ROSTER CONSTRUCTION

ELIGIBILITY | For a ballplayer to be eligible for the 16U Red Storm team in 2025-26, the player must be age 16 or younger as of September 1, 2025. While players who are age 16 will be fully and fairly considered for the team's roster, if there is an opportunity to build a 15U team that can grow together then we will proceed with that approach.

CLASSIFICATION | Red Storm DeSanto is moving on up! After spending much of the 2024-25 season in the Top 10 in 14U-B power rankings, including eight Top 3 finishes resulting in four championship game appearances, the Oaklandon Red Storm team will open the 2025-26 season as an A team. Whether the team registers as a 15U or 16U team will be determined by the ages of the players selected.

FOCUS | When constructing the 2026 16U Full-Time Travel Red Storm team, we will be leveraging a deep, versatile core of existing roster players. The team is seeking a blend of experience, discipline, work ethic, sportsmanship, mental toughness and teamwork. Each and every player will demonstrate these traits on and off the field. Most notably, we are prioritizing additional players to support a top-notch defense-first mentality. Offensively, we will feature a lineup that blends power hitters with contact hitters while leveraging speed on the bases, and are seeking either dependable contact hitters or game-changing power hitters.

SELECTION PROCESS | Open and individual tryouts will be conducted through Thursday, July 17 (and possibly extended one week, based on demand). The team will then make selections for all available roster openings as early as Monday, July 21. Depending on the tryout participation level, the head coach may call each family individually or email all families regarding the results of the tryout. Any player offered will be expected to complete the Player Agreement (sample provided) and provide an initial payment of $325 within 48 hours of receiving the offer to join the 2025-26 FTT Red Storm DeSanto squad.

 

WHAT AGE GROUP IS YOUR BALLPLAYER ELIGIBLE FOR IN 2025-26?

With the new age eligibility changes rolled out by USSSA (that matches NSA and similar organizations), here's a simple grid to help you determine your player's age eligibility. Of course, players can play up, but they obviously can't play down.

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Create a collaborative approach to player development through a shared vision of engaging teammates, uplifting coaching and positive communication to and from all families, coaches and players. The T.O.R.C.H. guiding principles are:

• T | Team First | Place team before self and make the sacrifices needed while playing with our best effort to make one another better.
• O | 100% Effort | Practice, warm-ups, and games as well as school and life, where we are always accountable for our actions.
• R | Respect | Respect for each and every teammate, family, coach, fan, opponent and umpire we meet throughout the year.
• C | Coachability | Working toward precision in the fundamentals, rules, strategy and positivity.
• H | Have Fun | Enjoyment is paramount, and good sports make it fun for all!

 

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE SNAPSHOT | The 16U Oaklandon Red Storm squad is focused on bringing consistent coaching, a competitive experience, more focused development and higher-level of play to a team of travel ballplayers. The Red Storm squad will provide a balanced environment where team members can also pursue other sports and interests, especially in the offseason.

As for tournaments, the 16U Oaklandon Red Storm team will diversify its participation more in 2025-26 to include USSSA, USFA, NSA, PGF and College Showcase tournament opportunities. This will help not only provide a greater variety in exposure but also opponents.

The preliminary schedule for the season includes:

• July | Team Selected
• August to Early November | Weekly practice(s), seven tournaments (mostly one day tournaments)
• Mid-November to December | Minimal Activity, individual lessons encouraged
• January to March | Indoor workout sessions weekly (location tbd)
• January to March | Approx. three indoor tournaments (likely Columbus, Fort Wayne and/or Cincinnati)
• March to Late May | Team Break/All Players Represented on High School Rosters
• Late May to Late July | Outdoor practices weekly and approx. six tournaments
• Late July | Season concludes

More details about specific tournaments and schedules will be available in July.

 

EXPECTATIONS

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND PLAYER ROTATIONS | The offseason workouts, endurance conditioning and early season practices will be fundamentals driven. We will adopt and teach singular approaches to key skills, such as hitting, fielding, throwing, baserunning and more. We will offer more flexibility with pitching to accommodate those who are working with pitching coaches to not impact that development or investment. During the Red Storm practices, we will ask all players to learn and become acclimated at a key position but also establish their versatility as a two-way player for both infield and outfield position depth. As we enter the tournament season, a more structured line-up will be used and tweaked only as needed. Player rotations will occur regularly in alliance games and scrimmages, yet on a more limited scale during tournaments.

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS | The 16U Oaklandon Red Storm believes consistent participation in practices and games is integral to the development of our softball players, a collaborative and supportive culture and the overall experience of our team and program. We also believe participation in other sports positively contributes to the long-term development of our players. So this is a continuous balancing and juggling act.

Please understand attendance is expected for all practices, games and tournaments. Yet, we respect and encourage multi-sport athletes where the players are continuing to remain active and improve physically through other sport activities. So, flexibility will be granted where needed so long as players demonstrate maximum effort to be present for as much of the team's practices and games as possible.

We also acknowledge 100% attendance at all Red Storm events is nearly possible for this diversely talented and engaged group of lady ballplayers over the course of the season. So, the expectation is players will make every effort to honor their commitment to their team within reason. However, missed practices and games will be taken into consideration in each and every line-up strategy. And it is important to note, the team's head coach does not traditionally alter batting line-ups once a tournament begins in order to keep continuity and set consistent expectations for each game within the tournament.

Legitimate absences include illness, injury, school-sanctioned sporting events, participation in mandatory school and religious activities . Players with an ongoing commitment outside of softball that may affect their attendance (particularly another sport) should consult with the head coach and be cognizant numerous conflicts could impact offensive and defensive assignments/playing time.

 

TEAM FINANCIALS

TEAM EXPENSES | This year, the team fee will not be inclusive of uniform, bat bag or helmet purchases for each player. These will be additional itemized expenses for each player based on their needs, as new players may need to purchase the complete package and any returning player may only need select items. So, a full breakdown of team and a la carte expenses are broken down below.

ALL PLAYERS EXPENSE	DETAILS	COST
Fall Tourneys (x7)	$500 each	$3,500
Fall Tourneys Gate Fees (x2)	$250 each	$ 500
Winter Tourneys (x3)	$600 each	$1,800
Spring Tournaments (x6)	$500 each	$3,000
OYO Administrative Fee	Annual Payment	$ 900
Umpire Fees (10 games)	$30 per game	$ 300
Equipment & Training Aids	Team Needs	$ 500
Softballs (2 doz)	$60/dozen	$ 120
Team Banner	1 Banner	$ 100
Team Photography | Professional Shoot	November	$ 250
Team Photography	Multiple Games	$ 250
Misc/Social	$80/player	$ 880
Registration Fees	Administrative	$ 420
Indoor Facility Rental	Plans TBA	$ 2,000
TOTAL		$14,520 $1,325/player

A LA CARTE EXPENSE	DETAILS	COST
Uniforms	Complete Set (Retuning players may be able to purchase individual items, as needed, in lieu of the complete set)	$425
Bat Bag	Custom Bag w/ Name, Number	$165
Helmet	Helmet with logo and number	$ 75
Belts	Red and Black options	$ 30
Socks	Red and Black options	$ 24
Misc. Supplies	Wristbands, Accessories	$ 50
TOTAL		$769

 

PLAYER FEES | A preliminary estimate for individual player fee responsibility is $1,325 before any deductions resulting from successful fundraising and sponsorship recruitment efforts.

If the fee remains at $1800, then each family will need to make an $325 initial payment (cash/check) within 48 hours of accepting the team offer to secure their roster spot. Then each family is responsible for making payments and/or raising funds adhering to the following progressive scale according to the dates listed:

• October 15, 2025 | $825 in fees/revenue (= $500 payment/sponsorship value)
• January 15, 2026 | $1325 in fees/revenue (= $500 payment/sponsorship value)

This will be managed by the team’s Financial Manager.

 

COACHING STAFF

ABOUT HEAD COACH | Michael DeSanto has been a mainstay on the travel circuit for baseball and softball for more than 15 years. As the team's head coach, Michael's primary focus will involve player development, practice plans, game day lineups, ongoing communication with all families and providing a safe and fun environment for our softball players. Also a member of the OYO Board of Directors, he volunteers his time to help support all facets of the league's recreational and travel programs. Michael has been coaching baseball and softball teams since 2001.

CONTACT INFORMATION | Michael DeSanto, the 16U FTT Red Storm head coach, can be contacted at mdesanto317@gmail.com.