New Carlisle WIFFLE®Ballpark
New Carlisle Newts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting community recreation through the sport of WIFFLE® Ball.
Currently playing at Migley Field, the backyard of a private residence, the Newts aim to build and maintain a new, public ballpark that can be enjoyed by the New Carlisle community for decades to come.
In addition to serving as the home of the Newts, the new ballpark would provide opportunities to expand and strengthen New Carlisle’s tradition in the sport of WIFFLE® Ball. When not hosting WIFFLE® Ball competitions, the park would be available for open play pick-up games and could be used as a multi-functional gathering space for various community events.
Why "Project Seymore"?
According to The Story of Our Town by Marguerite McCord Watt and Kathlyn V. Wade, a ballpark was built in New Carlisle by the Seymore Ball Club in 1884. The four-acre site was located on the south side of Chestnut Street, and was later used as a fair ground.
From these early baseball clubs of the late 1800's to the construction of the Hill and Dale softball field nearly a century later, this community has always shown an affinity for swinging for the fences.
Everyone capable of swinging bat joins in
"New Carlisle Baseball Mad," South Bend Tribune, 1953
The WIFFLE®Ball Championship
Founded as part of the inaugural Hometown Days festival in 2005, The Championship was created as an activity for participants of all ages and skill levels.
Participation has swelled from 16 teams in the first year to 100 teams in 2025, with players coming from coast to coast.
Nearly 500 participants, along with their families, provide a major boost to the attendance of Hometown Days. These visitors patronize the community's small businesses and support the local organizations which use the festival weekend as a fundraising venue.
Old Republic WIFFLE®Ball League
Interest generated from the first two Hometown Days tournaments spawned the Old Republic WIFFLE®Ball League (ORWBL) in 2007, providing players an opportunity to play organized WIFFLE® all summer.
In 2025, ORWBL was comprised of 17 teams across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The New Carlisle Newts have been the league's flagship franchise with Migley Field serving as ORWBL's epicenter. To date, the Newts have won four ORWBL Championships, most recently in 2024.
Our Vision
Our vision is a municipally-owned park that benefits, but is not funded by, the public. Our organization would lead the effort to identify a site, secure funding from private sources, and facilitate construction of the park. The Newts would lease the park, providing oversight and schedule management services. In its capacity as a public charity, the Newts’ primary fundraising objectives will be to support the park’s on-going maintenance and operating budget.
Recreational Activity
WIFFLE® Ball is a low-impact sport that can appeal to all ages and skills levels. At its core, the ballpark would serve as a neighborhood “sandlot,” with the majority of its schedule open for pick-up games. The WIFFLE® bat and ball provide a safer alternative to baseball and softball which require more supervision and organized structure. Mixing in offerings of recreational leagues for both youth and adults will be a great way for community members to connect and remain active.
National Competition
Through the Newts in ORWBL and The Championship at Hometown Days, New Carlisle has established a prominent position in the National WIFFLE® landscape. A public park would afford a more welcoming environment for spectators, transforming the existing schedule into a slate of community events. Additionally, a state-of-the-art facility would allow us to leverage our connections across various styles of play to attract new competitive leagues, tournaments, and exhibitions.
Community Gathering Space
While WIFFLE® ball has a widespread appeal across generations, the ballpark can serve as a gathering space with functionality far beyond the sport. The park could be integrated into current traditions, such as the Beer & Wine Walk or Trick-or-Treat, to enhance residents’ enjoyment of our vibrant community events. The space would also provide opportunities for new holiday celebrations, festivals, and park programming.
New Carlisle Newts, Inc.
As an organization, the Newts are uniquely positioned to ensure the long-term viability of the park. We have led the organized WIFFLE® activity in the community for nearly two decades, building the sport into an established part of the town’s character. Our base of volunteers provides the personnel to execute our goals and carry on this tradition for future generations.
A new, public ballpark would begin the next chapter of the long history of bat-and-ball sports in New Carlisle, and mark its spot on the map as the definitive WIFFLE® Town, USA.
Credits:
New Carlisle Newts, Inc.