Little League® International has announced its longtime volunteer, Stu Hartenstein, has been named Central Region Director, effective as of December 6, 2021.
“Stu’s commitment and dedication to the Little League program, as well as his own experience as a player, provides him with the knowledge and strong foundation to lead and support our districts, leagues, and volunteers throughout the Central Region,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “On behalf of the entire Little League International Staff, we are thrilled to welcome Stu to our staff and are looking forward to his stewardship as our new Central Region Director, based in Whitestown, Indiana.”
A graduate of Hardscrabble Little League (Clayton, Ohio) himself, Mr. Hartenstein has been involved with the Little League program since playing Tee Ball as a five-year-old and has continued to help educate and inspire volunteers and players throughout his community as a volunteer since that time.
“I am both humbled and excited to serve as Little League’s next Central Region Director, and I would like to thank the entire leadership team at Little League International for their instrumental roles in making this opportunity possible,” said Mr. Hartenstein. “As a proud product of this organization since my Tee Ball days, I am deeply indebted to Little League and its people for teaching me many life lessons, shaping my values, morals, and character, and for fostering several of my most meaningful, lifelong relationships with people around the world. I believe in this organization, what it stands for, and its power to positively impact the youth of our communities, and to serve as its Central Region Director, continue to advance the organization forward, and build relationships with volunteers is an opportunity that means more to me than I could ever put into words.”
As a Little League volunteer, Mr. Hartenstein has served as an Umpire-in-Chief at both the local and district level for more than eight years and has been a member of both the Central Region Umpire Advisory Committee and the Little League International Umpire Advisory Committee for more than six years. In addition to serving as the Central Region Tournament Umpire Coordinator for seven years, Mr. Hartenstein has also served as an umpire for the 2007 Little League Baseball® Central Region Tournament, 2008 Senior League Baseball Central Region Tournament, and the inaugural Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series in 2013.
In addition to his service as a Little League volunteer, Mr. Hartenstein has eight years of experience as a High School social studies teacher, and most recently served as both a history instructor and the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Denison University in Ohio.
Mr. Hartenstein is a graduate of Wittenberg University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Education in 2009.