ROCHELLE — It may not be summer just yet, but the Rochelle Little League season is finally here, and youth baseball and softball players around the area are taking over Floyd J. Tilton Park once again.

Whether they’re seasoned players or rookies learning the game of baseball or softball for the first time, seeing the city’s young athletes getting after it is one of the things Ryan Andrist loves the most about working with RLL. Andrist, who will serve as vice president this season and take over for Jason Knight as president at the end of the season, is looking forward to putting together another successful year for the Rochelle community.

“It’s awesome, I’m there pretty much every night watching it,” Andrist said. “I’ve always enjoyed it. I heard that [Jason] wanted to step down and nobody else was really stepping up so I did… My favorite memories of growing up were playing baseball, whether I was with my buddies or I was down at the Little League field or the local park.”

RLL is fielding eight minor-league boys teams this year along with six major-league boys teams. Both the major and the minor-league girls divisions contain three teams. The number of players is roughly the same as it was last season, but Andrist is hoping to bring in more players in the future while fixing up the facilities themselves.

“I just want to build it back up,” he said. “The scenery has fallen off for the junior league and all of that from when I was kid and I’d like to see that get brought back up to where it was… I think it’ll be a good time. I want to get it back up to where kids are wanting to play baseball, and hopefully we can put some good teams out there that can go to state and possibly win.”

Games kicked off roughly two weeks ago, and two major-league boys teams (Firemen and VFW) are already off to a hot start, winning each of their first three games en route to a perfect 3-0 record. Bee Designs (2-0) currently holds first place in the major-league girls division, while MedCare (1-0) has an early lead in the minor-league girls division. Three minor-league boys squads (Tess & Crull, CedarSiding and Prescott Brothers Ford) are 1-0 to start the season.

Andrist, who is coaching the major-league boys team Rotary Club in addition to serving as vice president, loves to teach the game of baseball. Whether or not his team wins or loses, Andrist said the most important thing for his kids is that they enjoy their experience while embracing key values that will make them successful on and off the field.

“Just the fun of it and playing with your friends and the competitiveness of it,” he said. “There are some kids on my team who’ve never played baseball, so it’s fun to see them come out and learn how to play. Seeing them go through something you’ve taught them is really what I enjoy.”