Player assessments and uniform fittings scheduled for today have been postponed until next Saturday The same time schedule posted for today will be used next Saturday HYA Board of Directors

The City Council Work Session on Wednesday, January 18th will include a discussion and overview on the three plans being developed for parks and recreation:

• Milton Parks Comprehensive Master Plan
• Trails Update Master Plan, and
• Birmingham Park Master Plan.

These plans will set the short and long term direction for the City and Parks and Recreation Department and as such, impact ALL of us.  I would encourage you to attend the meeting, and ifyou can't, then to watch the webcast from the city website, and to provide input to the city council and city staff via phone, or email.

If you have question, or comments for me you can email me directly as well at president@hopewellbaseball.org.

HYA Spring 2012 Families:
 
Thank for you registering for the HYA Spring 2012 Recreation Baseball Season.  Assessments are scheduled for next Saturday, January 28th and the schedule is listed below. 

Please plan to arrive 30minutes BEFORE your assigned time at the Bennett House for mandatory Uniform Fitting.  (If you are not able to make it to assessments there will be one make up uniform fitting on Wednesday, February 1st from 5 to 7pm at the Bennett House).
 
We still have a few openings in our age groups so if you have a neighbor or classmate that is interested in playing baseball , please tell them to go to our website and register.
 
We will be watching the weather next week and will update you if there are any changes.
 
Let's Play Ball!

---

The Spring 2012 Assessments/Uniform Fitting is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Bell Memorial Park.

Players must arrive at the park up to 30 minutes before their scheduled time to be fitted for uniforms.  Uniform fitting is mandatory for all players and will take place at the Bennett House (the small yellow house on the right as you approach the ball fields at 15250 Bell Park Road).

4/5 yr olds    Field #3                                  (Birthdays between 5/1/06 and 1/22/08)
A – D            10:00am – 10:30am    
E – L             10:30am – 11:00am
M – Q           11:00am – 11:30am
R – Z            11:30am – 12:00pm   
 
6 yr olds        Field #3                                  (Birthdays between 5/1/05 and 4/30/06)
A – D            12:30pm – 1:15pm       
E – K            1:15pm – 2:00pm
L – P             2:00pm – 2:45pm       
Q – Z            2:45pm – 3:30pm       
 
7 yr olds        Field #4                                  (Birthdays between 5/1/04 and 4/30/05)
A – D            10:00am – 10:45am    
E – L             10:45am – 11:30am
M – R            11:30am – 12:15pm   
S – Z            12:15pm – 1:00pm
 
8 yr olds                    Field #4                      (Birthdays between 5/1/03 and 4/30/04)
A – C            1:30pm – 2:15pm       
D – F            2:15pm – 3:00pm
G – L            3:00pm – 3:45pm       
M – R            3:45pm – 4:30pm       
S – Z            4:30pm – 5:15pm
 
9 yr olds                    Field #1                      (Birthdays between 5/1/02 and 4/30/03)
A – C            10:30am – 11:15am   
D – H            11:15am – 12:00pm
I – P             12:00pm – 12:45pm     
Q – Z            12:45pm – 1:30pm       
 
10 yr olds                  Field #1                      (Birthdays between 5/1/01 and 4/30/02)
A – G            2:00pm – 2:45pm       
H – M            2:45pm – 3:30pm
N – Z            3:30pm – 4:15pm
 
11/12 yr olds           Field #2                      (Birthdays between 5/1/99 and 4/30/01)
A – F            11:00am – 11:45am   
G – M           11:45am – 12:30pm
N – Z            12:30pm – 1:15pm     
 
13-15 yr olds            Field #2                      (Birthdays between 5/1/96 and 4/30/99)
A – E            1:45pm - 2:15pm        
F – N            2:15pm – 2:45pm
O – Z            2:45pm - 3:15pm

 

Parents,
 
The HYA Board of Directors has received a great deal of feedback regarding the recent banning of bats in our park.  We have spent countless hours in an effort to adopt a rule that is in the best interest of our kids and at the same time is consistent and fair for all involved.

It has become clear to our organization that the manufactures of youth baseball bats are constantly changing the way they market and produce certain models.  Therefore we are making a change in our policy that will pertain directly to the size and weight of the bats rather than to specific brands or models.  

HYA Recreation League Bat Rule (effective Fall 2010) –

8u or under age group:
HYA allows any 2 1/4” bat printed with a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or approved by Little League Baseball.  Click here to see Little League Baseballs list of approved non-wood bats.

9u and older age groups:
HYA allows any 2 1/4” bat printed with a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or approved by Little League Baseball.   Click here to see Little League Baseballs list of approved non-wood bats.

In addition players (league age 9 and older) may choose a bat with a barrel up to 2 3/4” that has a drop  of –8 or less (drop is the difference of bat length – bat weight) ex. A 30” bat that weighs 22 ounces has a –8 drop.  Any big barrel bat with a –8.5, -9, -10, or greater drop is not allowed for recreation league play at HYA.

* 2 1/4” bats that do not have the BPF or Little League stamp should be checked against the list of approved Little League bats

Because we are making a change so soon after limits were originally set, this rule will not be strictly enforced until the beginning of the 2010 Fall Recreation League season.  We are allowing the “grandfather” season this spring because of our abrupt change and our understanding that many parents already purchased bats with the idea that we would not be making a change this quickly.  So again, the new bat rule will be encouraged for the upcoming spring season and strictly enforced starting in the Fall of 2010.  Our current rule will remain in effect until that time.
 
Thank you for your understanding on this matter. This is an important step for our park.  We again apologize for the vacillation on this issue, and hope you understand that the Board of Directors is always taking into consideration what is in the best interest of our kids and the best way to teach them the game of baseball.