The Smyrna Clayton Little Lass Softball League started in 1971 thanks to Barbara Bilbrough.  She started the league due to the area having a need for girls softball, since baseball was the only option.   She started by buying the basic equipment to get started and that equipment, including  bases were brought from field to field. The three fields that were used were located at Clayton elementary, Smyrna elementary and behind the Singers building on route 300 in Smyrna which is now where the police station is.

The first six teams were Delab Co., Dairy Queen, Tastee Freeze, Clayton Bank, Rothwell‘s garage and Bilbrough’s Bus Service.  Every year after that  more teams and more sponsors were added and it grew from there. The concession stand was run  out of the back of the station wagon.   An ad was put in the paper about the league and word of spread through word of mouth and it was roughly $10 per family to sign up. The first board members were Barbara Bilbrough, Pat Clifton, Edgar Cox and Tom Emerson.  Edgar Cox was the general manager and the Emerson family were in charge of  the umpires

The first game was played on May 21, 1972. and the first players consisted of girls ages 10-14.  The first 2 teams to play were Tastee Freeze and Dairy Queen.  In 1973 there were 150 girls signed up and the league added what they called “Wee Lass”for the young ones.

Barbara Bilbrough was born and raised in the Smyrna Clayton area, graduated from Smyrna High. Was married to Buddy Bilbrough in 1953,  and they were married 32 years when he passed away in 1985.  They had three children together.   She was very involved in the community she worked at the Clayton bank for 27 years until she retired.   She was involved in the Girl Scouts, the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts.  She was a Sunday school teacher at Ewells Saint Paul in Clayton she was involved in the national baton twirlers of America. She started a baton group in the community called the Cinder City Bells and she was an original member of the ladies auxiliary for the Clayton Fire House when the auxiliary was first established.

We cannot thank Barbara for what she started, which allowed for countless memories for the thousands of girls that have played since they started.  

The league initially began as an organization of ASA and eventually operated under ACME and USSSA throughout our history. In 2012 the organization obtained a charter from Little League to operate as a local league under Little League Softball. The league consists of four divisions ranging from t-ball to seniors and currently has over 280 girls who participate in the program.

We provide a safe and learning environment for girls to learn the game of fast-pitch softball. Our complex houses four playing fields, a concession stand, and practice areas. Volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the complex and the day-to-day operations of the league. 



2023 Senior League Delaware State Champions
2023 Senior League Delaware District 1 Champions
2023 7-8-9 Year Old Delaware District 1 Champions
2021 7-8-9 Year Old Delaware District 1 Champions
2020 Senior League Delaware State Champions
2020 Senior League Delaware District 1 Champions
2020 Little League Delaware State Champions
2020 Little League Delaware District 1 Champions
2019 Senior League Delaware State Champions
2019 Senior League Delaware District 1 Champions
2019 8-9 Year Old Delaware District 1 Champions
2016 8-9 Year Old Delaware District 1 Champions
2014 Little League Delaware District 1 Champions