New England Firebirds Baseball & Softball Club: Firebirds Program History
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A 13:U team was formed for the 1997 season as the Firebirds program continued to grow. The 1997 13:U squad completed its season as the State Runner-Up in their age bracket.
The Firebirds fielded two squads in the 1998 season, a 14:U and a 12:U team. The 1998 14:U squad won the state championship! This team also traveled to Florida and finished 12th in the country in the National Tournament. The 1998 12:U program played a full season schedule and played in local tournaments as wel as participating in the invitational tournament in Cooperstown, NY.
The 1999 Firebirds had their most successful year on the field. The 15:U team finished 5th in the National Tournament in Orlando, Florida after winning another state title. The 14:U team finished 2nd in the national invitational tournament in North Carolina. The 12:U program finished 3rd in the national invitational tournament in Cooperstown, NY.
The 2000 season found the 16:U winning another state title while finishing 12th in the National Tournament in Orlando, Fl and going the Junior Olympic Tournament in Arizona. The 14:U program finished 2nd in the state and 19th at the National Invitational tournament. The 13:U team finished 4th in the National Invitational tournament in Cooperstown, NY. The 12:U team won the Massachusetts state title and finished 3rd in the National Invitational tournament in Cooperstown, NY and went to the National AAU Tournament in Burnsville, MN.
The 2001 Firebirds Baseball Club had another succesful year while fielding a full roster of teams in the 12:U, 13:U, 14:U, 15:U, and the 16:U age brackets.
The 2002 Firebirds Baseball Club fielded teams in 12:U, 13:U, 14:U, and 15:U, age brackets. Our 15U team finished in first place in the classic pool play of the AAU National Tournament Walt Disney World, Fl. The 14U team finished in the top 15 in the Division 1 national tournament held in Norman, OK. The 13U and 12U teams both qualified for national tournament play with the 12U squad finishing in 7th place in the Cooperstown, NY Dreams Park tournament.
The 2003 season once again brought a great deal of success to the program. During this season the Firebirds Baseball Club fielded teams in 12:U, 13:U, 14:U, 15:U, and 16U age brackets. The 16U team finished in 3rd place (bronze medalist) in the Division 1 National Tournament in Detroit Michigan, also Massachusetts state champions (gold medalist). For the 4th straight season the Firebirds 15U team qualified for the Division 1 national tournament. They finished as regular season champions in the state of Massachusetts. The 14U team qualified for national tournament play. The 13U team finished 2nd in the country (silver medallist) AAU National Tournament Kingston, North Carolina. The 12U team attended Cooperstown Dream Park tournament.
The 2004 season saw the 13U team enjoy terrific success with this group's move to the big diamond. They went to Myrtle Beach, SC and ran off a 7-2 record in capturing fifth place in the AAU Division II National Tournament. The 14U and 15U teams also qualified for, and participated in, the AAU National Tournaments.
Preparing for the 2005 Season
AAU baseball attracts the best and most dedicated youth baseball players each season because of the promise of competition and sportsmanship. AAU baseball is also known for dedication to proper instruction and preparation for play. Teams selected for play each spring have prepared and practiced in the off-season in anticipation of each coming season. Programs in one locale have e the advantage of outdoor play and practice except for the cold winter months. Northern teams generally affiliate with an indoor baseball facility to insure proper preparation even when the weather does not permit outside practice. The Firebirds Baseball Club will be affiliated with Dave Bettencourt’s “Instructional Baseball School” indoor baseball facility located in North Andover, MA off of interstate 495. This facility offers an opportunity for complete training and instruction even when weather conditions do not permit outside play. The Firebirds maintain a complete supervised workout schedule throughout the winter months.
Program Cost and Player Responsibilities
The cost of each program is estimated to be $2000 to $3000, depending on tournament participation and the length of the schedule. This cost includes expenses for uniforms, equipment and supplies, practice facility cost, umpire fees, coach’s fee, AAU membership card, the national tournament fee and tournament travel expenses. Any additional tournaments entered, the team will have to incur the cost of that tournament. When coaches make a commitment of a roster spot to a player, a $500.00 deposit will secure that players roster spot in addition to any and all other fees. Monthly invoices will be sent out with fees, payments, and balances.
Roster Candidates and Non-roster candidates
We will carry a large number of players than necessary through the winter workouts for each age group in order to give every player a fair opportunity to make our club. The final selection of each team will be made around the first week in February. All players will be notified by the age appropriate coach to let them know if they have made the team for the winter workouts. Candidates for roster positions may be invited to participate in the winter workouts as scheduled, for a fee of $300.00 for the entire winter. The fee will include the opportunity to use of the throwing and fielding area as well as the tee area at the “Instructional Baseball School” facility. Rental of cages can be reserved for all Firebird candidates. If selected this fee will count as part of their overall tuition cost. Practices will commence the 1st Sunday in December at the new home for the Firebirds Dave Bettencourt’s “Instructional Baseball School” baseball facility located in North Andover. In December and January we will workout just once a week. In February we will practice once during the week and once on the weekend. Games will commence according to the state AAU schedule. For teams 15:U and 16:U the schedule will begin in June, all other teams will start the end of April. All teams will travel to a national tournament.
