It’s time to signup online for the 2016 season of Owego Little League (OLL) Baseball, TeeBall, ASA Girls Softball and Southern Tier Teener League. Do it on the OLL website, www.eteamz.com/owego.
You may register in person at the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club on either of two nights – Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
VP-Softball Dave York reports the Owego Free Academy varsity softball coach is having open gym on Sundays in the Owego Apalachin Middle School gym.
Pitchers and Catchers will use the gym from 9 to 10 a.m., fifth through eighth graders from 10 to 11 a.m., and grades nine through twelve from 11 a.m. to noon.
This is an opportunity for all girls to get practice and instruction at no cost to parents. All softball players are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to gain skills while having fun.
Owego and Apalachin Youth Baseball League players ages eight to 13 are encouraged to attend the Owego-Apalachin Baseball Winter Clinic from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Owego Free Academy gym. Register online at www.eteamz.com/owego.
Players will be broken up into age groups. Dress in baseball attire. Bring gloves and bats (bats will be available if the child does not have one.)
The annual clinic will be run by the OFA Baseball Staff and Varsity Baseball Players.
President Ken Winters named Steve Terry as VP-Baseball replacing Chris Rieg, who moved up to Teener League to continue his coaching career at the next level and follow his player son Mason.
Steve Terry is a native of Georgia. He has enjoyed coaching baseball, football, softball and basketball since 1990. His first experience coaching was a men’s softball team while serving in Okinawa Japan with the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the Marine Corp, he started to coach youth softball at a local church in his community.
“That experience created my love coaching youth sports,” said Terry, adding, “There is something special about helping a child realize their talent and potential through participating in youth sports. I am not talking just about their athletic talent, I get more enjoyment and pride seeing a player become a leader and learning to be part of a team rather than hitting a grand slam or run for a touchdown. Most young athletes will never play sports past high school but they will always be a part of their community and a team.”
Terry and his wife, Melissa, moved to Owego in August of 2010. They have three daughters, Savannah (16), Sarah (10), and Michaela (9). They also have a son, Joshua (13).
All of their children have been involved with OLL either as a player, coach or volunteer since the start of the 2011 spring season. Terry started coaching with OLL in April of 2011.
He is very excited to be the Vice President of Baseball this year, and wants to give back to the league what they have given to his family over the last five years.
Fifteen years ago OLL History was updated for the 50th Anniversary. Now, volunteers are needed to expand the history to 65 years or a 15-year update. It’s a challenging but very interesting assignment to document OLL’s rich history. Email your “I’ll do it for the kids” to Jraftis2@stny.rr.com.
Webmaster Eric Hawkins will keep you up to date on the OLL website, www.eteamz.com/owego. For signup questions, contact Player Agent Eric Hawkins by email to ehawkins1@stny.rr.com.
There’s excellent reading material for parents on the Little League-Williamsport website, www.littleleague.org. Focus includes the important tasks of volunteer, coach or manager.
Lead off with The Parent Orientation Program. It’ll help you develop the concept of character, courage and loyalty to the OLL Program.
What’s important, too, is to sign up for Little League Newsletters including The Coach’s Box, Little League Updates, Notebook, Parent Connection and News and General Information.
