- May 23, 2025
The idea of an inexpensive travel baseball program associated with Palm Coast Little League sounded like a great idea. It still does for many families, but some have a bad taste in their mouths after what they said was a series of empty promises, questionable financial practices and an overall lack of communication.
Kevin Sosa was the president of the Alphas until he resigned on March 16 amid turmoil and distrust. He also resigned as vice president of the PCLL board. He said he had to resign because the situation was taking a toll on his health.
“People were not happy. That’s the bottom line,” said Peter Schoembs, the Florida Little League District 19 administrator and former PCLL president. About a week prior to Sosa’s resignation, Schoembs attended a meeting of Palm Coast Alpha parents to hear their complaints.
“I got there and I found out (Sosa) had canceled the meeting,” Schoembs said. “I said, ‘No way.’ I got a hold of two of the coaches and I said, ‘get your parents again. They need to hear from somebody. They can't be blown off anymore.’ Kevin kind of went rogue. So I had to talk to these parents.”
Among the complaints, uniforms that were supposed to be ordered in mid-December weren’t ordered until mid-to-late January and didn’t arrive until April 3. Now they may not get used at all because it looks like the Alphas program will be rebranded, coach Rob Levy said.
One parent who did not want her name used said the 9U uniforms arrived in adult sizes. The teams changed because of a lack of players in certain age groups. The 13U team dissolved, Levy said.
“We just got uniforms for a team that doesn’t exist anymore,” one parent said.
Levy said monthly dues were supposed to go to tournament fees and equipment.
“But we really didn’t get any equipment,” he said. “I’ve been using my own personal baseballs and bats. The pitching machine is mine. Same with other coaches, they use their own stuff.”
The idea of the program is to give players a taste of travel ball and improve their skills, while making the league itself more competitive. Lake Mary, one of Palm Coast's District 19 opponents, won the Little League World Series last summer.
The plan was for the Alphas to regularly play games with travel teams from other Little League districts. They wouldn’t have to pay insurance or field costs, since they were playing under the Little League umbrella with all of the players registered with the PCLL. But those games never materialized.
They were to also play in tournaments put on by other organizations. They were more expensive, and sporadic. Some age groups played more than others. The 13U team was supposed to play in five or six tournaments during the fall season, but they only played in two or three, Levy said.
The families paid monthly but didn’t always play monthly, one parent said.
Sosa said all the teams played in tournaments, counting up the numbers of tournaments and games the 9U, 11U and 12U teams played since January.
“We played in a ton of tournaments throughout the year,” he said.
Sosa said there was $1,920.43 in the Alphas’ account on March 1. When he left, he said, there was about $1,400 after all three teams played in a tournament on March 8.
Sosa said Johanna Gutierrez, who was then a PCLL board member, handled the accounts. Gutierrez was voted out as parents were complaining about a lack of transparency regarding the finances.
Gutierrez said Sosa wouldn’t share information.
“Kevin left me to fend for myself. He didn’t tell me about meetings. He lied to parents saying there was no money in the account when there was money in the account,” she said.
Gutierrez said not all of the parents paid for uniforms. The uniforms cost over $4,000, she said, and they collected about $2,400.
“The full $4,000 was paid. It came out of whatever money we had in the accounts,” Gutierrez said.
When told of Schoembs’ remark that he “kind of went rogue,” Sosa said, “I could understand if we played zero tournaments. But I don’t agree with me going rogue. We had games. We played baseball. We practiced. The uniforms did take a little bit to come in. I ordered them when I got all the payments, and then it took seven weeks to get the order fulfilled.
“I don’t think the right people were involved with this to help,” Sosa added. “It was a new program trying to grow and develop. I tried my best. People are upset with me. I’m OK with that. But I have no hard feelings for anybody. It’s unfortunate they feel the way they feel. I truly care for all of them and would never do anything to harm anybody over there. If those parents gave their hard earned money, I made sure it went to their children.”
Schoembs said they are deconstructing the program now so it can be built back up with the right people.
“It's a work in progress,” he said. “Unfortunately, we're not there yet. It's just going to take a little bit longer. Some of the coaches that had been involved offered to help try to figure out financials. The parents, we’re keeping them in the loop.”
Schoembs wants to see the program go back to the original blueprint of playing games with travel teams from other Little League districts.
“It looks like they’re trying to evolve it into something good,” said Siegh Mariano, who has two kids in the Alphas program. “I’m heavily invested into the outlook of this program. I love this league. I love these fields. But it looks like everyone’s trying to spark a fire that doesn’t need to be lit. With Rob (Levy) helping, I think we can redirect the negativity.”
Email brent@observerlocalnews
