The Southern Tier Teener playoffs started Monday 7/20.

Owego American defeated Endicott Visions 3-1 on Monday and will play again Thursday TBD. 

Owego National played West Corners Tuesday at Grippen Park and lost 8-3. Their season ended with a 9-4 record. Conratulations on a good year.

The championship games for the league playoffs will be played at NYSEG Stadium.

Managers in National and American - please check your mail ASAP for info on this year's all-star election.

The full training session for first aid and AED operation has been rescheduled to May 17th at 8:30AM at the central fire station.

There must be at least one manager/coach from each team certified.

Raffle Manager Lori Espe thanks all who supported the league in the annnual raffle. It is an important fundraiser and is one of the reasons we can offer baseball and softball for no charge. The winners and ticket sellers win cash prizes.

Winners are: 

1st: Lori Pickering  (Ticket seller Keith Bennet)

2nd: Marina Perestam (Ticket seller Reed Perestam)

3rd: Kevin Angelone  (Ticket seller Lauren Angelone)

4th:  The Chase Family  (Ticket seller Madeline Chase)

FRIDAY 5/1 MANDATORY MEETING.  Go over parade and opening day.  Prep fields for opening day.  NO PRACTICES ON FRIDAY 5/1. 

Opening Day - ALL TEAMS participate in the parade and opening ceremonies. Please have your team at the police station on Temple Street by 8:15AM on Saturday.

CHECK YOUR MAILBOX! - It has the picture ordering forms and a copy of the official schedule. You need to hand out the picture order forms ASAP - picture day is May 9th at OFA.

The official schedule is now available on the web site in the "League Information" section.  In addition, it will be placed in each team mailbox Friday April 17th and posted on the bulletin boards. The copies being handed out are printed on yellow paper - please discard the preliminary schedule you received earlier.

Many thanks to all who came to the workbee on Saturday (18th).  We got a lot of field work done - you'll be impressed. A super job by those participating.

There were some things we wanted to do that didn't get done so if you have some free time Saturday the 25th please stop by.  Some of the items on our list include:

Resheduled to May 17th.  The first aid and AED training course for those who need the complete training will be held Sunday April 26th at 8:30AM at the central fire station. A minimum of one manager/coach per team must be trained.

 The refresher for those who completed the training in the past will be taught Thursay April 30th at 6:30 at the central fire station.

A signup sheet is on the bulletin board at the top of the stairs in the clubhouse.

The preliminary game schedule for 2009 has been released. See the "League Information" section.  We will add sponsor names as soon as they are all verified.

A copy is also in the team mailboxes.

Managers: If you note any SIGNIFICANT issues please contact Rich Ives.

The 2009 season will kick off with the annual parade, Opening Ceremony, and a full slate of games on Saturday May 2nd.

Parade Marshall John Loftus will kick off the day's activities at 8:30AM with the traditional parade from Temple Street to Hyde Park. All teams will participate, and should be at the Police Station on Temple Street by 8:15.  The parade will proceed up North Avenue to George Street and down George Street to Hyde Park.   

Opening Ceremonies, hosted by Jim Raftis, will commence at 9:00AM on Raftis Field at the park. The league's officers and all the teams and their coaches will be introduced. Local dignitaries will be on hnd to wish the participants well. Game schedules permitting, the OFA Baseball and Softball teams will join in the celebration.

The colors will be presented, the flags raised by our veterans and service groups. The National Anthem will be sung by league players, directed by Sue Peacock.

Then, the big moment. First pitches will be delivered for each of the divisions in the league, and the cry of "Play Ball" will signal the start of the season.

Following the ceremony, a full slate of games featuring all 29 teams will be played. Games will start at 10:30, 1:00, 3:30, and 6:00. 

Please join us - it'll be a fun day for all.

Team and Individual photos will be taken Saturday May 9th at OFA in the field across from the main parking lot. Order forms and the team schedule will be placed in the team mailboxes in the clubhouse and the team manager will distribute them to the players.

Picture Chairman Phil Wiles reminds everyone that being there, and on time, is very important. Team photos are mementos for the players and are also presented to the team sponsors on their sponsor plaques. For these reasons, please make sure you are there for the team picture, even if you do not wish to get an individual photo. 

The practice schedule has been revised reflecting the final team counts. Changes are effective Monday April 6.

Go to the "League Information" section to get the revised schedule. There is also a copy in each team mailbox and on the bulletin board. 

The team selection/draft schedule is as follows.  If you do not get a call by April 3 please contact Karen Vinti at srovinti01@yahoo.com

Girls Softball: March 25

Baseball National: April 30

Baseball American: April 31

The last chance to sign up for the 2009 season will be Saturday March 28th from Noon to 1:00PM at the Little League park  (Hyde Park) on George Street.

A preliminary practice schedule has been released. It is posted in the League Information section under Schedules. We'll have a hard copy available Saturday. 

The league is hosting an information session for all interested parties on Thursday March 19th at 7:00 in the auditorium of the County Office Building on Academy Street. The league officers will be introduced, information about the upcoming season will be presented, and a Q&A session will be held.

 Managers and Coaches are required to attend.  All others are welcome.

The instructional clinics and tryout schedule is as follows. Please attend at the time indicated for your age group. These sessions will provide instruction for the players and allow the coaches to evaluate them for the draft so it is very important to attend. Baseball players not currently on a National team MUST attend one of the sessions and preferably both. All softball players should attend their session.  

Your Baseball League Age is the age you will be on April 30, 2009.

Your Softball League Age is the age you were on December 31, 2008. 

Baseball 1 of 2: March 21 - OAMS Gym

      League Ages 7-9:  9:00 - 11:00

      League Age 10 :  11:30 - 1:30 - It is very important to attend this!

      League Ages 11-12:  2:00 - 3:30

Softball: March 21 - OES Gym

     League Age 10-12:  9:00 - 12:00

     League Agge 7-9:  1:00 - 3:00 

 Baseball 2 of 2:  March 28 - Hyde Park - 1:00 - 5:00 - All Ages

Signups for Little League Tee-Ball and Baseball, Owego Girls Softball, and Owego Teener Baseball for the 2009 season will be held as follows:

Saturday January 31,  10:00AM - 2:00PM at the Central Fire Station.

Saturday February 7, 10:00AM - 2:00PM at the Central Fire Station.

Tuesday February 10, 6:00PM - 8:00PM at the Central Fire Station.

Participation is limited to residents of the Owego-Apalachin School District. Proof of residency may be required. 

Tee-Ball players must turn 5 prior to May 1, 2009.

All players signing up for the first time must bring a birth certificate.

There is no fee for Tee-Ball, LL Baseball, or Girls Softball. There will be a $30 fee (with a maximum of $50 per family) for Teener to help defray the membership costs for the Southern Tier Teener League.

Please see the league Operating Handbook in the "League Information" section (menu on left) for further information on the league. League officers will be at the signup sessions to answer any questions you may have about the league.

We are looking forward to another successful season in 2009. We hope you'll be a part of it.

The OFA baseball coaches will be conducting three coaching clinics for the Little League coaches. These clinics are designed to teach baseball skills and drills. It is very important for our league coaches and potential coaches to attend as it will set baselines for teaching baseball to our players and in getting consistency in our teaching/training.

The league's expectation at the moment is that coaches and potential coaches must attend a minimum of two of the three clinics.

The clinics will be held in the OFA Gym.

The clinics will be held March 3 at 6:30PM, March 5 at 6:30PM, and the third date is TBD.

 The current Agenda:

            Agenda – Practice Organization, Hitting, Throwing, Questions

                                    Practice – set up, drills, philosophy

                                    Hitting – Fundamentals, drills

                                    Throwing – Fundamentals, drills

                                    Questions about what we discussed

            Agenda – Pitching, Catching, Infield/Outfield positions, Questions

                                    Pitching – Fundamental, warm up, drills, grips, Mechanics

                                    Catching – Stance, blocking, throwing, drills

                                    Infield – Stance, throwing, drills

                                    Outfield – Stance, throwing, drills

                                    Questions about what we discussed

The Teener National team, sponsored by Kiwanis,  defeated Newark Valley (Hollenbeck's) 4-2 in the STTL National League championship game on Sunday at NYSEG Stadium. Congratulations to the players and coaches for an excellent season. 

Owego hosted their annual County Softball Tournament at Hyde Park June 28th and 29th. Six teams from the county competed with Newark Valley emerging as the winner. Tioga Center was runner-up and Spencer finished third.

Teams from Apalachin, Candor, and Owego also competed.

Owego Girls Softball VP Mark Warfle has announced the winter training program for 2008-09.  The program will run from October 2008 through Early April 2009.

It is open to girls registereed in the Owego Girls Softball program. There is no cost to the participants.

To register contact Mark Warfle at 687-1586  or  mwarfle@hotmail.com.  Registrations will be accepted up to October 3, 2008.

For further information and the tentative schedule see the attached handout.