This August, Little League Softball® celebrates its 25th year of World Series championships at Alpenrose Stadium in Portland, Ore.
“It has been a fabulous experience for the best Little League Major Division Softball teams to make their way to Alpenrose stadium for the past 25 summers,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League International President and CEO. “The Cadonau Family has continued to welcome our program every year, and each World Series they strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for players, volunteers, families, and fans, all while hosting a world-class event.”
Since 1891 when family patriarch Florian Cadonau first began delivering milk from his dairy farm just southwest of downtown Portland, Ore., the Alpenrose Dairy Farm has grown into a community institution.
In 1916, Mr. Cadonau’s son married the daughter of the Swiss consul, and they changed the name of the family farm to Alpenrose, after Switzerland’s national flower. In the late 1950s, Mr. Cadonau added baseball fields to the farm’s grounds for his grandchildren. Soon after, local Little League® programs were welcomed to the facility.
Decades later, in 1994, the Little League Softball World Series called Alpenrose home for the first time. Today, of Little League’s seven World Series tournaments, only the Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport; and the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich., have longer tenures at their respective locations.
“Alpenrose Dairy started hosting the Little League World Series a quarter century ago, and we are proud to keep that tradition going today,” said Carl Cadonau, Jr., President of Alpenrose Dairy. “It’s part of who we are as a locally-owned company and members of the community. Promoting healthy choices is part of the Alpenrose brand and we are happy to support these young athletes.”
Alpenrose Dairy Farm continues to be owned and operated by the Cadonau Family to this day. Thanks to its dedication and support of the Little League organization and the Portland community, Little League International recognized the Cadonaus with the 2018 Little League Chairman’s Award at the 27th Little League International Congress in New Orleans this past January. Established in 2007, the Little League Chairman’s Award recognizes contribution and dedicated service to Little League Baseball and Softball.
“The Cadonau family and the city of Portland have been integral in the success that the Little League Softball World Series has seen over the last 25 years,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “It was an honor to present this award to a family that has displayed the virtues that Little League Baseball and Softball was founded upon. We are proud of the work and support that the Cadonaus have provided to Little League and are looking forward to an exciting future with them.”
In 2001, ESPN2 televised the Little League Softball World Series championship for the first time and since then, coverage of the Little League Softball World Series has continued to expand with the entire tournament being broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN Family of Networks for the first time this year. While Howard J. Lamade Stadium has become an icon to Little League Baseball players, Alpenrose has become an iconic home for Little League Softball players.