concepts and methods of addressing safety issues, providing possible solutions to safety concerns. Since the inception of the ASAP program, the number of injuries reported has been reduced by 75 percent.   “Participation in the ASAP program continues to reinforce Little League’s commitment to health and safety,” Dan Kirby, Director of Risk Management for Little League Baseball and Softball, said. “Being involved in ASAP provided local communities with the assurance these leagues place their children’s well-being as a top priority. Local league participation in this volunteer program has risen to 85 percent, which is a tribute to all those volunteers who recognize the value of the program. It is our hope that other leagues will follow the lead of this year’s ASAP award winners, and better appreciate the importance of keeping all Little League participants safe.”   The ASAP National Award went to Big Pocono Little League of the East Region. The league won a new set of Musco ball field lights. Regional winners were:   Central Region: Hopkins Area Little League, Hopkins, Minn. Southeastern Region: Lewis Little League, Weston, W. Va. East Region: Big Pocono Little League, Tannersville/Reeders, Pa. West Region: Redrock Little League, Las Vegas, Nev. Southwestern Region: Odem Little League, Texas   The ASAP initiative is co-sponsored by Chartis Insurance and Musco Sports Lighting. It includes awards, a monthly newsletter, and more than $689,000 in monetary incentives that were recently distributed to local leagues and districts. In addition, because of increased ASAP participation and reduced injury claims, the premiums for several states have been reduced in recent years - in an era when insurance rates seem only to be increasing. Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.7 million players and one million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.   Thanks to Mike Pal (2009 Safety Officer ) and the safety committee of Neal Gallagher, Jackie Elliot, Yvonne Smeltz and Dan McMaster for all the time and hard work that was put in to build upon the foundation of our 2008 Regional Award Winning Safety Manual. Special thanks to Anthony Jordan (2008 Safety Officer) and his committee who were instrumental in laying the foundation to this great project.   On behalf of all Big Pocono Little League families, we thank our 2008 and 2009 committees for their time and efforts in preparing our National Award Winning Safety Manual.