From the President
Another playing season has come to a conclusion. The spring season went very well this year and the program continues to improve.
We did encounter some problems and issues that are addressed in this newsletter. The problem of many late registrations caused difficulties for many teams and affected all players on those teams. Some teams had as many as 18 players, far too many, since it impacts on both the ability of the coach to teach his players and on the playing time of team members. It also affected our ability to supply uniforms and equipment on time.
Because of these problems, we have made registration policy changes that are outlined in more detail elsewhere in this edition. In short, there will be NO guaranteed roster spots for late registrants in the future. Also, you will no longer be able to pass a registration in to a coach or board member. Registrations will only be accepted at Post Office Box 612 or at an official registration event. Please be aware of these changes and note the articles in the newsletter pertaining to registration.
I cannot write another word without thanking Jay Gill and the DPW for its care of the fields. For those who had the opportunity to travel around to other towns, you can easily see that our fields are the finest in the area. This is largely due to the effort and cooperation of the DPW.
During the recently concluded summer season, we hosted several tournaments at West Side Field. The final one was the Bay State Tournament of Champions. Two Winchester teams reached the semifinals and one the finals. Congratulations to Fred Schluter, his staff and 10-year olds players for winning the silver trophies at their level. For all who attended, it was great to see the field all dressed up and offering the players quite a thrill.
Our softball teams all had winning records for the summer and the 14's won the Babe Ruth state tournament. These are real accomplishments and show the progress that our softball program has made over the past 8 years. I send my thanks to Harley Gates for his efforts over this time. Harley will be greatly missed as he has announced his retirement from the program.
The 14-year-old boys qualified for the LTA Tournament of Champions and our 16-18 boys made it to the Senior Babe Ruth playoffs.
The wins and losses are not the measuring stick of a successful program. The fact that we fielded 14 summer teams is incredible. Please be aware that some of the requirements for summer baseball and softball are about to change. Those changes will be published in this newsletter when finalized.
As you may know, the Baseball/Softball planning committee appeared before the board of selectmen with a new 5-year plan for West Side Field. These are improvements that the board of directors feel will greatly enhance playing conditions and promote the games of baseball and softball in Winchester. The most significant is the proposed lighting of West Side Field Diamonds A and C. One is a baseball field and the other a softball field. The improvement of the tots' play area, the paving of the parking lot, improved landscaping and several other smaller projects round out the plan. There is a public hearing set for September 20 at the Selectmen's meeting. I am openly asking ALL players' parents to attend and voice your support of the program.
Finally, I would like to thank the Board of Directors, coaches, and all the volunteers that made this season worthwhile. Our annual meeting takes place in October and if you have any interest in serving on the board, please contact Ed Interess or any member of the nominating committee. Thanks and we will see you in the spring.
Bob
Tryouts for Major League To Be Held Sept. 25-26
All Winchester baseball players who will be 10, 11, or 12 years old as of July 31, 2000, are invited to try out for the Major League teams at West Side Field on Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and, 26. The rain dates will be October 2-3.
Anyone wishing to be considered for the draft must submit his/her registration form and attend at least one of the sessions, but preferably both.
If you are unable to attend, need to come at a time other than that specified for your age group, or have any questions about Bambino Majors, please call Commissioner Nick Mitropoulos at 729-2619.
The times will be as follows for the respective age groups:
| 12 year olds | Sat 2:00-3:00 | Sun 12:00-1:15 |
| 11 year olds | Sat 3:00-4:30 | Sun 1:15-3:15 |
| 10 year olds | Sat 4:30-6:30 | Sun 3:15-4:30 |
Please note that only two 10-year olds will be drafted by each of the eight teams. This will provide for more spaces available spaces for 11 and 12 year olds than in the past years.
All players not drafted for the 2000 season will be drafted by a AAA team before the upcoming season and, if of proper age, will be eligible for future major league draft(s).
Returning players on Major League rosters must also submit their registration forms before September 25 to hold their roster spots, although it is not necessary for them to attend the tryout.
Fan Etiquette
It seems that every year the newspapers and airwaves carry a story of a parent, coach or spectator that gets a little out of hand during a youth sports event. The situation gets ugly and in the end, everyone loses.
We bring this up because, while these events seem removed from us, the potential for such occurrences exist in any community - even Winchester. So we ask all involved to maintain perspective on what we are all trying to accomplish: to have fun and improve the skills in our chosen sports.
Accordingly, please recognize that what we have are games and physical activity for kids. These are not the high stakes endeavors that some people seem to elevate them to.
To be sure there are many lessons for kids to learn in sports: the value and benefits of dedication and hard work, consideration of others, sportsmanship and the like. But private agendas on the part of coaches and parents are not to be tolerated.
SYBS strives to do its part to offer games at convenient times and training for coaches so that they can do the best for our kids. Please support them. Of course, if you have any concerns about how they are handing players, please bring them to the attention of any of our directors.
Above all, issues among parents and coaches should be aired outside the purview of children.
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New Registration Policy
In the past, many timely registrants have had the quality of their experience diminished by late arrivals, and it was not fair to them. Since we want as many youngsters as possible to enjoy our great sport, we find it necessary to modify our registration policy to require timely registrations. From March 15 to the start of the season we must draft teams, enlist coaches, finalize sponsor lists, order uniforms and equipment, and schedule games, fields, and umpires.
The new policy has two facets as follows:
1. Any player whose application is received after March 15 will not be guaranteed a roster spot. A few additional applications may be approved on a first-come-first-served basis, but only if we deem it to be in the interest of those who have registered on time.
2. All registrations must be submitted either at a public registration event or by mail. Coaches and board members cannot accept registrations, otherwise.
So please plan to register on time. We are serious about enforcing this policy.
Registration Begins For 2000
Please make a photocopy if necessary for multiple children or acquaintances. For those who prefer to register in person, the one opportunity to do so this year will be on Saturday, September 18 at the Police Station) from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
All Bambino Major League returning players and candidates (i.e., those trying out on September 25-26) must register before the tryout.
Also, this is a perfect opportunity for parents to volunteer to help our organization by checking off one or more boxes on the registration form. A description of the duties of each volunteer position is shown on the reverse side of the form along with a description of the available leagues.
We would like to remind all players and parents that in order to be eligible to play baseball or softball in the summer, the player must participate in the spring. This important restriction contributes to the quality of both the spring and summer leagues; exceptions cannot be granted.
Registration for the 2000 baseball and softball season is officially underway. Parents are urged to register their kids by mail using the enclosed form as soon as possible. An earlybird discount is offered to those who register before October 1, 1999.
Annual Meeting Set, Volunteers Sought
The Sachem Youth Baseball/Softball Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday October 28, 1999 at 7:30 PM in the Winchester Town Hall (Waterfield Room). All members of the community are welcome to attend. In addition to an opportunity for the community to make comments and ask questions, the primary agenda item will be the election of officers and directors.
Interested persons are requested to volunteer to serve on the Board. Your efforts will be rewarded by the hundreds of happy young faces you will help create for Winchester's kids and the enjoyment they will experience not only from playing the game but also from improving at it each week.
You may refer to the list of Director positions on the back page of The Rundown to get an idea of the jobs we need to fill annually.
For further information or to volunteer, please call Ed Interess, the chairman of the nominating committee, at 729-7101.
Baseball 101 (Part 7), The Umpire
The umpire is the person designated by the league to act as its representative in carrying out its rules and in maintaining order and discipline on the field of play.
Most of the visible actions of the umpire are to make judgment calls of whether a pitch is a strike or ball, a batted ball is fair or foul or a runner is safe or out. Such judgments calls are to be above reproach and not to be questioned or demeaned by players or coaches, lest they be disqualified (ejected) from the game.
The umpire must know and thoroughly understand the rules of the game that are covered in a rulebook of nearly 40,000 words. It is these rules that underlie both the routine and difficult calls he has to make in the course of the game.
If a manager, as the sole representative of his team, wishes to question the basis of an umpire's call from a standpoint of relevant rule, he may do so. He may even attempt to convince the umpire he is wrong. But if there is no agreement, the rules permit the manager to "protest" the call, i.e., appeal to the league's officials claiming that the umpire misapplied the rules. A judgment call may not be protested. Protests are relatively rare and circumstances must be compelling for the league to overrule its umpires.
We all recognize that umpires are human and, therefore, not perfect. They will make errors from time to time. If possible, they will sometimes consult a partner who may have had a better view of a play in an effort to get the call right. If an ump realizes that he erred, he should not attempt to "even up" by making another wrong call purposely.
Since all umpires are a little different from each other, they may see things a little differently For example, the strike zone may vary from one ump to another based on the angle at which they watch the action. This is understandable and tolerable when we believe the umpire is doing the best he can. Above all, we hope to see consistencies within a particular game, e.g., high strikes are the same for all batters of each team. Inconsistency can lead to an advantage for the pitcher or the batter.
An effective umpire is hardly noticed in the course of his work. He goes about his business and lets the players achievements be the show, never trying to bring attention upon himself. Of course, from time to time we see umpires who fail in this regard.
Public Hearing Set for September 20. You are Urged to Attend
As Mr. Nutile mentioned in his President's message, a public hearing has been set to consider SYBS's proposed five year plan for improvements to West Side Field. The hearing will take place in the Selectmen's room at Town Hall during the regularly scheduled Selectmen's meeting on Monday September 20 beginning at 7:45 PM.
The intended improvements include lighting of one baseball and one softball diamond, improvements to the tots' play area, paving the parking lot, landscaping improvements and several smaller projects.
The benefit of most of these items is self evident, but it is worth noting that lights in particular will result in greater opportunity for working parents to watch their kids play ball and to help relieve the pressure on field availability.
We hope that all parents who are in favor of these projects come to the meeting to show their support, whether or not they have any desire to actually speak on behalf of the effort.
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