tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21860293969103600192024-03-05T04:42:18.018-05:00Vlad4040 Baseball Blog9/29/2002, Vlad's last hit of the season (double off the wall), finishing 1 HR shy of the 40:40 mark.Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-50095111186517570712014-10-16T09:06:00.002-04:002014-10-16T09:08:21.241-04:00Little League AGM's Are Taking Place NowIf your child plays Little League or you are considering youth baseball in this city, I urge you to attend your local Little League AGM.<br />
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Most AGMs are taking place in the month of October.<br />
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Why attend?<br />
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<li>Find out the health of you League</li>
<li>Thank the volunteers who put in hours of unrecognized time</li>
<li>Have input into key decisions</li>
<li>Step forward to assume a vacant position<br /></li>
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Please follow Little League links to view League websites to find out when your AGM is taking place.</div>
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Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-64088594965881033972014-10-16T08:00:00.002-04:002014-10-16T08:58:40.566-04:00A Major Player on the Youth Baseball SceneIf you've been paying attention to youth baseball development in Ottawa for the past half-decade, the Chiefs name is not new to you. But what is new, is that beginning in the 2015 season, their program is offering season long competitive travel teams. Four teams in fact. <br />
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By all accounts, it seems like they are going about this the right way. If creating a solid foundation was a recipe book, theirs would go something like this ...<br />
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1) build a solid loyal base of potential players through development programs. (X)<br />
2) recruit coaching staffs from across the city. (X)<br />
3) get their name out there to other travel teams to establish a reputation for sportsmanship. (X)<br />
4) secure facilities to run a program beginning in April. (X)<br />
5) build an effective communication strategy through well structured website and regular information newsletters. (X)<br />
6) establish relationships with other travel/competitive teams in around the Ottawa area. (work in progress)<br />
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It will be interesting to see how things unfold for the Chiefs. If dedication and love of the game by their President Brian Beehler is any indication, they should be a mainstay for youth baseball in Ottawa.<br />
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Link to their new <a href="http://www.ottawachiefs.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-77456992014677294452014-09-22T13:15:00.002-04:002014-09-22T13:17:51.716-04:002015 Knights & Royals team tryouts are this week ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://secure.htgsports.com/VRS.nsf/Reg?OpenForm&ParentUNID=21F960176818269485257D47005DC210&lang=en" target="_blank">Sign-up</a><br />
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Tryouts are free.<br />
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<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-81549018692060446532014-09-05T16:39:00.004-04:002014-09-05T16:39:44.402-04:00Plenty of baseball choices this Fall season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Folks,</div>
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Well an entire season of baseball has come and gone, and with my involvement in youth baseball, my duties with this blog were neglected.</div>
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I'd like to take an opportunity to cover the baseball happenings that are taking place across the city over the months of September and October.</div>
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While there is a lot of enjoyment that comes from playing with for your neighbourhood league over the spring and summer months (or with your respective travel team), fall baseball allows for a different opportunity. That is playing alongside ball players who you competed against. </div>
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This fall there are 3 baseball programs offering fall baseball. And I must say, this has to be the biggest offering to-date.</div>
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Brian Beehler (through Youth Elite Sports) is back for a fourth year with the CHIEFS. Except this year, he has expanded his offering of teams. He now offers 13U - 16U teams that play predominantly in Montreal. It's a lot of fun for players who want to see how the match up against Montreal teams they seldom see. It's also fun for players whose summer teams didn't get much opportunity to do some travel ball. There are tryouts for these teams.</div>
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Andrew Beattie & Bob Guy (through the Ottawa Royals & Knights baseball club) offer the Sambat Fall ball league. This is the 5th year of the program. The age range is 12-18. They have a deal with the Sambat that enables them to offer each player a Sambat wooden bat as part of the registration fees. This is a good option for players who want to extend their season, play with and against friends, while not having to pay for travel. The league also serves as a potential audition for players looking to play travel ball next spring. There are no tryouts for these teams - signup while spots remain.</div>
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The ONC offer a 16U and 18U fall ball program. They use these programs to attract potential suitors for their teams for the upcoming season. It exposes players and parents to how they run their program. This year, they offered free open sessions to allow them to select players to continue in their fall program. There are tryouts for these teams.</div>
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I'm excited by the amount of baseball that is continuing while the hockey season gets underway. Let's hope the weather cooperates and these 3 programs help raise the skill level of baseball players in our great city.</div>
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Vlad4040Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-83303831271851960412014-02-12T16:53:00.002-05:002014-02-12T16:54:01.038-05:00Where Has All of the Baseball Instinct Gone?<div style="background-color: white; color: #091859; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Helvetica Condensed', Helvetica-Narrow, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26.195398330688477px;">
This article appeared on the Baseball ZONE and was written by <span style="font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;">Rick Johnston</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;"> </span></div>
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I remember as a kid, getting on my bike, hooking my glove to those old rounded and curved handle bars, jamming my bat under the banana seat and wedging a baseball in between the frame of the forks and the upper bar. Then peddling as fast as I could to the nearby field, school or open area and joining my buddies for a game of sandlot baseball. That’s right, just like the movie, The Sandlot. Spending hot, sunny summer days running, hitting, throwing, catching, making up silly rules as the each game had an effect on your team’s outcome.</div>
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These days never appeared to end; they were days that seemingly made summers feel like there was no end in sight. It was what we lived for all day, then, dash home, get some food, change out of your grass stained, dirt covered street clothes and throw on your team's uniform and head to the yard for a structured, do it this way, don’t think for yourself game.</div>
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Why do you think as a kid, we spent more hours playing in an unstructured environment, playing dog tired and hungry and fighting for every at bat, ground ball or out? It is simple - we all wanted to be baseball players and were allowed to be our own baseball player with no governing rules on how to throw, hit, run, field or even when to steal and oh yes, taking pitches, no chance, it was about swinging the bat. It was about figuring out the game by figuring out the game - experiential learning and OWNING it.</div>
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What could we get away with, what could we not get away with? How could I pitch to certain buddy, did I know his weakness? Should I tag up or should I not tag up??? No one told me. Like the rest of us, we figured it out, albeit, not all of it, but we did figure it out. Even though we did not know how much we did not know, we found a way to begin to figure out what we did not know.</div>
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<img alt="baseball instinct" border="0" class="alignLeft" src="http://blog.thebaseballzone.ca/Portals/18567/images/Pitcher-Texting.jpg" height="320" id="img-1385746216661" style="border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); float: left; margin: 0px 15px 5px 0px; padding: 2px;" width="276" />Sandlot baseball, playing catch, playing 500 Up (I think kids nowadays call it Jackpot), Burnout, Pickle, each one of these teaches one thing that kids in this generation lack…instinct or better yet, baseball instinct. Where has it gone? It's simple, two things have happened:</div>
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<li><strong>First</strong>, kids are so preoccupied with other mitigating factors that just playing baseball with buddies is no longer at the top of their list. These factors then become distractions…video, internet, smartphones, sat-tv, etc. Instead of using these factors as a means of developing and stimulating baseball instinct or game sense, kids use these to download videos, watch movies, play games (not baseball games) or just to communicate with their buddies. To each their own, no judgment is being placed here, but I just wish that there was more awareness and honesty with the fact that spending time on those things when you could be playing/practicing is taking away from your development as a baseball player...and from your baseball instinct. </li>
<li><strong>Second</strong>, kids are truly no longer capable of - or perhaps more accurately, encouraged or allowed to - doing their own thinking during games. Next time you go to a game, take note of how many times you will see third base coaches flashing signs for no reason, or telling kids to take pitches, or telling them when to go or not to go on the bases, or the best one yet, is coaches calling pitch after pitch and never letting the catcher and pitcher try to figure something out. Instead, kids are not allowed to think for themselves, they are not allowed to be empowered to make their own decisions, ones that they will own and be accountable for. Hey coach, did you ever think that calling so many movements for your players might be a built in cop out for them if and when they don't work out? </li>
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Yes, the importance of basic fundamentals is critical and good coaching has a very important role in it. Tough to play the game if one is unable to have some fundamental skill in the areas of hitting, throwing, catching, running, etc. However, where most kids lack is actually not in the spectrum of fundamentals, it is in the lack of instinct. Kids are not allowed to be inquisitive or to just "fiddle around" like you see a toddler doing incessantly, learning various causes and effects to no end. In some cases players become institutionalized, only knowing what they know - what they are filled up with - but not fully knowing what they need to know. Never having a chance to develop baseball instinct because someone else wants to do all of their thinking! It is too bad, because the essence of fundamental skill undoubtedly is critical and will get kids to the next level, but the importance of baseball instinct will have a considerable impact on fundamental skill development.</div>
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Baseball instinct has a wide array of meanings. But I would sum it up by saying it is how quickly a player is able to think and calculate, with no hesitation, to make an accurate and correct decision. It is a largely calculated move that involves split second decision making. The quicker the decision the better the reaction! Players with good instinct read, react and respond with the correct decision making process, while players with less instinct, are always a step behind and much slower to react.</div>
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Now, I go back to what kids nowadays don’t do; or the amount of over-coaching they receive; or the lack of letting kids figure things out. It is then without wonder that we have kids that may have fundamental skill, but lack true in game sense…or baseball instinct. And that's a shame. It doesn't have to be that way, and the ones that find a way to develop it will be better in the long run and very likely also find much more enjoyment in a game that they can play for a very long time.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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Rick Johnston, Co-Founder & Head Instructor - The Baseball Zone</div>
Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-42304740894835610642014-01-07T19:24:00.001-05:002014-01-07T19:43:12.246-05:00FORMER DISTRICT 2 AND 6 LITTLE LEAGUE STARS RANK IN THE TOP 500 OF HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS IN NORTH AMERICARewind a few years and Matt Ianni, as a pitcher, was petrifying batters in Ontario's Little League's District 2; meanwhile up the Queensway in Orleans, for District 6, Demi Orimoloye was making noises with his bat.<br />
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Those noises are now being heard south of border, as the Perfect Game scouting bureau published it's top 500 high schoolers in North America for the 2015 draft year, and these two Ottawa boys made the cut. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsphI46x5SBbCIg8NcFylgQmhkfC6-gAZe1OOOgqsOBrNgGIgOYGsi9SSRDssnZaYZit_SBHG7RkX5_wUYOg_msW_VNohhb-6LohCJCXtlukq8QG-vLrTLh_ODvhTP8d6y_hHZ_sD1U6o/s1600/FORMERLLSTARS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsphI46x5SBbCIg8NcFylgQmhkfC6-gAZe1OOOgqsOBrNgGIgOYGsi9SSRDssnZaYZit_SBHG7RkX5_wUYOg_msW_VNohhb-6LohCJCXtlukq8QG-vLrTLh_ODvhTP8d6y_hHZ_sD1U6o/s1600/FORMERLLSTARS.png" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
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Respectively Demi is ranked 187th., while Matt is ranked 149th.. Also among the top 500 high schoolers, are 5 other Canadians who made the grade.</div>
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Because baseball in Ottawa doesn't enjoy the same level of participation as hockey, it's smaller size makes it more of a fraternity. So you can bet that all players and coaches who knew these boys are rooting for them. They're hoping that Demi and Matt's playing careers take them a long way from Ottawa's local diamonds.</div>
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Hopefully, one day you'll both be able to give back in one way or another, to the same Little Leagues where you first threw your first pitches and made your first at bats.</div>
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Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-15938362170837081382013-11-20T12:59:00.003-05:002013-11-20T14:50:39.176-05:00OTTAWA WEST LITTLE LEAGUEThe baseball landscape has changed in parts of Ottawa, Nepean and Bells Corners. Two proud Leagues have effectively been merged under a single, larger league. Pinecrest and Carlingwood Frank-Ryan Little League have received approval for their two boundaries to be redrawn under a single boundary. This means a new League, a new Charter and a fresh beginning.<br />
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"everyone is excited about this", said Pete Loyen (the former President of CFR) who will become the President of the new League.<br />
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"we've received a lot of positive responses including congratulations from Presidents of other D2 and D6 Leagues", said Craig Alain (the former President of Pinecrest), who takes on baseball operations. "we have a rare opportunity to build a strong and sustainable league", he continued.<br />
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While the League name has been chosen, as Ottawa West Little League, the "team" name remains to be selected. A short-list has been established and now the names are being presented to the players, parents and coaches to have their say.<br />
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While a larger territory will help with the volunteer base and opportunities to develop players through the benefits of critical mass, the League will continue to be land-locked and will need a turn-over of younger families moving back into the neighbourhoods. But this turn of events gives ample opportunity for the League to become masters of their own fate and build something special.<br />
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They have the benefit of the 2015 Little League Canadian Championships being hosted in Barrhaven, by East Nepean Little League. This event, the first of its kind in Ottawa in over 50 years, will help bring attention to youth baseball in the Ottawa-Valley. This coupled with a successful Toronto Blue Jays team will contribute to higher registration rates.<br />
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Good luck to Ottawa West Little League.Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-19352373629482271092013-10-07T11:34:00.003-04:002013-10-07T11:34:34.934-04:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rAHIT65Ytirl2pIQg_3Ic5msfbUX7DEL1EuI8_wEfbLIEjRWdrYFryIzXhy2Z7FyMLkZFvSmA2WTA-qgq-l1oxjax30g4OvzcA89YoUfmH5dJwfzpSkNoAJOFyHcSnIG21KAuWfazcA/s1600/kidsoffall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rAHIT65Ytirl2pIQg_3Ic5msfbUX7DEL1EuI8_wEfbLIEjRWdrYFryIzXhy2Z7FyMLkZFvSmA2WTA-qgq-l1oxjax30g4OvzcA89YoUfmH5dJwfzpSkNoAJOFyHcSnIG21KAuWfazcA/s400/kidsoffall.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographer: Joy Chase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While politicians and businessmen go back and forth on what to do with Ottawa Lynx Stadium, young players from 4 teams put the diamond to good use on October 6th. Thanks to Brian Beehler and Rob Romard, players from their 14U and 13U Ottawa Chiefs Fall teams, got a chance to play on the very diamond that the Montreal Expos once played a scrimmage game on.<br />
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The Chiefs hosted the Montreal Giants, who brought to town their 14U and 13U teams. This was the second year that the Chiefs have participated in a Fall program with teams from the Montreal area.<br />
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On top of the novelty of playing on a professional diamond in front of friends and family, it was also an opportunity for players who are often on rival city teams, to play as teammates. And while the play was competitive, the coaches didn't miss out on offering players a chance to play in a different position than they may play in the summer, or giving a chance to pitch.<br />
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What a nice end to the 2013 baseball season. Thank you, coaches.<br />
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<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-30921502308875767642013-10-01T11:44:00.001-04:002013-10-01T11:46:14.207-04:00YES Winter Camp (better than ever)<div style="font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">After a great winter, spring and fall of baseball it's time to start thinking about the 2014 season. Youth Elite Sports is proud to offer its winter baseball training in 2014. Training will be taking place at Louis Riel Dome in Blackburn Hamlet with several training days to choose from (Monday, Friday and Saturday). Winter training starts January 4th and concludes by April 19th. We have created new timings and pricing structure that will give your athletes the flexibility to choose which program you would like to register for.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.youthelitesports.ca/products/" style="cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Registration is now open</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"> and space is limited for all our programs. Registration this year will be closing in December so make sure to register early to secure your spot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Our programs:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">YESS Kids Program<br />Age 9 - 12</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px; text-indent: -18pt;"><i>Beginner - Intermediate Skill Level</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px; text-indent: -18pt;"><i>Advanced - Elite Skill Level</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><i style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">A combine will be held during the first week to determine which program stream your son/daughter will be assigned too.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Day of session: Saturdays<br />Number of sessions: 13<br />Time: 7:00PM - 8:30PM<br />Cost: $225<br />Training: Field work, batting instruction, pitching instruction and mini-games.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">YESS Youth Program<br />Age 13 - 16</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Day of session: Saturdays</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Number of sessions: 12<br />Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM<br />Cost: $275<br />Training: Field work, batting instruction, catching instruction and a 15 minute conditioning session</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">After School Workout<br />Age 13 - 16</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Day of session: Mondays<br />Number of sessions: 15<br />Time: 4:30PM - 6:00PM<br />Cost: $300 for 15 sessions or $30 / session drop-in<br />Training: Field work, batting (soft-toss & tee work), and pitching)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">YESS Elite Pitching Workout</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Only 8 spots are open for this elite level pitching training. Interested athletes must submit their intent to try out for one of the eight spots. If you are interested in trying out for this one on one training session please send an email to </span><a href="mailto:bbeehler@rogers.com" style="cursor: pointer;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">bbeehler@rogers.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Day of session: Fridays<br />Number of sessions: 14<br />Time: 7:00PM - 8:30PM<br />Cost: $300<br />Training: resistance training, conditioning, bullpen work, one on one instruction and video analysis</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Elite Package</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">This package is intended for ages 13-16 and includes the following (special consideration would be made for exceptional players younger than 13 years of age):</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">· </span><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">YESS Youth Program</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> and your choice of one other program</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">· </span><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">After-School Workouts</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> or <b>YESS Elite Pitching Workout</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Note: Athletes interested in the YESS Elite Pitching Workout must try out for one of the eight spots available.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Below is some information or visit the website</span><a href="http://www.youthelitesports.ca/2012/08/08/winter-baseball-program/" style="cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">http://www.youthelitesports.ca/2012/08/08/winter-baseball-program/</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Also, here is a link that explains the program more in depth for this year: </span><a href="http://www.youthelitesports.ca/2012/10/01/our-winter-program-for-2013/" style="cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">http://www.youthelitesports.ca/2012/10/01/our-winter-program-for-2013/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">To register click the 'Register' button at the top of the page on the website.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">If you have any questions please let me know.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal;">Brian Beehler</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Youth Elite Sports, Founder</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">bbeehler@rogers.com</span></span></div>
Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-1125827413718835992013-09-22T21:08:00.002-04:002013-09-22T21:08:11.344-04:00Gee Gees Winter Training 2014<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
The Gee Gees will again be holding their winter training camp at the Field house at Carleton University.</div>
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The camp is designed for baseball players 13 - 17. The camp will run for 11 weeks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKzOdOqynmPy04FpWukntZXPae4O41Oh5MbXKLqGZJIzkMwzpODrLAxmLEipAbmfhjsoPD58zcRS4buJC3pkHZsUN1-5_ZgjPE1N8ZZtbO9V2t-0nG2a6VA1SuILloFMk8TKvAbwy74M/s1600/geegees.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKzOdOqynmPy04FpWukntZXPae4O41Oh5MbXKLqGZJIzkMwzpODrLAxmLEipAbmfhjsoPD58zcRS4buJC3pkHZsUN1-5_ZgjPE1N8ZZtbO9V2t-0nG2a6VA1SuILloFMk8TKvAbwy74M/s200/geegees.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
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The dates are:</div>
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<b>Jan 4, 11, 18, 25 Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 Mar 8, 15 and 22.</b></div>
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There will be 2 time slots 8 am. to 10 am. and 10 am to noon.</div>
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PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR.</div>
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The cost of the camp will be $275.</div>
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You can register by sending a cheque payable to Larry Belanger</div>
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The address is</div>
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841 Dundee Ave</div>
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Ottawa On.</div>
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k2b 5s8</div>
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Due to space limitations they can only accommodate 40 players so please act quickly so you do not miss out. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7MR4kilSeaeoeNsgVCYnKet5SNeL5P2g4rdzliVnNXm92Xt8YrcMuHkGn4vnB12IeAgPWleJdCCy6lKNBrLlXLGwdc_jTcD85-8nCUAz-wps-luuM0u5XOoIQ1-sjz_-LFkKUrVl8HM/s1600/Larry+Belanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7MR4kilSeaeoeNsgVCYnKet5SNeL5P2g4rdzliVnNXm92Xt8YrcMuHkGn4vnB12IeAgPWleJdCCy6lKNBrLlXLGwdc_jTcD85-8nCUAz-wps-luuM0u5XOoIQ1-sjz_-LFkKUrVl8HM/s200/Larry+Belanger.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Thanks</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Larry Belanger</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Manager</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
University of Ottawa Gee Gee</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Baseball</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<br /></div>
Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-66532548549127911272013-08-12T16:13:00.000-04:002013-08-12T16:31:32.627-04:00How Good are the 2013 East Nepean Major Eagles?<div class="MsoNormal">
How does this Championship East Nepean Eagles team stack up?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSnrLGhU_afWcY5nDZ2pdlRWCS_sluQX-NUTxBejjZc__6bXttkEhqcmFylXG71PPe3S-ItmEq_5vCPN0-9AyitiI557uVeVorHE4Uh3yQoGaIIush7ViHA_hnlDvxjKMm-xwAWyOBkI/s1600/eagles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSnrLGhU_afWcY5nDZ2pdlRWCS_sluQX-NUTxBejjZc__6bXttkEhqcmFylXG71PPe3S-ItmEq_5vCPN0-9AyitiI557uVeVorHE4Uh3yQoGaIIush7ViHA_hnlDvxjKMm-xwAWyOBkI/s400/eagles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just to grasp the magnitude of what the 2013 East Nepean
Major Eagles accomplished this past weekend in Glace-Bay, NS, we should take a
look back through the history of the Little League Canadian Championship Series.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Over the past 20 years, a team from British
Columbia has won the LLCCS, 12 times.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Over the past 10 years, BC has had a stranglehold of the Canadians,
having lost only twice.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">T</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">hose 2 losses, were to very same East Nepean
Little League.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">These winning BC teams have outscored their
opposition by an average of 9.1 runs in the championship games over that 10
year span.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">This means that they have “mercied”
their competition the majority of the time.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What also makes this achievement so stunning is that baseball
is generally perceived to have been on a sharp decline in popularity in Ontario
over the past two decades.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Credit of course should go to the players and their parents
for making this dream a reality. It's an incredible commitment for families to take on, while dealing with the regular going-ons of day to day living (and working). But
also, one can’t help but recognize the commitment to a training and development
program that has been put in place by the League and it’s volunteer coaches. This along with the longevity of what they
have been able to achieve is quite remarkable and worth consideration by other
leagues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some may point out that the success of this team was largely
a result of having a few strong workhorses that could carry the team. While this is important, baseball is one of
those sports that you are only as strong as your weakest player. And it takes a complete team effort to become
champions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s time for all local Ottawa-Valley leagues to tip their
hats to this Eagles team and the East Nepean program. And to wish them well in Williamsport,
PA. Go Eagles!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-85439587549804892902013-08-09T14:04:00.000-04:002013-08-09T17:49:00.223-04:00Batting Cages in Ottawa and Eastern OntarioNo matter how many whiffle balls you hit or batting tees you hit off, nothing beats batting practice in a cage vs life pitching or a pitching machine. And if you are a pitcher, nothing beats pitching off a mound to warm-up between starts or to work during the off-season.<br />
<br />
So where in Ottawa (let alone Eastern Ontario) can you do this? The answer is: almost no-where. There isn't a single dedicated baseball training facility between Ajax and Montreal. Several coaches and programs have come up with inventive ways to bridge the gap, but what youth baseball really needs is some sort of facility that is open to the public.<br />
<br />
Have your say and tell us what would be critical to using a local baseball facility.<br />
<br />
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Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-40964321225674259602013-08-09T13:16:00.003-04:002013-08-09T13:19:44.444-04:00SAM BAT Fall League<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_98EmVK-rfrE8jstIXjToe2z2tmKyFxeu6NtjkfOLjFryok2MrUnsci38RrxE6zvpE1ziuQ7R2LQGY99h8tqV3kM95iQ7B9gkTuTF682_wbInta6ocrMgMDfiqX3TBt2s5qum1kT8frY/s1600/sambat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_98EmVK-rfrE8jstIXjToe2z2tmKyFxeu6NtjkfOLjFryok2MrUnsci38RrxE6zvpE1ziuQ7R2LQGY99h8tqV3kM95iQ7B9gkTuTF682_wbInta6ocrMgMDfiqX3TBt2s5qum1kT8frY/s1600/sambat.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
SAM BAT Fall League Baseball is the fastest growing youth development league in North America. This is a wood bat league where each player that registers receives a Sam Bat and a SAM BAT T-Shirt included in their registration! <br />
The cost is only $180.00 and there will be six games (on weekends only) with playoffs.<br />
<br />
The season starts September 7 and runs through the first half of October.<br />
<br />
This year, in the event of inclement weather the City of Ottawa has granted the program an exemption to keep playing through the entire month if need be. Additionally, there will be at least two instructional clinics with certified professional coaches leading the program. Players will benefit from: Refining their hitting techniques with their own SAM BAT; Receive additional instruction through the scheduled clinics; Meet new ball players from across Ottawa; Receive professional off-season training tips from SAM BAT Fall League Regional Directors through monthly newsletter - many are former professional and current US College coaches; Players in second year minor should register for the Peewee/Major division and current second year Major/Peewee players should register for Bantam/Junior. This gives players exposure to the new rules and field dimensions so they will be better prepared for next season!<br />
<br />
Registration sold out early last year so please don't delay. We are already at 40% full and have only just opened registrations.
For more information on the program and to register please <a href="http://www.poweralleymarketing.pointstreaksites.com/view/poweralleymarketing#.UgUi7JJOTzw" target="_blank">click </a>here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-8298531055561543782013-07-31T13:34:00.000-04:002013-07-31T13:34:02.632-04:00FALL BASEBALLThere are a number of Fall Baseball programs available to Ottawa-Valley players. One that I'm familiar with is this one putting on by the people with YES (youth elite sports), as my son participated in it last year. It was well organized and my son enjoy himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5m2J-hpaNshgGpyn1xRk2Hbtk4K2XrPhC1tOFTEmJmuqdepBKtexMr_WfJGK7Re5t2WRhBijwlT97u7M8osjoFlrNVgrtn1S5QPRnxy5FmHGpPU7BeQ3oSwyz3zcY1lq0_rrFxGe4Fo/s1600/YESS_logo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5m2J-hpaNshgGpyn1xRk2Hbtk4K2XrPhC1tOFTEmJmuqdepBKtexMr_WfJGK7Re5t2WRhBijwlT97u7M8osjoFlrNVgrtn1S5QPRnxy5FmHGpPU7BeQ3oSwyz3zcY1lq0_rrFxGe4Fo/s1600/YESS_logo1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i>Youth Elite Sports is proud to offer a Competitive Fall Program at the 14U and the 13U level as well we're determining if there would be enough interest for a U16 team. Please go to our website to register for the tryouts that will be occuring on August 24th & 25th.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.youthelitesports.ca/2012/08/08/2012-u14-fall-baseball-program/" target="_blank">Information & Registration link</a></i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>We offer a competitive program that offers the following:</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Four Practice Sessions on Wednesday August </i></b><b><i>28, 2013, Saturday August 31, 2013, Wednesday September 4, 2013 and Saturday </i></b><b><i>September 7, 2013 .</i></b><br />
<b><i>Format is 2 hours and 20 mins of clinic session plus 40 </i></b><b><i>minutes of strength and flexibility with a YESS certified personal trainer.</i></b><br />
<b><i>One practice a week practice 1.5 hours </i></b><b><i>(week of Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25 and Oct 2).</i></b><br />
<b><i>Three weekend tournaments (4 games </i></b><b><i>guaranteed), plus weekend exhibition or inter-squad games up to and including </i></b><b><i>Sunday October 6, 2013.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>See you on the ball field!</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Brian Beehler</i></b><br />
<b><i>Youth Elite Sports</i></b>Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-22907793057061784692013-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:002013-01-15T10:38:58.743-05:00BASEBALL SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN<i>Play the sport, your parents played when they were children.</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQte60qZcczusizEkCqi3YZlqtvalzP3L4o3pZbGIOcunbqdbxB3Dum5YGcqONZMfWAe3WoemWRjrcR4r3RgSXnZnPPrHxK6y9oi0Rts1ERiI3XVZtysCG7KOX8axensbRnhx7EuiwA1w/s1600/wsRegistrationDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQte60qZcczusizEkCqi3YZlqtvalzP3L4o3pZbGIOcunbqdbxB3Dum5YGcqONZMfWAe3WoemWRjrcR4r3RgSXnZnPPrHxK6y9oi0Rts1ERiI3XVZtysCG7KOX8axensbRnhx7EuiwA1w/s200/wsRegistrationDay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>Little League registration for Spring (May - June) baseball for girls and boys (ages 4-16) is now open (for most leagues) across the city.<br />
<br />
Follow these links for your neighbourhood<br />
<br />
In the West ...<br />
<a href="http://www.cfrllott.ca/parents.html" target="_blank">Ottawa West (Carlingwood Frank Ryan LL) </a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinecrestlittleleague.ca/register/" target="_blank">Nepean West (Pinecrest LL)</a><br />
<a href="http://eastnepeanbaseball.on.ca/register" target="_blank">Nepean East & South (East Nepean LL) </a><br />
<a href="http://kllba.ca/?page_id=15" target="_blank">Kanata, Stittsville & Richmond (Kanata LL) </a><br />
<br />
In the East ...<br />
<a href="http://www.southottawalittleleague.ca/register" target="_blank">Ottawa East & South (South Ottawa)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.glebelittleleague.ca/" target="_blank">Ottawa Central & North (Glebe LL) </a><br />
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/orleanslittleleague/Home" target="_blank">Orleans (Orleans LL)</a><br />
<br />
South of the City<br />
<a href="http://www.kemptvillelittleleague.com/" target="_blank">Kemptville (Kemptville LL)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.crll.ca/" target="_blank">Carleton Russell (Carleton Russell LL)</a><br />
<br />
For OBA, visit either www.oncbaseball.ca or www.ottawaroyalsbaseclub.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-53154685934196160732013-01-09T16:00:00.000-05:002013-01-15T16:22:19.658-05:00ANNOUNCEMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8kZMuyuav590BuYCxwz78D1SLETPehn48WcCBBKO1bwZUVYyxirU4hlBc7bI28CO77VfkGTSZZWuu1ubq0dAQsV9MatpMGey5eVzVyZZMtVpkLhly-XU7T6KGgttKzmJiOrTm_6l76M/s1600/OWBA-ANNOUNCEMENT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8kZMuyuav590BuYCxwz78D1SLETPehn48WcCBBKO1bwZUVYyxirU4hlBc7bI28CO77VfkGTSZZWuu1ubq0dAQsV9MatpMGey5eVzVyZZMtVpkLhly-XU7T6KGgttKzmJiOrTm_6l76M/s320/OWBA-ANNOUNCEMENT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Baseball in the West End of Ottawa is changing. Pinecrest Little League (PLL) and Carlingwood Frank Ryan Little League (CFRLL)
have collaborated for the last 5 years. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This year CFRLL and PLL are actively growing their
relationship. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Starting with the 2013 season, PLL and CFRLL are creating the
Ottawa West Baseball Alliance. The goal of OWBA is to create a strong spring
and summer offering for ballplayers in the west end. By consolidating
resources, two smaller leagues can focus limited volunteer effort and put a
better product on the field - work together, share resources, and in some
cases, merge our programs. The details of the Ottawa West Baseball Alliance
are:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Creating a
single offering at both the Junior and Senior levels. Practically speaking, they are merging at these levels and will run a single spring and summer program.
CFRLL will administer the Junior level and PLL will administer the Senior
level. The West End Baseball Alliance will form joint teams in the summer,
comprised of players from both PLL and CFRLL.</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Their expectation is to create a much more competitive offering by joining
forces.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Aligning the
Tee-Ball and Rookie programs. Currently, each league runs a distinct offering –
the STAR program at PLL and the traditional Tee-ball and Rookie program at CFR.
Starting in 2013, both leagues will align their program, creating a three-level
offering: Tee-Ball, and two levels at Rookie. Rookie-aged players will be
placed in streams based on capabilities.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Continuing to
interlock at the Minor and Major level. This year the goal is to stream at both
the major and minor levels (enrollment numbers permitting) and run a joint
playoff tournament.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Collaborating
on all tournaments.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Sharing of
resources. This year, CFRLL and PLL are sharing an Umpire in Chief, are using
the same coach training materials, running joint registrations, and are sharing
the use of facilities.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are many more details to be worked out in the coming
weeks. Both leagues are fully committed and working very hard over the winter
months to have these changes in place for the 2013 season. They realized their leagues needed to look for opportunities to take their partnership to the next
level and improve the baseball experience for all players in their boundaries. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">They are convinced that relationship will improve their programs and give parents
and players a better baseball experience in both the Spring and Summer seasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Added: Jan 15, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">
FAQ: Pinecrest & CFR Working Agreement</h2>
<br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The following FAQs are to answer expected questions along with questions we have already fielded.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><h2 class="null" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<em>A</em><em>bout the Leagues</em></h2>
<strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: Why is this happening?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: This is not a new idea. It has been discussed by League executives, coaches, parents and players for the past decade. There wasn’t one single trigger that made it happen this time. However, jointly, the two Leagues did a study on recruitment, registration levels and demographics of Little League baseball in the Ottawa area and found that both leagues were significantly disadvantaged compared to their competitors. This led to the exploration of options during the off-season. This was considered the best course of action for both Leagues.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Q: What do you mean by “Junior/Senior will be administered by …”</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Players in Junior and Senior must still register in their "home" league (league of residence). Both Leagues will also charter those 2 divisions. CFRLL will be responsible for outfitting the players, scheduling the umpires, and securing fields for Junior. And vice-versa for PLL at Senior. </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">For administrative reasons, </span><a href="http://www.pinecrestlittleleague.ca/register/junior-ages-13-14/" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #eb4102; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">junior </a><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">and </span><a href="http://www.pinecrestlittleleague.ca/register/senior-ages-15-16/" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #eb4102; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">senior </a><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">now have unique registration forms.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: How will coach selection occur at the Junior and Senior levels?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Coaches from both Leagues are encouraged to volunteer for spring positions. If there are more coach volunteers than available teams, the convenor of the level will approach coaches about partnering. For summer, coach selection for Junior and Senior will be decided by a 2 person committee with a representative from each League. The committee has pre-determined criteria and will grade applicants based on their background – the coach with the highest ranking will be appointed head coach. </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q:</strong><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Why are you calling it (OWBA) an “Alliance”, and not a League. </strong><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">… who wants to go through a name change in a year or two again ?!</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Both Little Leagues will continue to exist as they are presently are, Pinecrest LL & CFR LL. And they will continue to have their own existing Charter with Little League. The Alliance is more about formalizing and solidifying future processes.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: Is this just the first step in an all-out merger of the 2 Leagues.</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: The fact is, both Leagues would be hard pressed to operate effectively independently, because they are land-locked and in mature neighbourhoods. Redrawing League neighbourhood boundaries requires the willingness of all members within the affected districts and is unlikely. This means our leagues must, at a minimum, work more closely together to build a strong program for the players within our boundaries. This does not necessarily mean we will merge –the goal for 2013 is for the leagues to increase our collaboration and monitor progress. The executives will review operations at the end of the season and decide on next steps. However, there is still recognition that particularly at the younger age levels, there is appeal for children being able to play and practice within their neighbourhood. </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><h2 class="null" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<em>About Tournaments</em></h2>
<strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: What does collaborating at all tournaments mean?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Up until now, there has been an enormous workload placed on a few volunteers to run tournaments and events (ie. opening day, Blue Jays clinic, spring clinics, spring tournaments, playoff weekend, summer tournaments and hosting Districts) in a very small time window.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">For the coming season, the agreement is that Pinecrest will run a Spring tournament for Rookie + Minor, and CFR will run a Summer tournament for Major through Senior. Each League will have access to the other League’s facilities and umpires while hosting these tournaments. Teams from either League will receive free entry in these tournaments.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><h2 class="null" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<em>About Spring Baseball</em></h2>
<strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: In the past, we’ve interlocked at all levels. Is that changing?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: CFR and PLL will continue to interlock in the spring. At the Junior and Senior levels, we will continue to participate in the Ottawa-wide interlock program.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: How will the streaming work for Minor and Major divisions?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Both Leagues will conduct their respective sort-outs, and form their A stream and B stream teams. Each league will assemble teams in each stream with the goal of balancing teams. The number of teams from each league will be determined by registration numbers. The more players who register, the more teams each league will place in each steam. However, for streaming to work, we need a minimum number of teams at each level. </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">To ensure we place players at the appropriate stream and balance teams, each league will run a more rigorous player evaluation process. For effective evaluations, players must attend all sessions. </span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: What if there aren`t enough registrations from both Leagues at a particular division to stream. </strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: In this case, the Leagues will continue to interlock, but there will not be streaming.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: Will streaming mean that all the best coaches will coach in the higher stream?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Each year, the Leagues offer a free baseball clinic to ALL coaches (in April). This clinic is conducted by Canadian renowned National baseball coach, Al Herback. There are 3 clinics and times, geared to the age divisions.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: We encourage league wide clinics and/or practices to be attended by all coaches for their division. At these clinics, less experienced coaches can learn from more experienced coaches. Each League is encouraged to run division wide practices and clinics open to both streams of players.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><h2 class="null" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<em>About Summer Baseball</em><br /> </h2>
<strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: Will the Junior and Senior summer teams have a new uniform?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: Yes. Both teams will be sporting new uniforms. The teams will be called the Twins (not Cardinals or Patriots). The team colors will be maroon and grey. Players will be required to buy maroon socks and belts. The decision on pants (likely grey with maroon piping) is still being considered.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: Will this make it tougher for my son to make a Summer team in Junior or Senior?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: First, we hope to be able to offer summer baseball to all players that are interested in committing to play. Will making the A team be a greater challenge? Yes. In the larger Leagues like Orleans and South Ottawa, there are few first year players making the A tournament team.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Q: What is the impact of these changes on other levels?</strong><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A: There will be no impact on the composition and selection of summer teams at the other levels. Both leagues will continue to field a summer A team as well as summer B teams based on registration numbers. PLL and CFR will continue to field independent teams at Rookie ,Minor, and Major (both A and B levels). </span></div>
Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-12191144549979096082013-01-07T06:55:00.003-05:002013-01-07T07:27:24.860-05:00Advice for parents: buy your child a good baseball gloveThe most common mistake I see parents making when they introduce their child to baseball, is the glove purchase. And it's completely understandable. For one, parents don't know if their child will take to baseball. Second, the selection of gloves in Canada is pitiful.<br />
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Because of these two factors, unknowingly parents tend to buy their child an inappropriate glove that will make learning to catch a challenge.<br />
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Remember when (us parents) were kids and our first pair of skates were hand-me-downs or purposely bought 2 sizes too big so we'd grow into them. Skating in them was cruel punishment, but we were just happy to be out there on the ice, so we made due.<br />
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Well with baseball gloves, we (now the parents) are repeating the same practice. We are buying gloves that are the wrong size, wrong fabric, and they make catching a ball incredibly difficult.<br />
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Here's a bit of information and advice on choosing a baseball gloves, along with some recommended models to consider.<br />
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<b><u>SIZING</u></b>: Typically, glove sizes for baseball range from 10.5" - 12.75". In fact, Little League official rules suggest the largest glove size should be 12" (this is for ages up to 12). The glove size is usually marked on the inside thumb or pinky of a glove. If it isn't indicated, you can usually tell by the code. Eg) GG1200 will mean it is a 12" glove.<br />
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Most players beginning baseball should select a glove between 10.5" - 11.5".<br />
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<b><u>FABRIC</u></b>: Don't buy a plastic glove. There are various grades of leather quality, but this doesn't become a concern until your child is playing competitive baseball and is 11 or older. Mesh (on the) back gloves are a good option for younger kids because it makes the glove lighter and quicker to break-in. Akadema offers some affordable meshback gloves.<br />
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<b><u>POSITION</u></b>: The position your child prefers to play is also a consideration for the web type (pocket) and size of the glove. Middle infielders (short-stops, 2B) usually go with an I-web or T-web/laced. And never exceed 11.5" in size (this even applies to the pros); 1B have a different style of glove altogether. It is a trap and is usually 12"+. Agan, a specific 1B glove isn't really necessary until your child is playing competitive ball and is 11 or older; OF gloves are the biggest gloves, they are normally 12-12.75" and the web is usually a H-web or 5-finger laced web; Pitchers typically use a closed web to conceal how the ball is being held. Again, not really a concern for younger players. However, keep in mind that Little League prevents pitchers to use white or grey gloves (disguises the ball); Catchers gloves are altogether different. For youth, they should be 31-32.5" in size. Most leagues provide them to each team; however, if your child throws with their left hand, the League may not provide one. If your child takes a love to catching, buy them one so it can form to their hand.<br />
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<b><u>TAPER/SHOWCASE</u></b>: Rawlings uses the word Taper to refer to their gloves that are made with a smaller size hand or youth hand in mind. Wilson uses the term Showcase or SC for their naming of a similar size glove. If you can find them, I highly recommend your purchase them for your youngster.<br />
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<b><u>WHERE TO BUY</u></b>: Locally, in the West end, my 2 favorite stores for baseball equipment is Play It Again in Barrhaven or Valiquette's on Carling. Online, use sites like homerunmonkey.com or baseballsavings.com where they regularly put their gloves on sale. They don't ship to Canada, but you can have it sent to Ogdensburg, NY UPS store (just google those 3 words and you will find instructions on how to). While in the US on vacation, stop at a Dick's or Sports Authority. If in Orlando, stop at the Rawlings outlet store (my Disney Land while vacationing in Florida).<br />
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<b><u>RECOMMENDED GLOVES</u></b>: Let me preface this by saying that there are lots of great gloves out there. Each glove maker offers a range of quality gloves (from low to high). Here are just a few moderately priced gloves that are currently out there, that break-in easily and are intended for younger players.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pwyfoccb4-zDby-76wMDnKpdGniaOXaCShPVu-vd0OWnCpE8RreHUyRzaT37waH2lxe2OIdcICVTsdzljWD708my6B0ErwiQ8rk7IS_AUi-qkZQGjHRfTFQYw9KrCDHDVy5ACzisKV4/s1600/-pro-taper-gg1225g-free-bgp555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pwyfoccb4-zDby-76wMDnKpdGniaOXaCShPVu-vd0OWnCpE8RreHUyRzaT37waH2lxe2OIdcICVTsdzljWD708my6B0ErwiQ8rk7IS_AUi-qkZQGjHRfTFQYw9KrCDHDVy5ACzisKV4/s200/-pro-taper-gg1225g-free-bgp555.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0bpFgFhuaYEm-kfHP7DDwgUhc-xq2593oTU2xu4HT96cgS1I69pw0kfD0goskxlMHwKrV_jRMM0BcWvKhiu0PkEKpodPyyahee-D4W67_G-zGN7-gmqBNgcGdKTnt9GFDQQO0u_CSW4/s1600/louisville-hxy1102-helix-youth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0bpFgFhuaYEm-kfHP7DDwgUhc-xq2593oTU2xu4HT96cgS1I69pw0kfD0goskxlMHwKrV_jRMM0BcWvKhiu0PkEKpodPyyahee-D4W67_G-zGN7-gmqBNgcGdKTnt9GFDQQO0u_CSW4/s200/louisville-hxy1102-helix-youth.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6aDBddcUbW_bP_z_yQwDEo8_JEUkrDMTAirm8gxwR9eWELMlnIHMcHiilzAumOuT1SIi_YQPvc3__G9pzYguPmTfO5IQ8MfA-kR4X0bgfuCNJytCBo5hh00M25y5jHI-6sm7mpvnLAI/s1600/-pro-taper-gg1102g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6aDBddcUbW_bP_z_yQwDEo8_JEUkrDMTAirm8gxwR9eWELMlnIHMcHiilzAumOuT1SIi_YQPvc3__G9pzYguPmTfO5IQ8MfA-kR4X0bgfuCNJytCBo5hh00M25y5jHI-6sm7mpvnLAI/s200/-pro-taper-gg1102g.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Ages 4-6: Louisville HXY1102 (11"),; ages 7-11: Gold Glove Pro Taper GG1102G (11"); OF ages 9-11: Gold Glove Pro Taper GG1225G (12.25")<br />
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For the more serious baseball player who wants pro-quality gloves that have a long break-in period but will last a life-time, and is ok with spending over $200 on a glove, you will want to consider the following top of the line gloves: Mizuno GMP Pro series, Rawlings Pro Preferred, Rawlings Heart of the Hide, Wilson A2K, Wilson A2000, Akadema Patriot, Louisville TPX, Louisville Evolution.</div>
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The beauty of these highend gloves is that you don't get palm-sting from catching the ball and they mold to the player's hand. The long break-in is worth it. </div>
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My all-time favorite middle-infielder glove (no longer sold) is the Rawlings HOH PRO1125TI.</div>
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Have your say ...<object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="343px" id="InsertWidget_b6f9f9d2-0e21-4795-89fd-da531166918d" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf"/><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="flashvars" value="r=2&appId=b6f9f9d2-0e21-4795-89fd-da531166918d" /> <embed src="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf" name="InsertWidget_b6f9f9d2-0e21-4795-89fd-da531166918d" width="400px" height="343px" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" align="middle" flashvars="r=2&appId=b6f9f9d2-0e21-4795-89fd-da531166918d" ></embed></object><br />
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If you want to learn more about gloves and browse through marketplace forums on gloves, here are 2 useful sites:<br />
<a href="http://www.glove-works.com/">www.glove-works.com</a> (click on Linkspage)<br />
<a href="http://www.softballforums.com/">www.softballforums.com</a> (click on Forums)Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-8197781588757049632012-12-29T13:14:00.000-05:002012-12-29T15:46:12.536-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCa8-5QfOnaWJDm6t_JYaKYpb7J87Tb0sse1MDd6950qwHW3Y4EvUoEwmTJqay399SQImHtu9I0w5vF8xDhhJBhzjuo8Fax989QXvxAgceAPuRz6PivTEYjYkbKsb_7refD68emsL9v4/s1600/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCa8-5QfOnaWJDm6t_JYaKYpb7J87Tb0sse1MDd6950qwHW3Y4EvUoEwmTJqay399SQImHtu9I0w5vF8xDhhJBhzjuo8Fax989QXvxAgceAPuRz6PivTEYjYkbKsb_7refD68emsL9v4/s320/banner.jpg" width="320" /></a><em><strong>About the Blogger:</strong> </em><br />
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<em>Craig Alain is an avid baseball fan. He first became involved in youth baseball with Carlingwood-Frank Ryan Little League in Ottawa's West-end, when his son enrolled in baseball at the Rookie level. There he (along with Greg Brooks), learned about coaching, from experienced coaches, <strong>Dean Chamberlin</strong> and <strong>Mark Bradley</strong>. Much of the knowledge he's aquired, and been able to pass on, has been through obervation of more experienced coaches. He credits people like <strong><a href="http://www.mikesbaseballcamps.com/" target="_blank">Mike Kusiewicz</a></strong> and <strong>Cam Pelton</strong> for sharing their knowledge. </em><br />
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<em>He has read many books on the subject of coaching baseball and has attended coaching clinics that were graciously offered by Ontario Little League District 2 and 6: <strong>Al Herback's</strong> Teaching for Tomorrow and <strong>Marc Shoenfelt's</strong> <a href="http://www.b2bbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Back To Basics</a> (B2B).</em><br />
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<em>Craig eventually made the transition from coach to Executive volunteer. </em><em>While coaching is his passion, he is presently the President for Pinecrest Little League.</em><br />
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<em>The purpose of this blog, is to promote youth baseball in Eastern Ontario. He developed this blog to share information in a non-partisan manner, to parents, coaches and players. Follow his blog to stay current on baseball leagues, clubs, tournaments, training, and instruction in the Ottawa-Valley.</em><br />
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<em>Click on the sections to the left-hand side of the page to open up links, videos and more ...</em><br />
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<em>If you share his passion for youth baseball, and have an article you would like to share, please contact </em><a href="mailto:vlad4040@hotmail.com" target="_blank"><em>vlad4040@hotmail.com</em></a><br />
<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-89182534475385660682012-12-29T10:20:00.001-05:002012-12-30T08:52:20.039-05:00Will Blue Jays success translate into youth baseball popularity<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVPrCUvB71SqXbclCopVBzYodueF45quCdRoHrgE26XpKdcjUsvioKDOSMOYiD5IIopVNCmhzMUkoye6Pq9VuyY4imtjlvergHSDuzTmvRuNcIqn7XPRYgIjPVL-dJWrDQgqsDSFMjDE/s1600/dreaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVPrCUvB71SqXbclCopVBzYodueF45quCdRoHrgE26XpKdcjUsvioKDOSMOYiD5IIopVNCmhzMUkoye6Pq9VuyY4imtjlvergHSDuzTmvRuNcIqn7XPRYgIjPVL-dJWrDQgqsDSFMjDE/s320/dreaming.jpg" width="320" /></a>Whether you are still jaded by the proliferation of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in pro baseball, or still angry that the league leading Montreal Expos had their hearts ripped out of them in 1994 when the League cancelled the World Series, or whatever your reason for turning your back on the sport ... it might be time to give the sport a second chance. </div>
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To use that old cliché (and baseball is full of them), It's a Perfect Storm:</div>
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The NHL's millionaires can't figure out how to share their riches, the Maple Leafs haven't made the playoffs since 2004, the Raptors are, well, ... the Raptors, and the NFL isn't coming (permanently) to Canada any time soon. The Toronto Blue Jays are suddenly relevant again.</div>
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On a recent visit to Toronto, I was shocked at the number of people wearing Blue Jays caps. More telling was the absence of Maple Leafs wear in a city that bleeds blue and white. What this tells me is that the recent blockbuster deals that Alex Anthropolous made, has people taking notice.</div>
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Suddenly a franchise that has not reached the playoffs since 1993, is the favorite my many to win the 2013 world series. Not only are the predictions exciting, but so is the make-up of the team. This might be the most exciting team the Jays have put on paper. The team boasts an incomperable homerun champion (Bautista), an all-out-dynamo Canadian (Lawrie) whose intensity reminds me of Pete Rose in his prime, a 4 time all-star short stop with a batting title (Reyes), a centre-fielder with 5 tool talent (Rasmus) if he can ever figure out how to put it all together, and the strongest starting rotation in baseball (R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero).</div>
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So will all the hope of a promising season ahead for the Blue Jays, will Canadians start paying attention again? Will children be asking their parents to play ball so they can emulate their new heroes? Time will tell. But in all likelihood, a resurgence of popularity for the Jays will mean a resurgence of popularity for youth baseball. <br />
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If you are interested in registering your child in baseball, there are leagues all over the city. Most youth leagues offer online registration in January. To find out which league boundary your child plays in, click on <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117407047856845204878.000463e8b242ced9a291f&ll=45.342332,-75.524311&spn=0.813692,2.092896&z=10" target="_blank">Dist 2 + 6 Map</a>. And follow the league links (on the ride-hand side of the blog).</div>
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Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-84136512263497540072012-12-29T08:27:00.001-05:002012-12-29T08:37:44.369-05:00Rule Myth Busters Part 2Think you know the game? Here's more myth busters that are commonly misapplied.<br />
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Myth #19: The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.<br />
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The bases are in fair territory. A runner is out when hit by a fair batted ball while touching a base, except when hit by an infield-fly or after the ball has passed a fielder and no other fielder had a play on the ball.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e27wt_mgQMZh3gmPX1yJg7hV7SasL-hgOdsBE6QIbcNGqT7uP2M24k5QtLlKyk9eGWPxJ5x17GH4IOyip-s7G2NWj8ncyt9k3k89V-3HfpdGTWZOmZV3VtkqAvMJGtRyCOgHjwIbB_A/s1600/Senior-Cubs-0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e27wt_mgQMZh3gmPX1yJg7hV7SasL-hgOdsBE6QIbcNGqT7uP2M24k5QtLlKyk9eGWPxJ5x17GH4IOyip-s7G2NWj8ncyt9k3k89V-3HfpdGTWZOmZV3VtkqAvMJGtRyCOgHjwIbB_A/s320/Senior-Cubs-0377.jpg" width="320" /></a>If the runner is touching first or third, he/she is not out unless the ball touches him over fair territory. If one foot is on the base and the other is in foul ground and he/she is hit on the foul ground foot, he/she is not out. It is a foul ball. Does this mean that a runner must vacate a base when the ball is about to hit them? No – if the runner can show that they are trying to get out of the way of the fielder and still maintain touch with the bag – and they do not interfere with the fielding of the ball, the runner can maintain touch with the bag. Again, you must have interference in order to call interference.</div>
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LL Playing Rules: 5.09(f), 7.08(f)</div>
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Myth #20: A runner may not steal on a foul tip.<br />
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There is nothing foul about a foul tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes to the catcher's glove or hand and is caught, this is a foul tip by definition. A foul tip is a strike and the ball is live. It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FOUL TIP, STRIKE (g)<br />
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Myth #21: It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball.<br />
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A force play is when a runner is forced to advance because the batter became a runner. When the batter is out on a caught fly, all forces are removed. An out, on a failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any runs, that cross the plate before this out, will count.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FORCE PLAY, 4.09 (a) Approved Ruling<br />
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Myth #22: An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out.<br />
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A runner must touch all the bases. If the runner misses a base to which he/she was forced because the batter became a runner and is put out before touching that base, the out is still a force play. If this is the third out, no runs may score. The base can be touched or the runner can be touched, either way it's a force out.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FORCE PLAY, TAG, 7.08(e), 7.10(b)<br />
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Myth #23: A runner is out if he/she runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.<br />
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The runner MUST avoid a fielder attempting to field a BATTED ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting to avoid a tag. The baseline is established on a runner when a play is being made on that runner. It is not simply a straight line between each base.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 7.08(a)(1), 7.09(L)<br />
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Myth #24: Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called.<br />
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An Infield-fly is no different than any other fly ball in regard to the runners. The only difference is that they are never forced to advance because the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not. Runners can advance at their own risk.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: INFIELD FLY, 6.05(d), 7.10(a)<br />
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Myth #25: No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up.<br />
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Yes it can. A tag up is not a force play. A force play is when a runner is forced to advance because the batter became a runner. When the batter is out on a caught fly, all forces are removed. An out, on a failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any runs, that cross the plate before this out, will count.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FORCE PLAY, 4.09 Approved Ruling, 7.10(a)<br />
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Myth #26: A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.<br />
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A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't matter how it gets to the batter. The batter may hit any pitch that is thrown legally. A pitch that bounces before reaching the plate may never be a “called” strike or a legally caught third strike. If a batter swings and misses at a ball that bounced before reaching the plate, it shall be a strike (swinging strike).<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: PITCH, STRIKE (a) <br />
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The Right Call – Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004): Page 9 Comment on Definition of In Flight<br />
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Myth # 27: The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces.<br />
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A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't matter how it gets to the batter, if it is a legally pitched ball. If the batter is hit by a pitch (even if it bounces before it reaches him/her), while attempting to avoid it, he/she is awarded first base (of course, as long as they haven’t swung at it).<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: PITCH, 6.08(b)<br />
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The Right Call – Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004): Page 9 Comment on Definition of In Flight<br />
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Myth # 28: If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds it's a catch.<br />
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A catch is legal when the umpire judges that the fielder has COMPLETE control of the ball. The release of the ball must be voluntary and intentional.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: 2.00 CATCH <br />
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The Right Call – Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004): Page 7, Play 2-1 Ruling, Play 2-2 Ruling<br />
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Myth # 29: You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal.<br />
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You can tag a base with ANY part of the body.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FORCE PLAY, PERSON, TAG, 7.08(e)<br />
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Myth # 30: The ball is always immediately dead on a balk (applies to Junior, Senior and Big League)<br />
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If a throw or pitch is made after the balk call, the ball is delayed dead. At the end of the play the balk may be enforced, or not, depending on what happened. On a throw, if ALL runners advance on the play, the balk is ignored. If not, the balk award is enforced from the time of pitch. On a pitch (ball four), if ALL runners INCLUDING the batter advance on the play, the balk is ignored. Otherwise, it is no-pitch and the balk award is made from the time of the pitch.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 8.05 Junior/Senior/Big League Penalty<br />
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Myth # 31: If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.<br />
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The position of the player's feet or any other part of the body is irrelevant. A ball is judged fair or foul based on the relationship between the ball and the ground at the time the ball is touched by the fielder.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FAIR BALL, FOUL BALL Note (1)<br />
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Myth # 32: The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.<br />
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An appeal may be made anytime the ball is live. The only time the ball must go to the pitcher is when time is out. The ball cannot be made live until the pitcher has the ball while on the rubber and the umpire says, "Play." The only reason the ball is going back to the pitcher is so that the umpire can put the ball back in play – which has nothing to do with the appeal process. If time is not out, the appeal can be made immediately.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: APPEAL, 5.11, 7.10<br />
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Myth # 33: The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw. (Juniors, Seniors, Big League)<br />
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The pitcher is required to come to a complete stop in the Set position before delivering the pitch, not before making a throw to a base.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 8.05(m)<br />
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2004 LL RIM: Instructor’s Comments: In Juniors, Seniors and Big League, the pitcher may step and throw anytime during the stretch.<br />
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Myth # 34: The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw.<br />
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If the pitcher steps off the rubber he/she is no longer the pitcher, he/she is a fielder. He/she can throw to a base from the rubber, provided he/she does not break any of the rules under rule 8.05<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 8.01(c) (e)<br />
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Myth # 35: If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun.<br />
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As long as the fielder is not touching the ground in dead ball territory when he/she catches the ball, it is a legal catch if he/she holds onto the ball and meets the definition of a catch. If the catch is not the third out and the fielder falls down in dead ball territory after catching the ball, all runners are awarded one base. If the fielder remains on his feet in dead ball territory after the catch, the ball is live and he/she may make a play.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 CATCH, 5.10(f) & Note, 6.05(a), 7.04(b)<br />
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Myth # 36: The ball is dead anytime the ball hits an umpire.<br />
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If a batted ball hits an umpire before it passes an infielder, the ball is dead (award first base to the batter and one base each to any runners that are forced). On any other batted or thrown ball, the ball is live when the umpire is hit with the ball. Umpire interference also occurs when the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's attempt to prevent a stolen base.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 2.00 INTERFERENCE (c), 5.09(b), 5.09(f)<br />
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Myth # 37: The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime.<br />
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The umpire who made a call or ruling may ask for help if he/she wishes. No umpire may overrule another umpire's call. Specifically, no umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. The only time one umpire can overrule another umpire is when two umpires have made different decisions on one play. In that case, the umpire in chief (plate umpire) shall make the final decision.<br />
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LL Playing Rules: 9.02(b) (c)<br />
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Myth # 38: A batter-runner may not slide into first base.<br />
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There are no restrictions on any runner, including the batter-runner, from sliding into any base, feet first, including first base. At the Major division and below, no runners may slide head first. At the Junior, Senior & Big League levels, head first sliding, at any base, is permitted.<br />
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Do you have a suggestion for a baseball rule myth? Please send your suggestion to <a href="mailto:JeffFrese.umpire@gmail.com">JeffFrese.umpire@gmail.com</a>Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-59049651550212918522012-12-28T17:04:00.000-05:002012-12-29T10:43:27.799-05:00Big Smile, Big Heart, Big Future ...This article was published in the <em>Ottawa Citizen</em>, by <strong>Wayne Scanlan</strong>.<br />
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Every little league ballplayer in Canada dreams of being the next Joey Votto or Larry Walker.<br />
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But how many 15-year-olds on local ball diamonds are taking dead aim at the 2015 Major League Baseball draft as though it were a hanging breaking ball out over the plate?<br />
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Just one that we know of: His name is Demi Orimoloye. Clip and save. You are likely to see and hear the name again soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWDZc2otxCcJOrs8KZHh1xvfuPMx77CCHi4_Xo00e7iQ_bqADXDLLTxdsr-4dLt16Itd8ym9PU8q60PEAGMFFamokr4O2yghKIhMvQpVsyPO91YfqKjdZrd2kOaJdmavK_2qJTm1w0AQ/s1600/deim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWDZc2otxCcJOrs8KZHh1xvfuPMx77CCHi4_Xo00e7iQ_bqADXDLLTxdsr-4dLt16Itd8ym9PU8q60PEAGMFFamokr4O2yghKIhMvQpVsyPO91YfqKjdZrd2kOaJdmavK_2qJTm1w0AQ/s320/deim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph by : Jean Levac, Ottawa Citizen</td></tr>
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“My goal after talking to scouts,” Orimoloye said over the phone, after getting off a school bus recently, “is to enter the 2015 draft and be selected in the top three rounds.”</div>
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A heady goal for any Canadian, let alone one who doesn’t turn 16 until January. Demi spent this past season with the Ottawa Nepean Canadians 16U team, competing in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario. In September, it was back to the books, grade 11 at St. Matthew High School, but last week he had to excuse himself from classes for the best possible reason: He was invited to Baseball Canada’s junior national camp in Orlando from Oct. 11-21.<br />
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Oh, and sorry, teachers, but Demi has a second note of absence. He will be in Jupiter, Florida, from Oct. 22-29, joining some of British Columbia’s top players on the DBacks Team B.C. at the Perfect Game WWBA world championship tournament, a renowned event for hardball prospects.<br />
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Demi calls those two invitations, “the best phone calls I’ve ever gotten.”<br />
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At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, there is little he can’t do as a ballplayer. Frighteningly fast — he ran the 60-yard dash in 6.62 seconds and 6.59 seconds at an MLB camp in Montreal in August, both times better than the MLB average — Demi also hits, and hits for power. A former little league pitcher, his outfield throws have been clocked at 86 mph.<br />
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Walt Burrows, of Brentwood, B.C. is supervisor of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, and was in Florida this week watching Orimoloye and the junior Canadian team playing exhibition games against prospects from the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves organizations.<br />
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On Tuesday, Demi delivered an RBI triple in a 13-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. A day later, the national juniors bounced back to beat the Jays 5-0.<br />
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Burrows says that Orimoloye is “holding his own” against players two years older.<br />
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“For young players — and he’s really young, three years away from the draft — normally kids take a trip or two down here with this level of competition to fit in,” Burrows says, “but he’s done really well.<br />
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“In Ottawa, I would think he’s probably facing pitchers throwing 75 to 80 miles an hour, down here it’s 90 and 95 and he hasn’t had a problem at least getting the bat around to catch up to it.”<br />
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According to Burrows, Orimoloye is blessed with what scouts call “the rare combination of size, speed and athleticism.<br />
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“Normally (the athleticism) is in smaller people,” Burrows says. “He’s six-foot-four and 215 pounds, and he can run. He’s a Josh Hamilton size, that type of player, but can play in centre field (due to his range). That type of player is usually in left, sometimes in right, but rarely in centre.”<br />
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Burrows cautions that Orimoloye is “raw” and has plenty to learn, but adds that Baseball Canada has a history of developing such talent. A former Canadian junior national team member by the name of Brett Lawrie comes to mind.<br />
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“That’s what the national program is for — they develop players like Demi,” Burrows says. “With a lot of work, a lot of repetition and some good competition, hopefully he’ll figure it out and be a real special player. He certainly has all the physical attributes.”<br />
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Don Campbell, director of operations for the Ottawa Nepean Canadians (and a Citizen sportswriter), has known special players in the program. Lefty Mike Kusiewicz was once the best prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization, until arm surgery derailed his pro career. Infielder Chris Bisson was a fourth-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2010.<br />
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“I guess it’s safe to say Demi is that next one,” Campbell says. “He, too, is special, but for different reasons. Mike was a pitcher, well advanced beyond his years. Same with Bisson as an infielder and offensive threat.<br />
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“Demi has that great arm and great power and can run. Really, there’s nothing he can’t do, and it’s going to be fun watching him the next two or three seasons when the junior national team is nice enough to loan him back to us.”<br />
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NIGERIAN ROOTS<br />
In few respects is Orimoloye your typical Orléans ballplayer. Demi’s parents, mother Adenike and father Segun are from Nigeria, where Demi was born; Segun and Adenike both worked for the Nigerian government at the time.<br />
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Segun, an architect by profession, was advised by a colleague that the Canadian embassy in Nigeria was accepting applications for permanent residency in Canada. On a bit of a lark, the Orimoloyes applied — roughly two and a half years later, their application approved, the family sold off its worldly possessions and packed up for Canada.<br />
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“It was just like an adventure,” Adenike says. “I remember on the plane, saying to my husband, are we sure we want to do this?”<br />
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Demi was 18 months old when they landed in Toronto. The Orimoloyes were aware of a Nigerian family there, but otherwise didn’t know a soul in the country. After three weeks or so in Toronto, the other Nigerian family asked Adenike and Segun if they wanted to visit Ottawa. Off they went. And it was love at first sight. That very day, the Orimoloyes rented an apartment in Nepean. Within three years they had bought a house in Orléans.<br />
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“I didn’t want to live in a big city,” Adenike says, of their brief stay in Toronto.<br />
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Demi played little league baseball beginning at age 8, although he balked at first. His mother was determined he wasn’t going to play hockey, and Demi showed little interest in soccer, a sport far more familiar to his Nigerian parents. In fact, Adenike’s brother had been a competitive soccer player.<br />
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Baseball? “We had heard of the New York Yankees,” Adenike says, regarding the extent of the family’s baseball knowledge.<br />
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Adenike first saw a sign advertising little league baseball when Demi was 5 or 6, but only a couple of years later when Demi’s friend, Justin, was signing up did he agree to go.<br />
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“I just wanted him to have fun, enjoy himself, get moving,” Adenike says.<br />
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Demi’s brother, Temi, is 12 and also plays in Orléans. When they aren’t watching baseball on TV, both boys are running outside to catch or hit, their mother teasing them about their “obsession” with baseball.<br />
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Instantly the biggest player of his peer group, Demi’s physical tools were imposing, but he didn’t think of himself as a gifted player until he hit his first home run, on a big stage, while representing the Orléans Red Sox in the provincial championships. Demi was 10. And growing — including in confidence.<br />
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“It kind of took off from there,” he says.<br />
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In his second straight trip to the Canadian little league championships, in 2011, Orimoloye pretty much crushed everything. As the tournament batting leader, he hit .629 with four home runs and 14 RBI in seven games. In his spare time, he won the tournament home run derby. Though he also pitched, and pitched well, in the nationals, his future was fixed as an every day player, in the outfield.<br />
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Demi needs “polish,” to use the scout’s word, but Orimiloye’s attitude suggests it will come.<br />
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“He’s always got a smile on his face, and that’s a good thing,” Burrows says. “He’s enjoying his time down here (in Florida) and never hangs his head and that’s really an attribute. It’s a game of failure and if you let that get in the way it can wear you out in a hurry.”<br />
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The word demi is french for “half,” but there is little he does in half measure.<br />
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“What Demi has that Mike and Chris had was a tremendous love and appreciation of the game and a work ethic to get better,” Campbell says. “And all three of them never cared who we were playing or who was in the other team’s lineup. They don’t scare.”<br />
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Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-27290348180470065162012-12-28T13:04:00.000-05:002012-12-29T08:29:15.712-05:00Rule Myth Busters Part IEven the most seasoned coach gets some of these wrong. Take a look, you'll be surprised at the proper rulings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiwCsbX7IWPp7IgtvrqtEJbEdOyYcR-xYJllpdvsarlcGQ4mBTQPqTM1LwchnggUwqkPLJAdYIstQkfBeUXFbYpovuJ6CmNngnwO7nAtiJNOEX-xYMSUfaNpz4SZiSm9IBuVTEnvwSnA/s1600/ryan_playingforCFR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiwCsbX7IWPp7IgtvrqtEJbEdOyYcR-xYJllpdvsarlcGQ4mBTQPqTM1LwchnggUwqkPLJAdYIstQkfBeUXFbYpovuJ6CmNngnwO7nAtiJNOEX-xYMSUfaNpz4SZiSm9IBuVTEnvwSnA/s200/ryan_playingforCFR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Myth # 1 The hands are considered part of the bat.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The hands are part of a person's body. If a pitch hits the batter's hands the ball is dead, period. If the pitch is swung at and it hits the hands (or any part of the body), a strike is called (NOT a foul) and the ball is dead for striking the batter’s person. If the batter was avoiding the pitch, the batter is awarded first base, as long as the batter was not struck while the ball was in the strike zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: PERSON, TOUCH, STRIKE (e)</span><br />
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Myth # 2 If a batter does not swing and is struck by a pitch, the batter automatically is awarded first base.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If the batter is struck by a pitch that is in the strike zone, the pitch is a strike and the batter is not awarded first base (hit-by-pitch).</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: STRIKE: (f)</span><br />
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Myth # 3 The batter-runner must turn to his right after over-running first base.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The batter-runner may turn in any direction after overrunning first base as long as he/she returns to the base immediately. If an attempt is made to go to second base, the runner can be tagged out. This is a judgment made by the umpire.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.08(c) (j)</span><br />
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Myth # 4 If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The plate is in fair territory. There is nothing special about it. If a batted ball hits it, it is treated like any other batted ball.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: Fair Territory</span><br />
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Myth # 5 The batter cannot be called out for interference if he/she is in the batter's box.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The batter's box is not a safety zone. A batter could be called out for interference if the umpire judges that interference could or should have been avoided.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The batter is protected while in the box for a short period of time. After the batter has had time to react to the play he/she could be called for interference if he/she does not move out of the box and interferes with a play.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many people believe the batter's box is a safety zone for the batter. It is not. The batter MAY be called out for interference although he/she is within the box. The key words, impede, hinder, confuse or obstruct apply to this situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">An umpire must use good judgment. The batter cannot be expected to disappear. If he/she has a chance to avoid interference after he/she has had time to react to the situation and does not, he/she is guilty. If he/she just swung at a pitch, or had to duck a pitch and is off-balance, he/she can't reasonably be expected to then immediately avoid a play at the plate. However, after some time passes, if a play develops at the plate, the batter must get out of the box and avoid interference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: INTERFERENCE (a), 6.06(c)</span><br />
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Myth # 6 The ball is dead on a foul tip.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">There is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes sharp and direct to the catcher's hand or glove and is legally caught, this is a foul tip by definition. A foul tip is a strike and the ball is live. Base-runners may steal on a foul-tip. It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball. If the nicked pitch first hits the catcher somewhere other than the hand or glove, it is not a foul tip. It is a foul ball. If the event of a foul tip, the umpire should not verbalize the word “foul” in any manner. Since the ball is still live and runners may advance at their own risk, verbalizing the word “foul” or “foul tip” would have a tendency to stop all action since a foul ball is a dead ball. The proper way to indicate a foul tip is to simply signal the foul tip and then signal strike.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: FOUL TIP, STRIKE (g)</span><br />
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Myth # 7 The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The batter can switch boxes at any time, provided he/she does not do it after the pitcher is ready to pitch. The purpose of this rule (not switching after the pitcher is in position ready to pitch) is so that the batter does not confuse the defense. Defenses often set up differently depending on whether a batter is right or left-handed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 6.06(b)</span><br />
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Myth # 8 The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Who is called out and what is done depends on when the appeal is made. There are three different timeframes when the appeal occurs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- The first is when an appeal is made while the improper better is still at the plate. In this case, the proper batter simply replaces the improper batter and resumes whatever ball/strike count the improper batter had attained. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- The second timeframe is an appeal after the improper batter has completed his/her turn at bat, but before the very first pitch to the next batter (or very next play or attempted play). In this case, the proper batter (the one who should have batted) is declared out and the next batter is the batter who follows the proper batter. The improper batter’s at-bat is nullified and any advances made on the final pitch are nullified. In this case, the next batter may be the same exact batter who just batted improperly. Example: The first two batters of the 2nd inning are supposed to be, in order, Alvin and Bobby. Bobby bats first (improperly) and singles. The defensive team realizes that Alvin was supposed to be the first batter and appeals before the first pitch to the next batter. The umpire will declare Alvin out, because he failed to bat in turn (he was the proper batter). Bobby’s single will be nullified because of a ball batted by an improper batter and Bobby will come to the plate again, because he is the next proper batter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- The third timeframe is when the out-of-turn batter is appealed after his/her at bat is completed and a pitch is made to the next batter before the appeal (or a play is attempted or made before the appeal). In this case, no one is declared out. Once the next pitch is made to a batter after an improper batter, the batter who batted out of turn becomes what the rules call a “legalized improper batter.” The next batter to a legalized improper batter will be the next person up in the order after the legalized improper batter. No action will be taken, in this instance, other than to assure the official scorebook is properly marked and up to date.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 6.07</span><br />
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Myth # 9 The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">OVERRUN FIRST BASE RULE MYTH</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Playing Rules simply state that a batter-runner must immediately return after overrunning first base. It doesn't state any exceptions as to how the player became a runner. It could be a hit, walk, error, or dropped third strike.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.06 (c) Exception</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Right Call - Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004) Page 30 Comment</span><br />
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Myth #10 The batter is out if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike (Junior, Senior & Big League Only).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The batter may attempt first base anytime prior to entering the dugout or a dead ball area. First base must be unoccupied before 2 outs, or if there are two outs, first base can be occupied.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 6.09(b) NOTE</span><br />
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Myth #11 If the batter does not pull the bat out of the strike zone while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A strike is an attempt to hit the ball. Simply holding the bat over the plate is not an attempt.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">A bunt is a batted ball not swung at, but INTENTIONALLY met with the bat and tapped slowly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The key words are "intentionally met with the bat"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If no attempt is made to make contact with a ball outside the strike zone while in the bunting stance, it should be called a ball. An effort must be made to intentionally meet the ball with the bat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 2.00 Definition of Terms: Bunt, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Right Call – Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004) Page 7 Bunt Comment 2</span><br />
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Myth #12 The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">To be out, the batter's foot must be ENTIRELY outside of the batter’s box when he/she contacts the pitch and the ball goes fair or foul. He/she is not out if he/she does not contact the pitch. There is no statement about touching the plate in the LL Playing Rules. The toe could be on the plate and the heel could be touching the line of the batter’s box, which means the foot is not entirely outside the box.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 6.06(a) </span><br />
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Myth #13 The batter-runner is always out if he/she runs outside the running lane to first base after a bunted ball.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The runner must be out of the lane AND cause interference. He/she is not out simply for being outside the lane. The running lane (to first base) is defined as the area between the foul line and the three feet to the right of it, usually designated by chalk lines, for the last half of the between home plate and first base. Runners are required to run in this lane, if a ball is being fielded to first base. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Keep in mind that he/she could be called for interference even while in the lane. If a fielder is fielding a ball inside of the running lane, the runner must avoid contact with the fielder, even if they need to run outside of the lane.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If he/she is out of the lane the last half to the base and is hit with a quality throw, he/she should be out. Please understand that the fielder must make the throw and it must be a quality throw. If the fielder gives up because he/she sees the runner in the way and doesn’t make the throw, then you do not have interference. Also, simply throwing the ball into the runners back or over the fielder’s head will not be interference because it wasn’t a quality throw to the first base.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: Definition of Terms: 2.00 Interference, 6.05(j), 7.09(k)</span><br />
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Myth #14 A runner is out if he/she high-fives the coach while rounding third base (or first base), after a homerun is hit over the fence.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The rule states that if a coach physically assists a runner in returning to or advancing from first or third base by touching or holding him/her, it is interference. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Examples: If the runner falls over and the coach helps them up while the ball is in play, it is interference. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If the coach touches the runner at the point of a catch by an outfielder, to indicate when to tag up, it is interference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If a coach physically grabs and stops a player from proceeding to the next base, it is interference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The coach is not assisting a player if they exchange high fives on a home run.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.09(i)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Right Call – Casebook of Little League Baseball (2004): Page 31 Play 7-14</span><br />
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Myth #15 Tie goes to the runner.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">There is no such thing in the world of umpiring. The runner is either out or safe. The umpire must judge out or safe. It is impossible to judge a tie.</span><br />
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Myth #16 The runner gets the base he/she's going to, plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">When a fielder throws the ball into a dead ball area, the award is two bases. The award is from where the runners were at the time of the pitch if it is the first play by an infielder or pitcher acting as a fielder. On all other plays into dead ball area, the award is from where each runner was physically positioned (last base attained) at the time the ball left the throwers hand. If the ball was a pitch or an attempted pick-off (anything thrown from the position of the pitcher’s plate), and the ball goes into dead ball area, the award is one base. Exception: If all runners, including the batter-runner have advanced at least one base when the infielder makes a wild throw on the first play, the award shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time of the wild throw. Please understand that awards are based from the base last attained by the runner, not the fact that they were within a few feet of the next base. It doesn’t matter how close to the next base the runner was, you always award based upon last base attained at the time of the pitch or the time of the throw.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.05(g) (h)</span><br />
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Myth #17 Runners may never run the bases in reverse order.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">In order to correct a base running mistake (such as missing a base), the runner MUST retrace his steps and retouch the bases in reverse order (If the ball is dead and the runner has touched the next base beyond the missed base, the runner may not return to touch the missed base. This might occur on a homerun or a ground-rule double). In a tag up situation, if the runner must return to a base, the runner must retrace his/her steps and retouch the bases in reverse order. The only time a runner is out for running in reverse is when he/she is making a travesty of the game or tries to confuse the defense. You might ask if a runner can reverse his/her direction to touch a missed base after the ball is dead. The answer is yes, as long as they haven’t touched the base beyond the one missed. Of course, in order to be declared out for missing a base, you must have a proper appeal by the defensive team, otherwise the play stands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.08(i), 7.10(b)</span><br />
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Myth #18 The runner must always slide when the play is close.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">There is no "must slide" rule. When the fielder has the ball in his/her possession and is waiting to tag the runner, the runner has two choices; slide OR attempt to get around the fielder. He/she may NOT deliberately or maliciously contact the fielder, but he/she is NOT required to slide.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If the fielder does not have possession but is in the act of fielding, and contact is made, it is a no-call unless the contact was intentional and malicious. No league can implement a “must slide rule.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 7.08(a)(3)</span><br />
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Myth #19 The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The bases are in fair territory. A runner is out when hit by a fair batted ball while touching a base, except when hit by an infield-fly or after the ball has passed a fielder and no other fielder had a play on the ball.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">If the runner is touching first or third, he/she is not out unless the ball touches him over fair territory. If one foot is on the base and the other is in foul ground and he/she is hit on the foul ground foot, he/she is not out. It is a foul ball. Does this mean that a runner must vacate a base when the ball is about to hit them? No – if the runner can show that they are trying to get out of the way of the fielder and still maintain touch with the bag – and they do not interfere with the fielding of the ball, the runner can maintain touch with the bag. Again, you must have interference in order to call interference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LL Playing Rules: 5.09(f), 7.08(f)</span><br />
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Thanks to Jeff Frese for this article. <a href="mailto:JeffFrese.umpire@gmail.com">JeffFrese.umpire@gmail.com</a> / <a href="http://www.stocktonumpires.com/Baseball_Rule_Myths.htm">http://www.stocktonumpires.com/Baseball_Rule_Myths.htm</a>Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-63377152572537850302012-10-22T10:49:00.002-04:002012-10-22T10:49:19.239-04:00MIKE K's Pitching StepsThe off-season is the best time to work on your pitching technique. Here are former Pro, Mike Kusiewicz's steps on pitching. Mike offers personal lessons along with camps that he runs throughout the year (<a href="http://www.mikesbaseballcamps.com/">www.mikesbaseballcamps.com</a>).<br />
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<em>Mike's 5 Key Steps to Pitching From the Wind-up</em><br />
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<em>Step One - (The Step Back) Stand on top of the rubber with your toes hanging over the edge; righties on the right side of the rubber, lefties on the left side. Get your grip for the pitch you are throwing and step back 4-6 inches with your “glove side” leg. Make sure that your stride isn’t too far back because it will cause you to be off balance going into step 2.</em><br />
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<em>Step Two - (The Pivot) Turn your “plant foot” and step in front of the rubber with the outside of your foot pressing up against it. You should feel your weight transfer from your back leg to your front. Your hands should be in a comfortable position; I prefer my pitchers’ hands around their waist, but if you are more comfortable with your hands a little higher or lower then go for it, wherever you are most comfortable and relaxed.</em><br />
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<em>Step Three - (The Leg Lift) I choose to call it a leg “lift” and not a leg “kick” because I feel the word “kick” sounds as if the pitcher is swinging his/her leg up and I want the pitcher to control his/her leg as if he/she is “lifting” it. Your “plant foot” should be firmly against the rubber with all your weight on this leg. While turning your body 90 degrees so that your front shoulder (your glove-side shoulder) is facing home lift your leg so that your foot is at least a few inches off the ground. This is where everyone is different. Some have a higher leg lift than others, the key is balance. With your leg in the air, you should not fall forward or backward on the mound. This will allow you to stay “on top” of the ball as you throw.</em><br />
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<em>Step Four – (The Throw) Your leg should now start to drop and slide forward in a sweeping motion. As your leg begins to drop your hands should start to separate with the ball coming down near your hip (preferably). Your lead elbow should begin to move up and pointed toward the catcher, don’t worry too much about what the glove is doing, if the elbow is in the right spot the glove should naturally follow. When your “stride foot” lands it should be pointed toward you catcher and your “landing leg” should be flexing into a lunging position. Allow your “lead arm or elbow” to come down toward your hip; avoid swinging it to the side as this will affect your throwing motion. Your “throwing arm” should now be coming over so that your fingers are on top and behind the ball. When you release the ball your hand should be headed right for the catcher’s mitt. Be sure to really reach for it as this will help your follow-through.</em><br />
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<em>Step Five - (The Finish) After reaching toward the catcher’s mitt and releasing the ball make sure that your hand is coming down toward the ground and not to the side. Allow your body to help slow your arm down by bending both your “landing leg” and your back. This will help take pressure off your “decelerator muscles” in your shoulder. Try to finish with your shoulder and hips square to home plate, but if you absolutely can’t, try your best to get into a good fielding position so that you can pick up that groundball up the middle.</em>Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-77988631444089364482012-06-14T09:37:00.001-04:002012-06-14T09:37:44.425-04:00<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Jamie's Call</em> On Baserunning</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Jamie is presently a coach for the Summer A Pinecrest team. </div>
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<strong>1st Base:</strong> (click here for <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20670935&c_id=mlb" target="_blank">video</a>)<br />
The video link I've included is a perfect example of how to dive back to the base.<br />
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<li> Your lead should be far enough that you turn and dive back to the base. You shouldn't reach the base standing up. </li>
<li>You're watching the pitchers feet. Front foot lifts, you're gone to 2nd (if stealing).</li>
<li>As soon as the right heel moves you're back to the base.</li>
<li>Dive back with your right hand reaching to the back corner of the base, this way your hand is less likely to get stomped on AND you're farther away from the 1st baseman.</li>
<li>Look to your left so you don't get a ball to the face, and you can see if the ball goes past the 1st baseman.</li>
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<strong> 2nd Base:</strong></div>
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<li>Take your lead, about 2 or 3 steps to your right.</li>
<li>Take 2 steps backwards. This allows you to be able to see the 2nd baseman, and be more aware of the SS.</li>
<li>Once the pitcher comes to the set creep forward, this way you've got moment which you can either turn to the bag, or to 3rd depending on what the pitcher does.</li>
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<strong>3rd Base:</strong> (click here for <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22236541&c_id=mlb" target="_blank">video</a>)<br />
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This video demonstrates exactly what we DON'T want to happen. The runner is properly coming back in fair, but he went too far down the line, and he may not have been going back to the bag quick enough (it's hard to tell). Either way he was too far off the bag and they gunned him out.</div>
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<li>Down in FOUL. Back in FAIR.</li>
<li>Smaller lead, start moving forward on the pitch. This allows you to gain momentum on a wild pitch.</li>
<li>Be quick to get back to the base in FAIR if the ball is caught. Don't get caught walking back to the base.</li>
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</div>Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186029396910360019.post-2353555733580584322012-05-30T13:05:00.000-04:002012-05-30T13:05:05.729-04:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I'm always happy to hear of successful baseball Leagues and organizations around the Ottawa-Valley. This year, not too far away, one such league is organizing its First Annual Tournament. I hope you will give it some consideration when choosing a tournament for your team to enter this summer.</div>
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First Annual KDLL Wildcat Shootout</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Minor </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Major </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Junior Tournament</span></div>
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June 22-24, 2012</div>
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HURRY - ONLY 2 MAJOR and 1 MINOR REGISTRATIONS LEFT</div>
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Kemptville District Little League would like to invite you to participate in the First Annual KDLL Wildcat Shootout Tournament for Minor, Major and Junior aged players, June 22-24, 2012.<br />
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Space is limited to twelve (12) teams in each division. Divisions will be split into three pools of four teams. Weather permitting, each team is guaranteed three games.<br />
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Every player receives a commemorative pin. Finalists receive medals and the three winners also receive a championship banner.<br />
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A well organized tournament at a quality facility with excellent umpires is what you will get if you choose to register for the Shootout.<br />
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Please don't delay... spaces are limited.<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.kemptvillelittleleague.com/wildcat_shootout.htm" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a> for more information.<br />
<br />Vlad4040http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265691579889852704noreply@blogger.com