South Orange-Maplewood Baseball has adopted the “Cougars” moniker to represent the program beginning in 2012. To celebrate and raise funds for the organization, we will offer for sale a First Edition “South Orange Maplewood Cougars Baseball” t-shirt.

The shirts will be light gray with the image shown on the front.

Funds raised by this initiative will continue to be devoted to the baseball program and related facilities. Past fundraisers are responsible for the development and upkeep of the batting cages at the Baird, the scoreboard in Maplecrest Park, clinics for coaches, players, and more.

Questions?  Please contact Chris Henry at ChrisHenrySportsInstruction@hotmail.com.

Download an order form by clicking on the handout link below.  Orders must be received at the Baird NO LATER THAN MAY 15th May 23rd - one additional week.

Here is the playoff schedule.  Note that final seeds will not be known until the season is complete.

BABE RUTH - 6 teams

The higher seed will be the home team.

Seed 1 = Rocketship & Print
Seed 2 = South Orange Disposal Trashers
Seed 3 = Kids Docs
Seed 4 = The Cyclones
Seed 5 = Volios Group
Seed 6 = Weichert

MAJORS 70 - 6 teams

The top 2 teams earn byes in the first round.
Higher seeded team is the home team.

Seed 1 =
Seed 2 =
Seed 3 =
Seed 4 =
Seed 5 =
Seed 6 =

MAJORS 60 - 12 teams

The top 4 teams earn a bye.
The higher seeded team will be the home team.

Seed 1 =
Seed 2 =
Seed 3 =
Seed 4 =
Seed 5 =
Seed 6 =
Seed 7 =
Seed 8 =
Seed 9 =
Seed 10 =
Seed 11 =
Seed 12 =

The top seeded team is the home team.

Seed 1 =
Seed 2 =
Seed 3 =
Seed 4 =
Seed 5 =
Seed 6 =
Seed 7 =
Seed 8 =

We are using a new service this year to keep track of our baseball schedules and (for the older players) the standings.  You will want to bookmark these links!!

To access the schedules, use this link:  SCHEDULES
Note:  Some of the games will be highlighted in pink; you can ignore this.)

To access the standings (NOT used for T-ball and Rookie), use this link:  STANDINGS

After a rain-out, the schedules should be updated within 48-72 hours with the date, time and location of your make-up game.  You are responsible for checking the site.

You can also view schedules, scores, and standings on a mobile device through the following links:

http://somaplebaseball.demosphere.com/m/
http://somaplebaseball.demosphere.com/mobile/
 
NOTE:  The forward slash (/) at the end of the URL must be included when you enter it into your phone.  If the last slash is not included then the website will not load.

Coaches Larry Busichio and Chris Henry will again be offering this popular summer camp during the weeks of June 25-29, July 9-13, and July 16-20.

This camp, for ages 7-14, will not only focus on the basic fundamentals of baseball, but instill the methods to improve and hone a player’s skills. Each camper will be exposed to the following:

• Proper mechanics of throwing a baseball
• Defensive techniques
• Fundamentals of the swing
• Mental Aspect of the “Game”
• Baserunning techniques
• Pitching, Catching, and/or Position Player Fundamentals
• Sportsmanship and Rules

Every player will be analyzed and evaluated during instruction and games.

Please see the handouts for more details and a registration form.

CODE-A-PHONE AND TWITTER
If the weather or field conditions are in question, there are 2 ways you can be informed:

1)     Call the code-a-phone at 973-762-0748. If there is no announcement for the current day, activities are on as scheduled.

2)     Set up “twitter” account to receive notifications. To do so, go to www.twitter.com, create a free account, and follow  “SOrangeRec”.  Again, if you receive NO notice, all activities are on as scheduled.

You can also get updates sent to your cell phone without a Twitter account.  Just send a text message that says "Follow SOrangeRec" (without the quotes) to 40404 and you will start receiving tweets from us on your device. 
 
As a rule we ONLY POST CHANGES in the schedule on the code-a-phone or via Twitter. We will NOT post affirmative messages (i.e. “Games WILL be played). Therefore, if the message you hear on the code-a-phone is from a prior date, the current day’s activities will proceed as scheduled.

The Recreation Department will try to post weather-related cancellations/changes as early as possible for weeknight games. However, it is not always possible or desirable to call games early in the day. The right kind of weather and some maintenance work can sometimes significantly alter the outlook. Fields that look unplayable at noon may be ready to play on by late in the day.

On weekends, we make every effort to post any changes in the schedule by 8:30 am or as necessary if conditions change throughout the day.
 
RESCHEDULING OF GAMES
The league will reschedule any games that are canceled due to bad weather or poor field conditions. The web site schedule (use this link) will be updated accordingly so please be sure to check regularly for updates and changes to the schedules.

Iron-On Patch. Each player will receive an iron-on Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth patch. It should be attached to the LEFT sleeve of his/her uniform. Basically, you have to iron on the patch from the inside - the patch is too thick for heat from an iron to go through the patch to melt the glue; so you must iron from the inside.

Here are some simple instructions:

1. Set iron to highest (cotton) setting. Do not use water or steam.

2. Turn the shirt inside out.

3. Position the patch on the outside of the left sleeve (which is now on the inside) so that the glue is facing up. Make sure you will end up with the patch in the desired place when you turn it right side out! (Also make sure the patch will not be upside down. Been there, done that.)

4. Cover with a thin cloth such as a cloth diaper or dishtowel.

5. Press firmly with the iron on the inside of the sleeve (which is now on the outside) for a FULL minute.

6. Let the shirt cool. Make sure all the edges have stuck to the shirt.

Parents - we have a local rule specifically addressing when a player may pitch for another team and their SOM Baseball team.

The local rule states:

High School and Middle School Pitchers: No player on a high school team may pitch in the Babe Ruth League at any time during the regular season or the playoffs. Whether a player will be on a high school team must be specified at the time of the draft, and may not be changed during the course of the season. A player who leaves his or her high school team remains ineligible to pitch in the Babe Ruth League for the duration of the season. Players on middle school teams, private teams or teams in other leagues who wish to pitch must submit a signed agreement to the Chairperson of the Rules Committee, in the form designated by the Rules Committee, stating that the player, the player’s coaches (both for the South Orange / Maplewood Cal Ripken League and for any other team for which the player is pitching), and the player’s parents all agree that the player’s total pitch counts, for all teams, shall not exceed the limitations set forth in these Local Rules. 

If you believe your child is eligible to pitch for two teams, please complete the correct form in the Handout below and submit it to David Leit at dleit@lowenstein.com.  

The South Orange Maplewood Baseball Organization is divided into several subcommittees which meet year-round, working with the Recreation Departments, constantly reviewing and improving the baseball program.  New volunteers are always needed.  Please pick an area (or areas) where you would like to participate and contact the committee chair by email or telephone to find out when/where they will be meeting.  ACT NOW!!  Your kids thank you for your help!    
 
BASEBALL SUBCOMMITTEES:

REGISTRATION AND PUBLICITY: Responsible for organizing registration, keeping track of registration names and forms, placing articles in News Record, Gaslight, web site, getting flyers to schools. Contact Les LeAndre at (973) 763-2948.

UMPIRES: Responsible for recruitment, training and scheduling of umpires. Contact Chip Nolet at (973) 761-7531 or pesimach@aol.com.

COACHES: Team assignment, qualifications and training:  
  T-Ball and Rookie Leagues: Matt Lefferts at mcl@fwrv.com or (973) 275-1333. 
      Minor, Major and Babe Ruth Leagues:   Doug Sasfai at dsasfai@verizon.net or (973) 275-0914.

PLAYER & COACHES’ TRAINING: Responsible for planning and scheduling of training and instructional clinics/seminars for development of players and coaches. Contact Doug Sasfai at (973) 275-0914 or dsasfai@verizon.net.

TRYOUTS AND TEAM SELECTION: Responsible for designing the tryouts and subsequent drafts for the Minors, Majors and Babe Ruth divisions and the team formation for the younger divisions. Contact Chris Coreschi.

GAME AND FACILITY SCHEDULES: Responsible for preparing the master schedule for the fields and facilities and scheduling make up games. Contact Steve Coleman at (973) 761-0727 or colepeople@aol.com  or StevenC@pvpassoc.com.

RULES: Responsible for reviewing and publicizing league rules and working to resolve any conflicts that arise. Contact David Leit.

FACILITY MAINTENANCE: Responsible for working with public works and the recreation department to improve the facilities. Also organize Parent work weekends. Contact Bill Fitzsimmons at (973) 378-2517 or billheatherfitzsimmons@yahoo.com.

FUNDRAISING: HELP WANTED.

SUMMER PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Responsible for Summer League calendar, teams, coaches, etc. Contact Bill Krais.

The policies below have been adopted by the National Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth organization for 2012:

CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL DIVISION

The bat may not exceed 33”in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 ¼” in diameter.  Only 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bats marked BPF 1.15 will be allowed.  Wood 2 ¼” barrel bats are allowed. 

13-15 (BABE RUTH) BASEBALL DIVISION

The bat may not exceed 34” in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 5/8” in diameter.  All aluminum/alloy barrel bats and all composite handle (only) aluminum/alloy barrels are allowed.  Only composite barrel bats certified and marked BBCOR .50 will be allowed.  Wood barrel bats conforming to the specifications of Official Baseball Rule 1.10 are allowed. 

PENALTY

• If the illegal bat is discovered prior to a batter completing his “at bat” the bat is simply removed from play and the “at bat” continues.

• A player who uses an illegal bat or non-conforming barrel dimension and hits a fair ball will be ruled out.  No advancement on the bases will be allowed, and any outs during the play shall stand.  This is an appeal play.  The “at bat” will be considered legal once a pitch is thrown to the next batter.

• Any bat discovered prior to the game that does not conform to the above rule shall be directed to be removed immediately and not be allowed for use during the game.