Hyde Park is alive with 18 Owego Little League (OLL) Baseball, Tee Ball and Girls Softball players doing outfield practice despite rain and cold weather for the 2015 season after a four inch snow cover melted. That makes Baseball VP Chris Rieg and Softball VP Dave York very happy but at the same time they are looking for better April weather for full field practices.
For the 64th season, OLL has three Majors, five Minors, six Modified Tee Ball and four Tee-Ball Teams from the completed online registrations and player drafts. VP Jim Lavo says the Tri County Teener Baseball season starts later.
Here are the team managers and coach/assistant and soon the team names as reported by Schedule Chairmen Mike and Elena Beyer and VP Baseball Chris Rieg:
Majors: BN1 – Steve Terry/William Dove and Fred Devita; BN2 – Mike Beyer; and BN3 – Chris Rieg/Jeff Stanton and Matt Brown.
Minors – BA1 – Rick Hoyt/Dan Tavelli and Keith Hammond; BA2 – George Schumacher/Joe Bensley; BA3 – Scott Rollison; BA4 – Patrick Boyer; and BA5 – Eric Hawkins/Steve Tammariello.
Modified – M1 – Keith Thompson; M2 – Korey Spicer; MA3 – James Hover; M4 – Josh Rieg/Jason Rieg; M5 – Greg Card; and M6 – Dan Miller.
Tee Ball: T1 – Mike Baratta; T2 – John Gregory; T3 – Jeff Smith; and T4 – Ralph Trenchard.
Not everything got done on the Work Bee last Saturday. Spring Field Clean Up Day continues Saturday, April 18. There’s a “To Do” list posted on the Bulletin Board.
Five fields and a playground have to be prepared. Sponsor signs have to be put up in the outfields. Others rake and clean the fields. Some clean the Concession Stand, Rest Rooms and pavilions.
Field Clean Up should be attended by all players and at least one parent. Come equipped.
This is an annual event. It allows everyone to get together to do their part in helping our kids. Many hands make light work.
Opening Day is a week earlier on Saturday, April 25. That’s because league officials and coaches want to keep up with other leagues and get the extra week of play as they do.
Many tournaments are starting earlier each year. OLL hasn’t been able to participate as the All Star Teams are not yet formed or the regular season isn’t over yet.
Format of Opening Day hasn’t changed – downtown parade, Hyde Park Ceremonies, and a full day of games.
Parade Marshall John Loftus starts the traditional OLL parade at 8:30 a.m. He expects uniform players and coaches to report between 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. to their team banner location on Temple Street in front of the Owego Police Station.
Parade route moves past the Central Fire Stations, up North Avenue through the railroad underpass and down George Street to Hyde Park. Players will tip their baseball caps to welcome the new Owego Elementary School.
Ceremonies on Nick Raftis Memorial Field start at 9 a.m. Games start afterwards at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Baseball History Enthusiasts – volunteers and editor – needed to research and write OLL history from 2001 to now. “A League of Our Own – Fifty Years of Memories” was edited by Steve Lawrence and distributed on the 50th Anniversary. Email your interest to jraftis2@stny.rr.com.
Webmaster Eric Hawkins posts breaking news and practice field updates on the OLL website, www.eteamz.com/owego. Find newsletters for parents, players, managers and coaches on www.littleleague.org
OLL Secretary Brandy Beach-Lunn announces the 2013 Calendar as follows:
Saturday, April 18 – Work Bee; Saturday, April 25 – Opening Day, Parade, Games; Sunday, May 3 – Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run Skills Competition; Saturday, May 9 – Pictures; Saturday, May 30, Homecoming; Saturday, June 13 – End of regular season; Thursday, June 25 to Sunday, June 28 – Girls Softball Tournament; Monday, July 6, Start of the 10U Tournament; and Saturday, July 18, Start of 12U Tournament.
OLL will be hosting Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run Skills. The competition will be held on Sunday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at Hyde Park. It’s open to seven to 14 year old boys and girls and is open to everyone.
Participants can go to mlb.com/PHR to register or pick up a form at the park. Any questions can be directed to VP Baseball Chris Rieg at crieg70@gmail.com.
