Comox Valley Baseball Home of the Cardinals

Drewry Electric Yankess 2009 CVBA Mosquito Champs

22 June 2009: Another great season of baseball came to a close on Monday the 22nd with a division BBQ and skills competition at aspen Park. The Mosquito division Manager, Kathy Dyck would like to thank Western One Rentals, Aquatec Seafood, and the Superstore for their support in this day of fun competition that was enjoyed by all. Speedster Wyatt Strachan tore around the basepaths to take fastest runner while Liam Wirth's rockets were clocked at 54 mph in the fastest pitch competition. Last up was the ever popular Home Run Competition which was won by Liam Nijhoff.

The season actually came to a close the day before with 3 games held at Aspen Park. The day was led off with TC Collision and Happy's Source for Sports slugging it out for 5th and 6th. In a titanic battle that was tied after 4 innings, Happy's prevailed 17-16. Highlights of the game went to Brayden Baker, Caleb Burd, and Wyatt Strachan with home runs. Strachan also had a strong inning on the mound, striking out the side.

Game two set the Slegg Lumber Blue Jays against the Re\Max Hornets for 4th and 5th. Again this one would come down to the wire before the dust settled. Slegg Lumber must have figured they had this one in the bag as they were up by 5 runs going into the open inning but Re\Max wasn't about to just lay down and hand it to them. Mark Buchanan led off with a triple and Liam Nijhoff followed with a double to lead things off. Another runner got on and then Liam Wirth with a monster shot to left brought the Hornets within one. The potential tying run, Aiden Armstrong got as far as 2nd with one out when the Re\Max 1st baseman made an amazing catch in foul territory for the 2nd out. Armstrong allertly tagged up and headed to 3rd where he scored on an overthrow to tie the game at 7-7. Troy Osmond then completed the amazing comeback with a double, a steal and scoring on an error.

Tight one run ballgames were the of the day and the Final was no exception. It was a battle of the top two evenly matched teams. The Investor's Group Black Sox ahd prevailed over the Drewry Electric Yankees on the season series in four hard fought games two games to one with a tie. This time it was the Yankees turn as they prevailed in a 6-5 score to become the 2009 CVBA Mosquito Champions!!!

Thanks go out to all the hard work put forth by Division Manager Kathy Dyck and all the volunteer Coaches, scorekeepers, field rakers and those who made the skills competition and BBQ possible. The CVBA would also like to thank the six team sponsors, TC Valley Collision, Happy's Source for Sports, Re\Max, Slegg Lumber, Investor's Group and Drewry Electric for their support in 2009.

Attn. Coaches: NCCP Migration Deadline is June 30th

Don't lose your Certification...!!!

If you are a coach with "Level 1, 2, or 3" certification in the old system and in order to migrate your qualifications into the updated Baseball Canada’s “Regional” & “Provincial” Modules, you must take the on-line Making Ethical Decisions by June 30^th, 2009. If you do not comply, you will lose your documented NCCP certification!!!

Read More: http://www.baseball.bc.ca/events/?event=20000496

In addition, be reminded of Baseball Canada’s 2009 Coaching requirements...

Read More: http://www.baseball.bc.ca/events/?event=20000627

NEW HELMET RULES FOR 2009

DUE TO MANY HEALTH CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON, ALL PLAYERS MOSQUITO AGE AND OVER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THEIR OWN BATTING HELMETS.

DUE TO THIS CHANGE OF RULES, CVBA IS MAKING A ONE TIME PURCHASE OF HELMETS THAT THEY WILL SELL AT THE EXTREMLY LOW COST OF $12.00. PLAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THESE DURING THEIR DIVISION'S UNIFORM NIGHT. THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE PLAYERS FROM PURCHASING THEIR OWN HELMETS FROM OTHER SOURCES IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

RALLY CAP ARTICLE

the following is an article about the Rally Cap Program taken from the Website, "ourbigearth.com" date February 2009

KidSports - Big Fun, Build Skills with New T-Ball

Posted by Guest Columnist on February 13th, 2009

Editor’s Note: Good Morning! It may be still be Winter, but all signs point to sunshine and outside fun - including T-BALL REGISTRATION, which begins Monday morning (Feb. 16) at the Lewis Centre, Comox Rec and Happy ’s Source for Sports (on Sixth in Courtenay).

That also means there couldn’t be a better time to talk shop about the game with Comox Valley Baseball Association president Steve McNamee.

The evolution of the sport in the Comox Valley has led local organizers to change the way things are done - fewer players on a team, more focus on skills, community and sportsmanship - all in the name of giving kids of all skill levels the chance to have a great time on the ball field and learn some skills in the process.

Sports are an intricate part of a child’s development and a dominant factor in health, social skills and general well-being. But, all sports are not created the same, or are for every kid. Finding the balance, the dynamic and the skills that suit your child’s sensibility can be challenging.

KidSports is here to offer some perspective, let you peek into the workings of sports programs in the Valley and give you some extra tools to make sure that sports and healthy activities are lifelong - and loved - for your family.

Here’s Steve:

I don’t know about you, but when I see that Major League Baseball starting Spring training, my thoughts turn to ball caps, seventh-inning stretches and Summer nights at the ball park.

I have visions of the sun shining on the field, kids running, throwing, catching and hitting balls…small kids playing in the dirt, eating dandelions and staring at the sky.

I love baseball. But, the much younger, attention-span-deficient crowd is more than likely playing T-Ball - which, in the past, has evoked visions of a 6-year-old standing in left field picking his nose.

The Comox Valley Baseball Association has changed all of that!

Last year CVBA introduced a new program to help ramp up the excitement factor of T-ball - the Rally Cap Program.

Designed to combine the best teaching tools from other sports like Martial Arts (by using a color coded system) and hockey (coaches are supplied with binders full of drills and ideas to teach skill sets), this new version of an old favourite offers kids the chance to play EVERY time they get on the field and pick up the key skills that, if they want, will turn them into baseball players with a solid foundation.

Here’s how the program works;

- At the start of the year each player will be given a White cap. There are six levels of skill and each is represented by a different colored cap.
- To earn the next color up, a player passes a skills test based on the skills that they practice during a skill development period each time they are on the field. For example, in order to graduate from a White cap to a Gray cap, each player must be able to: throw a ball a distance of 5 feet, catch a ball from 5 feet, be able to hit a ball off a tee, know which direction to run after hitting the ball, know the team’s name, coaches name and be able to name three teammates. As they progress through the ranks of this program, the skills get more challenging, but also progressively more fun.
- Here’s the cool part: teams only have six players - one for each infield position - which means each kid gets a great chance at the ball during a game.
- Three teams are scheduled per T-ball diamond and while two teams are playing a regular game the third will be working on skills (no one is sitting around with that finger up their nose). Then, the teams rotate. So, the kids play two games per session and log some solid skill-building time too.
- Players are taught proper techniques and every child gets personal attention.

It’s all non-competitive and all about encouragement, self-confidence and building a base.

When kids are able to play a sport this way, building their skills and learning how to be a strong link for a team, the benefits are overwhelming.

For the players, that sense of accomplishment and friendships built through working together not only helps them grow as a player, they often play for a much longer time frame.

For coaches, they also build their skills, finding confidence in teaching kids how to play the sport without necessarily knowing it inside and out. The CVBA gives coaches everything they need - right down to techniques, training and other tools - to make sure they can be the best and progress with their teams.

At the end when a player has earned that coveted red hat, he or she is a baseball player - ready to hit the ball park with a solid skill set and a love for a game that was fun, exciting and able to keep their short attention span plugged in long enough to allow them to gain the fundamentals that make baseball an unbeatable game.

No nose picking involved.

As I always say “everyday is a great day for baseball”!

NEW PITCH COUNT RULES

BC MINOR HAS ADOPTED NEW PITCH COUNT RULES FOR THE 2009 SEASON.

RULE 23.01

DIVISION SPRING SEASON SUMMER SEASON

MOSQUITO 1-20 PITCHES = NO REST 1-30 PITCHES = NO REST

21-30 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST 31-40 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST

31-45 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST 41-55 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST

46-55 PITCHES = 4 NIGHTS REST 56-65 PITCHES = 4 NIGHTS REST

56-70 PITCHES = 5 NIGHTS REST 66-80 PITCHES = 5 NIGHTS REST

70 PITCHES MAX IN A WEEK 95 PITCHES MAX IN A WEEK

PEE WEE A 1-45 PITCHES = NO REST 1-55 PITCHES = NO REST

46-65 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST 56-80 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST

66-85 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST 81-95 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST

PEE WEE AA 1-35 PITCHES = NO REST 1-45 PITCHES = NO REST

& AAA 36-55 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST 46-65 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST

56-75 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST 66-85 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST

BANTAM 1-35 PITCHES = NO REST 1-45 PITCHES = NO REST

36-65 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST 46-75 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST

66-85 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST 76-95 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST

MIDGET 1-46 PITCHES = NO REST 1-50 PITCHES = NO REST

46-65 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST 51-75 PITCHES = 2 NIGHTS REST

66-100 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST 76-115 PITCHES = 3 NIGHTS REST

YES WE KNOW PEE WEE A CAN THROW MORE PITCHES THAN AA/AAA AND NEEDS LESS REST THAN MIDGET (55/50) THAT IS THE WAY BC MINOR WANTS IT

PITCHES IN WARM-UP, RULED A BALK OR NO PITCH WILL NOT BE COUNTED AS PITCHES. A PITCHER IS ALLOWED TO EXCEED THE DAILY PITCHING LIMIT TO FINISH OFF THE CURRENT BATTER. A PITCHER MAY NOT PITCH ON 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS EXCEPT DURING BCMBA SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS OR PROVINCIALS.

IF A PITCHER PITCHES EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM PITCHES REQUIRED FOR REST DURING THAT DAY, THEN HE/SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO CATCH DURING THAT SAME DAY.

GREEN HAS WRIST SURGERY

01/31/09 7:44 PM EST

Third baseman forced to wear a cast for four weeks

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers prospect Taylor Green could miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery this week for a fractured left wrist. Green, 22 a third baseman, underwent a procedure in Milwaukee on Wednesday to repair a compression fracture in his left wrist, five months after he was originally hit by a pitch while playing at Class A Brevard County. The Brewers' official word was that Green, who was the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2007, would be back in playing shape by May 1.

His representative is hoping for a speedy recovery. Florida-based agent Joshua Kusnick referred to the team's timetable as "ultra-conservative." "It's my hope that he'll be ready for April," Kusnick said. "Remember that this kid is a hockey player, and he's tough. It wouldn't surprise me if he's ready to go before May 1." Green's wrist will be in a cast for the next four weeks, Kusnick said.

Green originally suffered the injury in August, but tests originally showed the injury should heal with rest, and he recovered enough to play in the Arizona Fall League. Pain in his wrist persisted, and Green's AFL stint ended with a thud when he was struck by a batted ball and suffered a broken nose. Subsequent tests revealed the compression fracture in his wrist, Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.
"Think of it like a dent in a car," Ash wrote in an e-mail. A very valuable car. The Brewers selected Green, a native of British Columbia, in the 25th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft and he had a breakout season in 2007, batting .327 with 14 home runs and 86 RBIs in 111 games at Class A West Virginia while earning the Brewers' Robin Yount Award, given to the organization's Minor League player of the year.
In 2008 at Brevard County, Green hit .289 with 15 homers, 73 RBIs and a .382 on-base percentage. He played amid uncertainty about his future after the Brewers traded for Indians ace CC Sabathia, because Green emerged early as the possible "player to be named" in that deal. By October, it emerged that Cleveland had the choice between Green and outfielder Michael Brantley; the Indians chose Brantley.
Assuming he recovers as expected, Green almost certainly will play for Double-A Huntsville in the coming season.

OUR SPONSORS

Thank-you for all your support for the 2009 Season!

Re/Max Realty	Lube-X	Western One	Drewry Electric
Comox Valley Dodge	Slegg Lumber	Piercy's Funeral Home	CV Echo
Ambassador Shuttle	Anco Motel	Engrave It	Pateman & Company
TC Valley Collision	R Williams Realtor	Ocean Estates Dev	Happy's Source for Sports
Brazen HiTec	Cumberland Dist CU	Sunlife	Investor's Group
CV Record	Budget Blinds	Canada Safeway	Deluca Veale Inv Grp
Dairy Queen	Peak Drilling	Thrifty Foods	Courtenay Mazda

THE OPERATION OF THE COMOX VALLEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BC LOTTERY CORPORATION THROUGH LOCAL BINGO PROCEEDS