To:              Parents of Butler Baseball Players (Ages 9-12)

From:          Butler Township Baseball Board of Directors

Subject:       Sanction All Star Teams Selection Process

The end of the regular season is approaching and it is time to start the Little League All Star selection process.  The goals of this note are to inform parents of the selection process as well as provide a formal release form that allows you to include/exclude your child for consideration on these All Star teams.  As in past years, the League plans to enter three teams into this years tournament (9-10 year old team), (10-11 year old team), (11-12 Year old team) (more teams are possible and would be subject to player and coach availability). 

First, the process:A complete list of all eligible participants will be provided to the league managers.  League managers will meet to discuss the merits of all the potential candidates and vote on their inclusion on the team. This iterative process will proceed until all league managers unanimously agree on 10 players for the team.  (The 11-12 year old team will be selected by the managers of the Little League, the 9-10 year old team will be selected by the managers of the Minor League and the 10-11 year old team will be selected by managers of both leagues.) From there, the manager of the all star team has the ability to add between 1 and 3 players to his team in order to fill position and skill gaps (example: If within the 10 players picked, none of them has ever played the position of catcher, the coach has the ability to nominate the best catcher he can find to help fill out the roster).  Once all players have been identified and selected, the coach of the All Star team will contact those parents to let them know their child has been selected. A list of the selected players will be sent via e-mail to all league participants.  This list will also be posted at the concession stands of both Adelman and Meridian fields. 

Second, the parental release: Please print, sign and return the attached form to your team manager.  A copy is listed below for current viewing purposes.  

 Parental Release Form:       

I, would like  Players Name (________________________________________________)   to __________be considered    _______not to be considered  for selection on a Butler Township sanction All Star team.  I recognize that there will be a commitment of several days a week (4-5 usually) for practice and games from the middle of June possibly through mid to late August depending on the success of the team. I also acknowledge that if my child is selected, he/she will be one of 10-12 players on this team and that significant amounts of playing time are not guaranteed. (By league rules, all participants must have 2 consecutive innings in the field and 1 at bat per game.)  I will respect the coach’s decision on playing times as well as positions played and positively support those decisions with my child as the all star season unfolds. All forms must be in to your league manager by June 10, 2008

 _______________________________Parent’s Signature

 New League Formed as Butler Baseball for 2008 Season

BTBA is proud to announce a joint union with the Meridian Baseball Association for the 2008 Season and beyond!!

Although more details will follow, the players from BT and Meridian will be put together in one pool which, in some cases, will double the number of players.  More players means more teams and more excitement for the boys and girls who play. 

 Both organizations will operate under the BTBA umbrella and will subject themselves to Little League rules and requirements, including sanctioned baseball.  However, with the pooling of players, it will mean that BTBA will be able to field more teams, sanctioned and traveling, than ever before.  As an added bonus to the existing BTBA families, in the spirit of the joint union, the registration and fundraising fees will be reduced for the year.  More details will follow in the next week. 

Congratulations to both organizations for making the decision and taking the steps necessary to make baseball in BT and Meridian stronger than ever and strengthening the foundation for the future.