Arlington Senior Babe Ruth: ASBR News

On Saturday, April 28, from Noon to 1:00pm at the Yorktown High School baseball field, Elías Sosa Martínez will hold a pitching clinic for Arlington Senior Babe Ruth League pitchers and other interested players. All youth baseball players and the public are invited and welcome to attend

Elías Sosa Martínez (born June 10, 1950 in La Vega, Dominican Republic), is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Elias Sosa is now the Coordinator for Latin America, Major League Baseball International. He acts as an envoy and does coaching seminars for coaches and youth in Latin America. He also works with local Baseball Federations and with the U.S. Embassies to bring baseball instruction along with a positive message to the youth, parents and baseball communities.

He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants (1972-1974), St. Louis Cardinals (1975), Atlanta Braves (1975-1976), Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-1977), Oakland Athletics (1978), Montreal Expos (1979-1981), Detroit Tigers (1982), and San Diego Padres (1983).

Sosa was used almost exclusively in relief during his 12-year MLB career. He appeared in 601 games, just three as a starter, and performed as both a closer and a long man. He had several excellent seasons in the big leagues. He twice had an earned run average below 2.00 (1977 and 1979), and in his rookie year, 1973, he won 10 games, saved 18, and pitched in 71 games, all of which would become career highs.

Also of note in 1973, he saved nine of teammate Ron Bryant's major league-leading 24 wins, including #20 . He finished in the American League or National League TOP TEN four times for games pitched and games finished, three times for saves, and once for winning percentage.

Other career highlights include:

3 scoreless innings to earn a save against the Philadelphia Phillies (June 2, 1973)

won games on two consecutive days vs. the Atlanta Braves, pitching a combined 4 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts, no walks, and giving up just one hit (September 1 and 2, 1973)

4 scoreless innings to earn a save against the Cincinnati Reds (July 26, 1974)

4 innings, allowing just one run (unearned), to earn a save against the San Francisco Giants (May 23, 1976)

4.1 scoreless innings, with a career-high 6 strikeouts, for a no decision vs. the San Diego Padres (July 10, 1977)

3 perfect innings to earn a save against the Toronto Blue Jays (May 2, 1978)

4 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to earn a save against the San Diego Padres (July 15, 1979)

Sosa did not get taken deep too often, giving up just 64 home runs, or one for every 14.1 innings pitched. But one of those home runs became quite famous, for it was the second home run of three hit by Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.

For his career, he finished with 59 wins, 51 losses, 83 saves, 330 games finished, and an ERA of 3.32.

In 1989 he played for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

Dear Senior Babe Ruth Player, Parent, and Coaches

The 2012 Spring Senior Babe Ruth season is rapidly approaching. I strongly urge all players to register as soon possible (click the On-Line Registration link in the left hand menu). Two leagues will start in March: the Prep League consists of all players who are 13-year-olds, and the Alliance League is for players who are 14- and 15-year olds who are not playing on a high school team. The American League, which is for 14- and 15-year olds who are playing on a high school team, will begin in early-May. The Senior League, for 16-18 year-olds will begin in mid-May after the high school baseball season is over.

  All players for the Prep and Alliance leagues should plan to attend the following group practice sessions, which officially kick off the Spring 2012 Arlington Senior Babe Ruth season.

 Saturday, March 10th - Group Practice

All Prep (13 year-old players)

13-year-olds Last Names begin with A-L at 9:00 - 10:45 a.m. at Kenmore (indoors)

13-year-olds Last Names begin with M-Z at 11:15 - 1:00 p.m. at Kenmore (indoors)

All Alliance (14/15 players NOT on high school team) 3:00 - 5:00 at Quincy (W/L)

(Please arrive 15 minutes before session.)

Sunday, March 11th – Group Practice

All Prep (13-year-old players):

  13-year-olds Last Names begin with A-L at 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at Quincy (W & L)   

13-year-olds Last Names begin with M-Z at 2:45 - 4:15 p.m. at Quincy (W & L)

All Alliance (14/15 players NOT on high school team) 2:00 - 4:00 at Greenbrier (Yorktown)

(Alliance practice ONLY if rained out on Saturday)

 If you cannot attend the practice for which you are scheduled based on your last name please attend the other session if possible.

Inclement Weather: Remember to call the Recreation Department's Inclement Weather # 703-228-4715 to learn whether any of the outdoor practice days mentioned in this letter have been canceled!

The 2012 season promises to be better than ever. Along with all our coaches and volunteers, I look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please send us an email at asbrwebmaster@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Al Schneider, President
Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball

Great News! The 2012 baseball season will soon be here and registration is now open for our 13-year-old Prep league and our 14 to 15-year-old Alliance and American leagues! On behalf of the officers and coaches of Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball, I hope you have had a restful and productive off-season, and are ready to play some baseball. We would like to especially welcome all 13-year-olds to Arlington Senior Babe Ruth. Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball incorporates players from both the Arlington Little League and Arlington Cal Ripken programs. It is the only open enrollment baseball program in the county for 13-year-old players.

All 13-year-old players participate in the Prep League, which is designed to help players adjust to the larger baseball diamond. The season begins in March with open practices, followed by the formation of teams, and then team practices. Teams practice two times a week until mid-April, when league play begins. League play usually involves two games per week plus a week day practice until early June, followed by a league championship tournament. It is a core principal of Arlington Senior Babe Ruth to field balanced teams to ensure fair and keen competition.

District and Travel All-Star teams for all players who are interested are selected in early June. The all-star season runs from June 16 through July with weekday practices and weekend tournaments.  Those players wishing to be on the district all-star team will be expected to coummit to practices and tournaments from June 16 through at least mid-July. 

For the 14 to 15-year-old players, there are two different leagues. The Alliance League is for players who are not participating in a school baseball program. This league begins with practices in early March. Games will start in mid-April. League play usually involves two games per week through early June, followed by a league championship tournament. All-Star teams are selected in early June, and All-Star play extends through late July/early August.

The American League is a shorter season designed for players who participate in their high school's baseball program. It gives players from the various schools the opportunity to play together in a more relaxed competitive setting while refining the skills they will need for successful high school careers. There are no practices in this league, and games commence in mid-May following the conclusion of the high school season. League play involves two to three games per week through late June, and is followed by a league championship tournament. All-Star teams for the 14U and 15U age groups are formed in early June, and All-Star play extends through late July/early August.

We request that players register as soon as possible. Doing so will greatly assist our program in planning for the upcoming season by allowing us to more accurately estimate the number of teams we will field, and our corresponding uniform, equipment, field and volunteer needs. The registration fee for the spring 2012 season is $145. This fee includes a County imposed $8 per player charge. To help defray league expenses you may also include a tax deductible contribution with your registration fee.

ASBR continues to use on-line registration and payment available to you! Please click here to begin the on-line registration process.  When you register on line, please remember to download the medical release form and bring it with you to the league’s preseason clinics. If you would rather register the traditional way, you can download registration and medical release forms here.

The 2012 season promises to be better than ever. Along with all our coaches and volunteers, I look forward to your participation. If you have any questions please email us at asbrwebmaster@yahoo.com. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Alan Schneider, President, ASBR

Dear coaches, players, and parents: Although winter is now upon us the opportunities for learning and playing baseball are seasonalless. To enhance your own skills and understanding of the game and that of your children we invite you to take advantage of two upcoming coaches clinics and 2 upcoming players clinics.  Please click on the links below to get details about all of these exciting opportunities.

GW Coaches Clinic (free): January 21, 2012

Babe Ruth Coaches Clinic: February 18, 2012

GW Players Clinics: January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 2012

Virginia Baseball Club Players Clinics

Alliance Brackets

Dear 16-18 Year Old Baseball Player:
Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball invites 16-18 year old players to play baseball in our Senior League. This includes players born after January 1, 1992 and prior to April 30, 1995.

All 16-18 year old players are eligible to play in the Senior League, regardless of whether they are on a high school team. In fact, minimum play rules and snake batting orders ensure equal playing opportunity for all.

 Initially, beginning after the public school spring break, we will hold two group practices per week. These practices will be held on April 27, April 30, May 5, May 7, and May 14.

Games will begin Sunday, May 15. Following the regular season, there will be a league tournament. The tournament will conclude in late June.

The registration fee for the spring 2011 season is $135, and you can register and pay on-line. Please click here to begin the on-line registration process. If you would rather register the old-fashioned way, you can download registration and medical release forms here.

Please - we urge you to register as soon as possible. Doing so will greatly help us to plan for the upcoming season.

We look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Valtin, Commissioner, Senior League at (703) 338-2582 or christopher.valtin@fitchratings.com.

Play Ball!

 Alan Schneider, President
Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball

Spring Baseball is upon us! The Arlington Senior Babe Ruth spring season will open on Saturday, April 9th with games in our Prep and Alliance leagues.  We especially want to welcome all rising 13-year-old players, from Arlington Little League and Arlington Babe Ruth Cal Ripken, who are moving up to the regulation diamond. The American and Senior league seasons will begin in mid-May. 

 Schedules will soon be added to the web site and you will be able to find them on the bottom of this page and on each team's individual web page.

There will be no practices on any of the baseball fields this weekend with the possible exception Barcroft #6 on late Sunday afternoon.  Please check with the Arlington County weather line (703) 228-4715 for updates.

Please click here for the latest Babe Ruth bat rule changes.  For a list of the approved composite bats for 2011, please click here.

Arlington County has closed all diamond fields for today, Saturday, March 27 and that information is reflected on the inclement weather tape at 703/228-4715. However, I have cleared it with the county to let us use the batting cages at each of the fields, information which is not on today's recorded message. Therefore please send an e-mail or phone your players that your practices are on time as scheduled but that they will be limited to batting cage use only. Under no circumstances are any players or coaches to go on the fields.

ASBR's 16u travel is involved is several community service projects during the spring/summer of '09 as part of an effort to give back to the Arlington community which has supported our team over the past year. The team, which won the 15 year-old Virginia State Championship last summer, consists of 13 ASBR 16 year-olds and will play a 30 game combined Babe Ruth/travel schedule this upcoming summer.

http://www.ahcinc.org/documents/FebruaryNewsBriefs.pdf

ASBR is sending six teams to districts this summer, 13U, 14U, 15U, 14/15U Alliance, 16U and 18U. 

The 16U district team won it's district by defeating Northern Fairfax twice on Monday, July 7th at Chantilly H.S.  They play in the State tournament starting July 16th in Brunswick, VA.  Click here for the State tournament bracket.

 Click here for district tournament brackets for the other teams.

 GO ARLINGTON!

The 14/15U Alliance team finished it's district tournament as champions!  Click here for the Arlington Sun Gazette news article about the team. Congratulations to Coach Rick Boyle and the whole 14/15U Alliance team!

Fall Ball is traditionally a period of games and no practices. This is primarily due to the lack of fields and practice times. I would like to conduct some group practices on Sunday afternoons starting this Sunday, October 3, for all interested players to attend. This would be in lieu of requests for individual team practices. To this end I have reserved the Virginia Highlands Field # 4 from 3:30 - 5:00 for a pitching and catcher's clinic. All players and coaches who would like to attend this clinic are welcome.

Sorry for the short notice, but the more games I've observed and the more coaches I have talked to convinced me that this clinic will help improve the overall caliber of play in our fall ball program. I will also be reserving fields for additonal Sunday afternoon practices throughout the season and will send you the details early next week.

At this point I am the only one working the clinic, so if any of the other coaches or league officials are free to help that would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Alan Schneider President, Arlington Senior Babe Ruth Baseball