Owego Little League; ASA Girls Softball; Teener Baseball: Welcome

1. There is a new field signup sheet in the book at the top of the stairs. This is to be used to re-schedule rain outs or practices. Games will take first priority, so if you have a practice schedule, but the field is needed for a game, the game will get the field.

2. Umpires are desperately needed!! A signup sheet for games is now posted at the top of the stairs as well.

3. A contact list for all local softball teams is also posed on the board if there is a need to cancel or change a game. A baseball interleague contact list is being created now, and will be posted there as well once it's complete.

The full game schedule is now available and attached below with the team key added.

The full softball schedule has been added as well.

Per Ed Walter, our scheduler, fields may change, but the dates will not.

We will be meeting on Wednesday 5/2/12 - Please let Kenny know if you are unable to attend.

Concession stand volunteers are needed to open and close the concession stand on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season. If you are able to help out in this vital area please contact Karen Johnson at purple426@stny.rr.com 

Important dates for the 2012 season 

1/28/12      Sign ups                      10am-2pm          Owego Fire Station, North Ave

2/4/12        Sign ups                      10am-2pm          Owego Fire Station, North Ave

2/7/12        Sign ups                      6pm-8pm            Owego Fire Station, North Ave

3/5/12        Coaches meeting           7pm                 56 Main St County Office Bldg

3/10/12      Baseball Indoor Clinic                            Middle School

3/17/12      Baseball Outdoor clinic AND                 Middle School

3/17/12      Softball indoor                                        Middle School

3/26/12      National League Draft    7pm                 Clubhouse

3/27/12      American League Draft   7pm                 Clubhouse

3/28/12      Modified & T-Ball Draft   7pm                Clubhouse

4/21/12      Workbee Day                  9am                Hyde Park

4/28/12      Workbee Day                  9am                Hyde Park            

5/5/12      Opening Day                   8am                Hyde Park

5/12/12      Pictures Day                    TBD                Owego Free Academy (Inside of OFA is raining)

5/12/12      Raffle Drawing                TBD                 Hyde Park 

6/22, 6/23,6/24                 Softball Tournament

 New template is live - take a look and please let me know what you think!! Send me an e-mail at owegolittleleague@gmail.com or leave a message on our Facebook page.

Our template for the site is an older one, and to keep up with the changes and info eteamz uses and pushes out, I will be updating the template this week. ALL info stays the same and in the same places as now - just a fresh new look to go along with a fresh new season that is approaching. If after the update you find some quirks please let me know - owegolittleleague@gmail.com Thanks!! ~Eric

Work bee days are scheduled for Saturday 4/21 and 4/28 starting at 9am. There is a lot to do this year due to the flood damage, so any time you can spare is greatly appreciated. We can use any skill level, just bring some work gloves and we'll supply the rest!

Can't make either of those dates, and still want to help the League? Contact Denis McCann at mccann.owego@yahoo.com and he can give you an assignment and direction on how to complete the task!!

Little League Baseball, Incorporated has been informed that Nike Bat Model #Aero CX2-BT0636 has failed recent performance standard compliance testing. Effective immediately, Nike Bat Model #Aero CX2-BT0636, including all graphic variations, is not eligible, or approved, for use in any Little League program or activity.

Add the Reebok Vector-TLS 33-inch bat to the non-usable bats list.

LL has changed the rules for majors only (our National League) in the 12 and under divisions. A batter, under certain conditions, can now attempt to achieve first base if the third strike is not caught. 

Part by part: 

It’s commonly called a dropped third strike. This is a misnomer. It’s really an uncaught third strike and you need to grasp that. 

Uncaught means: The pitch was not secured in flight OR was dropped after the catcher appeared at first to secure it OR the catcher flat out didn’t secure it or even touch it. 

In flight means: The pitch has not touched anything, including the ground. If it bounces and the catcher secures it cleanly, it was NOT caught for purposes of this rule. 

The batter can only attempt to go to first base if  1) there are two outs even if there is a runner at first base OR 2) there are less than two outs and first base was unoccupied at the time of the pitch. 

The base is considered occupied if there is a runner at (not necessarily on, at) first base at the time of the pitch. The runner is at first base until he touches second base.  So, in a game with lead-offs and stealing, he is still considered to be at first even though he could be well on his way to second base. 

The time of the pitch is the moment that the pitchers motion commits him to pitch. 

AND - when the conditions permit the batter to advance, he must be put out in the same manner as if he had hit the ball into play. And if you fail to get him out, he's now safe and a runner. 

AND THEREFORE, any other runners that would be forced on a batted ball are forced on this play and can be put out as on any other force play. The extreme is a bases loaded, two out, uncaught third strike. Because the runner from third is forced, all the catcher has to do then is secure the ball and step on home plate before the runner from third gets there and voila, he’s out - inning over.

They change every year - this is the current one.

Ed Walter has taken over the game scheduling. 

Eric Hawkins has taken over the website.

A big thank you to Rich Ives for all his years of dedication to both - it takes two people to replace the work you did, Rich.

Bats with composite barrels are banned unless they are on the approved list.

Please see www.littleleague.org for the article on the bat moratorium. Click on the article's link for 2 1/4" bats to see which are approved for Little League Majors and below.

Please see www.nfhs.org and do a search on "approved composite bats" to see the list for teener. 

Little League non-wood bats must also be marked BPF 1.xx where xx is 15 OR LOWER. No LL bat can be more than 2 1/4" in diameter and 33" long.

As teener is using high school rules, teener non-wood bats must be BESR marked and a -3 drop or less. No non-wood HS bat may be more than 2 5/8" in diameter and 36" long. A wood bat may be a maximun of 2 3/4" in diameter with a maximum 36" length. 

NEXT YEAR (2012)  Teener bats MUST meet BBCOR, so if you're buying a new bat we strongly urge you to get a BBCOR bat.  NCAA and the State of California already require BBCOR bats so they are on the market. 

Following the lead of the NCAA and High schools, and an earlier ban on composite bats for the 13 and up age groups, Little League has banned composite bats in LL Baseball segments for 12 and below also.

See the announcement at www.littleleague.org 

The league has oppportunities for you. Join in the fun. Support the kids, baseball, and the community.

MANAGERS/COACHES: Contact Debi Schmidt  debi@midstatelitho.com  if you are interested in managing or coaching a team.

UMPIRES: We are always looking for volunteer umpires. Whether once a week, or more if you love it, you can enjoy the best seat in the house. Need training - no problem. We conduct training sessions to teach you how. Contact Jim Medovich on 754-6319.

WORKBEE DAYS: Like puttering around in the dirt?  Maybe you are good at handyman tasks. Things always need fixing. New things need to be built. Fields need to be maintained. The 2009 workbee dates are April 18th and 25th. Not available those days? We can always use help during the season too. 

There are a lot of rules that we just know for sure. The problem is, a lot of these "rules" are myths and old wives tales.

Check out the rules information on the league "Rules Info" page or click on the link below. You might just get a surprise or two. The rules don't always mean exactly what they say.

If you have any questions, post them on the rules message board. (You need to be a member of the site. If you aren't, Eteamz should offer you the opportunity to join if you aren't one when you try to use the board.) Or e-mail Rich Ives (richives@stny.rr.com).