Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball: My Site News

Player Competition winners from April 13 have been announced.  Here they are!

Golden Arm:

CAP - Wynn Meetze, Trae Ocheltree and Connor Muskopf tied!

Coach Pitch - Shawn Skeens

Minors - Blake Hewitt

"O"Zone - Tyler Robertson

Dixie Boys - Justin Baugus

Road Runner:

CAP - Landon Thomas

Coach Pitch - Brady Edwards

Minors - Preston Price

"O"Zone - Isiah Coleman

Dixie Boys - Justin Baugus

Home Run Derby:

CAP - Landon Thomas

Coach Pitch - Timothy Nachel

Minors - Edwin Amerson

"O"Zone - Henry Gunter

Dixie Boys - Andrew Smith

Awards are being purchased for all the winners now and will be given to players as soon as possible.  Thanks to all the players who competed and to the volunteers that helped make the competitions possible!

Through recent work with our neighbors at Lexington Dixie Youth, Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball's players have received a formal invitation to attend the Blowfish Baseball Clinic/Camp and other exciting events on Friday, June 28.  Visit our Handouts page for a flyer with more details about the day's events.  You may print the flyer and return the lower portion, along with payment, to either our PO Box 29 Gilbert, SC 29054 or hand deliver to Chad McGinty.  Please make all checks payable to "Lexington Dixie Youth Baseball".  You must write your full name and mailing address on the back of the registration form.  The Blowfish organization will mail tickets directly to your mailing address.

And remember, Gilbert Dixie Youth is hosting the "O"Zone District Tournament starting the very next day, and WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!  Please contact us as soon as possible so we can add your name to our list of helpers!

Congratulations to our 1st-Half Champions in Coach Pitch and Minors!!

Coach Pitch 1st-Half Champs:  Comporium Wild Gators; Head Coach Treigh Sullivan.

Minors 1st-Half Champs:  Piedmont Plumbers Diamond Devils; Head Coach Rick Snelling.

Congratulations to all players and teams for tremendous work getting better and for great competition during our 1st half season of play.  We're looking forward to our players working hard, getting better and making a push for each of their teams in the 2nd half of the season.

Thanks for playing Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball!

Dixie Youth Baseball's national organization places individual players within age-appropriate leagues so that skill levels are balanced and each player is provided an opporunity to play safely and competitively with other players of similar age and skill.  Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball supports our national organization's age limit mandates, as we do all of their rules and regulations.

The age of each player is determined as of May 1 of the baseball calendar (i.e. A player who turns 11 or 12 yrs old by May 1, 2012 will play in the 11-12 yr old league.  A player who is 9 or 10 yrs old on May 1, 2012 will play in the 9-10 yr old league.)  We understand that only one (1) day does not always necessarily determine the skill level of any player, but a line must be drawn at some point.  May 1 is the date adopted by our national charter and accepted by GDYB.

Age limits for each League are as follows (age as of May 1):

Coach Pitch  7 - 8

Minors  9 - 10

Majors (Ozone)  11 - 12

Colt (Dixie Boys)  13 - 14

Pony (Dixie Majors)  15 - 16

CAP (teeball) is not a sanctioned Dixie Youth division.  However, Gilbert DYB offers this beneficial starting point to players' careers at between ages  5 - 6 (exceptions may be made to begin players at age 4, where ability to safely begin organized sports is evident).

If you intend to early-up your child in the 2013 Spring GDYB Season you must notify the Board of Directors PRIOR to the final game of the 2012 Season.  Please send any early-up requests to PO Box 29  Gilbert, SC 29054 or email gilbertdixieyouthbaseball@live.com. 

If you have any questions regarding the age group in which your player will be eligible in the Spring or Fall you may contact us at gilbertdixieyouthbaseball@live.com or by visiting the National website www.dixie.org.

Thank you for your support of Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball!!

GDYB's Board of Directors worked tirelessly to research and implement its official Child Abuse & Molestation Policy.  Adoption of this Policy is not a reaction to any prior incident; it is a proactive stance we have taken as a league to continue to improve the safety of the children who play baseball in Gilbert.  Strongly encouraged by Dixie Youth Baseball and guided by our insurance company (Sadler's Sports Insurance), GDYB's Policy is in place.

All coaches, umpires, Board of Directors Members and volunteers with our league must complete a National Background Check Form, issued and administered by Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission and undergo a set of criminal background checks in order to participate in their respective roles.

You can find our official Policy, Parents' Guide and National Background Check Form under the Handouts page of our website.

If you have any questions about the Policy, Guide or the Background Form, you may email us at gilbertdixieyouthbaseball@live.com.

Lexington County has recently mandated a comprehensive Background Check policy for all County-sanctioned youth sports leagues, including Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball.  The cost of each check is $10 and is to be paid by the volunteer.  Volunteers include coaches and anyone who comes in repeated contact with children during activities at our facilities.

The National Background Check Form and LCRAC's Screening Policy can be found on our Handouts page.

Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball understands special needs exist within our Community, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help EVERY child be able to enjoy Baseball, the Great American Pasttime.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with Registration Fees or equipment costs please contact a Member of our Board of Directors or email us at gilbetdixieyouthbaseball@live.com.  We are committed to doing everything within our ability to connect you with the proper resources, privately, to get you the assistance you need so your child may play.

If you are interested in assisting someone else with their financial needs this year please feel free to contact a Member of our Board or email us at gilbertdixieyouthbaseball@live.com to discuss your interest in assisting others in our Community with their needs.

Thank you for playing baseball in Gilbert and supporting our youth!

A few tips from CoachDeck on how to approach the game, just not during the game but everyday, including off-season, can be found at the link below.  Remember, your preparation for the first game of 2013 begins NOW!

http://blog.coachdeck.com/2012/11/26/the-be-a-successful-player-you-must-part-one/

Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball has recently teamed up with One Team Sports, a non-profit organization lead by All American Imaging's owner, Trey Love.  One Team Sports distributes donated sports equipment to local athletes in need, as well as athletes abroad through mission groups helping people through sports.

Please visit our Handouts page for a flyer from One Team Sports.

A donation center will be set up during Fun/Picture Day for our Members, friends and fans to donate your equipment to this fascinating organization.  Please drop off your used (or new) cleats, jerseys or pants, bats, gloves, helmets, or anything sports related to be used in One Team Sports' work.

Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball recently donated several sets of catcher's gear, batting helmets and old uniform items to One Team Sports.  You can view a couple of photos of items donated by GDYB on our Albums page.  My family also made a few donations last Summer, and within 48 hours these items were handed out to athletes in Cuba.  What a rewarding experience that was!

Thanks to all for your support of Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball.  We hope that you will also participate in the exciting work being done by One Team Sports.

How Division, Coaching and Umpire complaints are handled:

Any complaints from parents or fans regarding a particular coach, umpire or decision during a practice, game or other times affiliated with Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball must be directed first to the Head Coach of your team.  The Head Coach is to communicate any concerns directly to the Commissioner of the applicable Division (see "Board" for the names all Commissioners).  If the parent or fan does not believe the Head Coach has taken appropriate action they may then contact the Division Commissioner directly.  If after that time the parent or fan does not believe appropropriate action has been taken, they may email the Board of Directors at gilbertdixieyouthbaseball@live.com.

Please take a moment to complete a Coach Survey for your 2012 coach(es) by visiting Handouts/Coach Survey.  Please complete only one (1) survey for any Head Coach or Assistant coach that your child played for this season.  All opinions are appreciated, as we work to provide feedback to our coaches and begin to review potential coaches for 2013.

Surveys should be mailed to us at PO Box 29 Gilbert, SC 29054, scanned and emailed to cmcginty@fyffeconstruction.com or hand delivered to one of our Board Members.

All surveys are kept anonymous, so please share your opinions honestly.

Thank you,

GDYB

Gilbert Highschool won the 2012 SC AA State Highschool Baseball Title last night in a 3-2 victory over Hannahan.  Gilbert Dixie Youth Baseball sends out our congratulations to all players, coaches and familes involved with such a fine season of baseball and a rewarding finish to everyone's hard work.  Congratulations!!!