| BASEBALL,
SOFTBALL, TEE BALL REGISTRATION SET FOR JANUARY 20
It's hard to believe, but it's time to register
for baseball, softball and tee ball for the 2001 season.
Registration will take place on Saturday, January 20 from 10:30 to
2:30 at the Springfield Legion Hall. Registration forms are being
sent home with students at Springfield Elementary and Westmont
Elementary. Registration will be publicized at Platteveiw Central
Junior High School and Platteview High School, and forms will be
available for students at those schools. Additional forms will be
available at registration or by calling our Secretary, Michelle
Oiness, at 891-0309. Registration fees remain unchanged for the
fourth straight year.
We'll again serve lunch for you to enjoy as a
family when you come in to register. Many of you will be in town
for basketball games that day, so make a point to stop in for
something to eat and visit with S.Y.A.A. directors and other
families.
As you think about baseball and softball registration for the
2001 season, here's what you need to know about our programs:
Tee Ball
Our tee ball program is open to boys and girls ages five and
six. Teams are picked randomly, usually based on geographic
location or school. The theory is to get the kids exposed to the
game in a low-key fashion, and by letting them play all positions.
Practice and game time are usually combined to minimize the time
commitment for parents at this level of play. This is an in-house
program, so our teams play only each other. The season begins in
late May and runs through June.
Baseball
Our baseball teams are established based on a player's age and
not grade in school. We use the player's age as of
July 31 in the current year to determine the appropriate level of
play. Players are not allowed to play down at a lower level, but
they may play up one level if they have demonstrated superior
skills and ability. However, playing up is an exception and is
rarely done and must be approved by the Baseball Commissioner.
It's almost always better to stay within the appropriate age
group.
Seven- and eight- year-old boys play coach pitch baseball
with modified rules of play. Coaches pitch to their own players,
there is no stealing or leading off, and innings end with three
outs or once a team has batted through their lineup. Players
rotate positions regularly to get adequate exposure to each. Our
teams play each other and teams from Gretna. The season begins in
mid May and runs through June or early July.
When the boys reach nine and ten years of age, they begin
competing in the Tri-County PONY Baseball League at the Mustang
level, where modified PONY Baseball rules are used to govern play.
Players pitch but there is no leading off or base stealing until
late in the season. Every player is used in the batting lineup,
and no player may sit out defensively more than three outs, unless
disciplinary action is in effect. (continued
at top right) |
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Full baseball is played all season
beginning at the Bronco level of play for eleven and
twelve year old boys. The Tri-County playing time rules are
identical to the Mustang level.At the Pony level for
players ages thirteen and fourteen, full baseball is played all
season, and playing time is left to the coach's discretion. In
other words, there is no guaranteed playing time for Pony players.
It's important for both players and parents to understand this
significant change from Bronco ball.
The Tri-County league is fairly competitive, although it's more
of a developmental league than a competitive league. The league
provides each town an opportunity to play games outside their own
community and develop players' skills and knowledge of baseball.
League standings are not recorded.
The Tri-County PONY League includes teams from small
communities in Sarpy, Douglas, Saunders and Washington counties.
We play games from Wahoo to Arlington and several points between.
The season typically begins in late April and runs through mid to
late June. At the end of the season, each town selects all-star
teams at each level of play to represent their communities in
district and state tournaments during early to mid July. The
baseball season officially ends with post-season play.
When selecting all baseball teams we do our best to keep teams
together as they advance through each level of play. This isn't
always possible, but most of the time it works out well.
Softball
Our girls softball teams compete in the Todd Valley League,
which is very similar to the Tri-County league the boys play in.
Playing time rules don't exist as they do in Tri-County, but fair
playing time is encouraged.
Girls are assigned to age levels of competition based on the
player's age on January 1 of the current year, which differs from
boys' baseball. We sponsor teams at six different age levels
including 8 years old and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14
and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under. Again, playing down an
age group isn't allowed, but playing up is allowed at the Softball
Commissioner's approval.
The softball season begins in late May or early
June and runs through July. Each team is invited to participate in
the league's tournament during the season. You can read more about
softball in Commissioner Jim Bower's article in this edition.
Please keep all this information in mind as you complete
registration forms for your children. If you have any questions,
feel free to contact the respective commissioners. For softball,
contact Jim Bowers at 253-2119. For baseball and tee ball, contact
Jeff Kreifels at 253-8255.
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Baseball/Softball Coaching Clinic Dates The Strike Zone in Omaha is once again providing coaching
certification clinics for baseball and softball coaches. While
we don't require our coaches to be certified, we strongly
encourage them to get certified through The Strike Zone. They
provide an excellent clinic, and many of our coaches have
attended the past two years. The 2001 dates are March 3 and
March 17. Contact The Strike Zone at 398-1238 for more details
and to register if you're interested.
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FIELD
DREAMS UPDATE
By Frank Staskiewicz, Jr.
In the last newsletter I itemized a number of
potential improvements to the ball fields used by our teams. Right
now we're focusing on City Park, where we can begin to make
changes enabling us to increase our capacity to schedule games and
host tournaments. We can do this by first installing an outfield
fence, then erecting lights.
In the coming months I'll be working with some
folks representing Springfield's Legion baseball program to
compile a plan to present to the Springfield City Council. The
Legion is interested in helping us, because they'd like to move
the adult mixed softball league from Buffalo Park, where the
Legion teams play, to City Park. The Legion spent a lot of money
improving the Buffalo Park field last year, and they want to make
additional improvements. But they don't want to invest anymore
money until the softball league moves.
I believe the City Council will work with us,
and I'm confident we can have a fence installed before baseball
season begins in April. We're going to work very hard to raise a
lot of money for the improvements, and if things go very well, we
might even get the lights installed. Stay tuned.
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THANK YOU
A huge "thank you" to Kevin Carlson and family
for their donation of the lime used to line our ball fields
last season. |
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UMPIRES NEEDED
Metro Umpires supplied us with baseball
umpires for the 2000 season. They did a fantastic job for us
and really gave us some additional credibility around the
Tri-County PONY league. Metro is always looking for more
umpires. If you’re interested in making some extra cash,
and you enjoy baseball and working with young players,
please contact Denny Jones at 733-8283 or 733-1948. If you
act now you’ll be able to get in on some good training and
be ready to go by next season. |
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OFFICERS RE-ELECTED
All four officers were re-elected to serve another
one-year term at the October meeting. They're listed on page
1. |
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FROM THE
SOFTBALL COMMISSIONER
By Jim Bowers
The 2001 softball season is coming upon us quickly, but first I
would like to reflect upon the 2000 season. The season had its ups
and downs as we spread our wings in softball. We left recreational
softball behind when we became members of the more competitive
Todd Valley League for our older teams. This league includes some
of the small towns in the vicinity such as Gretna, Ashland, Wahoo
and others.
I would like to thank all the coaches and assistants for
helping produce what I felt was another great softball season in
Springfield. Here are some reasons why I think the 2000 season was
a success:
8 and Under
Coach Ken Stine says everything went fine. He mentioned they
only played five games, so this year we'll look at a league that
provides more games for the girls in this age group.
10 and Under
I coached this team and we finished in the middle of the
league as far as standings go, but I felt the experienced gained
and increased knowledge of how the game is played was a big plus
for our girls. This team will need a coach in 2001, since I'll be
moving up with my daughter.
12 and Under
This group had a rough time adjusting to the tougher
competition, but only five of the 12 teams in the league finished
with winning records. The league produced the eventual state
champion! I'm asking everyone involved to remain positive and
upbeat. The team should be much improved and more competitive
based on experience gained last season.
16 and Under
Since we didn't have enough girls for a 14 and Under team,
this team was a combination of the two age groups. Because of
that, we left them in the Papillion league last season, and they
had a very good record, losing only a couple games. They'll need a
new coach in 2001.
Now, onto the 2001 season. With the new structure to our
organization, I'll need two coordinators to help me oversee the
softball program. One for the youngest three age groups, and one
for the oldest three groups. If you're interested please give me a
call at 253-2119. I'll take all the help I can get!
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