TRYOUTS

PRE-TRYOUT SURVEY | All prospective players/families (including recent Red Storm players) must complete this pre-tryout survey before participating in a tryout.

TRYOUT SCHEDULE | Open tryouts will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on each of the following dates:

• Monday, July 6
• Tuesday, July 14
• Sunday, July 19
• Tuesday, July 21

TRYOUT LOCATION | All tryouts will take place at Veterans Memorial Park, the home of the Oaklandon Youth Organization. The address is 12150 East 62nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Actual field assignment is Field 6.

 

ROSTER CONSTRUCTION

ELIGIBILITY | For a ballplayer to be eligible for the 16U Red Storm team in 2026-27, the player must be age 16 or younger as of September 1, 2026.

CLASSIFICATION | Red Storm DeSanto will continue its journey as an A-level program in 2026-27! After spending all of the 2025-26 season in USSSA's Top 10 in 15U-A power rankings, including four Top 3 finishes and three championships, the Oaklandon Red Storm team will remain an A team in 2026-27.

FOCUS | When constructing the 2026-27 16U-A Full-Time Travel Red Storm team, we will blend a talented and dedicated core of existing roster players with newcomers who share the same values and commitment to development and growth. 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.

POSITION NEEDS | The team is seeking to add quality A-level talent representing the following specific positions:

• pitcher
• catcher
• infielder(s)
• outfielder(s)

SELECTION PROCESS | Open and individual tryouts will be conducted through Sunday, June 19 (and possibly extended one week, based on demand). The team will then make selections for all available roster openings as early as Monday, July 20. 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 from 2025-26 season provided) and provide an initial payment of $375 within 48 hours of receiving the offer to join the 2026-27 FTT Red Storm DeSanto squad.

NEW FOR 2026-27! COLLEGE ADVISOR AND CONNECTOR

As an added value to all ballplayers on the team, the 16U-A Oaklandon Red Storm will harness the expertise, experience and impact of a veteran Red Storm leader. Michael Springer will remain engaged with the team throughout the season to provide recommendations, leads and guidance for each and every Red Stormer who has college aspirations. Coach Springer has successfully helped multiple former Red Storm players receive college scholarships and play ball at the next level. His efforts will extend to occasionally serving as a "guest coach" during practices and advising the team on selecting the right type of showcase-related tournaments based on the team composition and goals.

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 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

OVERVIEW | 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 2026-27 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.

• FALL 2026 | The Fall 2026 schedule will include approximately 5-6 tournaments from August to early November and a combination of weeknight and weekend practices (when not participating in tournaments)
• WINTER 2027 | The Winter 2027 schedule will include approximately three tournaments from early January to late February as well as Sunday practices (when not participating in tournaments)
• SUMMER 2027 | Once the high school softball seasons conclude, the Summer 2026 schedule will include five tournaments from mid-June to latter part of July as well as 1-2 weeknight practices between the weekend tournaments

 

GAMECHANGER

Follow us on GameChanger for all the latest game times and locations. Keep up with the Red Storm because there's a Storm coming near you this season! Specific details for the 2026-27 GameChanger account are forthcoming.

 

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

MICHAEL DESANTO | Coaching baseball and softball teams since 2001, Michael DeSanto has been a mainstay on the travel circuit for baseball and softball for nearly 20 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, including serving eight years as President, he volunteers his time to help support all facets of the league's recreational and travel programs.

CONTACT INFO: Coach Michael DeSanto | mdesanto317@gmail.com | 317.345.9006

 

PLAYER EXPECTATIONS

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.

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.

 

TEAM FEES

PLAYER FEES | A preliminary estimate for individual player fee responsibility is $1,375 before any deductions resulting from successful fundraising and sponsorship recruitment efforts.

Each family will need to make an $375 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:

• July | $375 initial payment (cash/check)
• October | $500 in fees/sponsorship revenue
• January | $500 in fees/sponsorship revenue
• NOTE | Any surplus is dispersed evenly to each family at the end of the season to help offset team's out-of-town tournament expenses

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

TEAM EXPENSES | 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 (x6)	$700 each	$4,200
Fall Tourneys Gate Fees (x2)	$250 each	$ 500
Winter Tourneys (x3)	$700 each	$2,100
Spring Tournaments (x5)	$750 each	$3,750
OYO Administrative Fee	Annual Payment	$ 900
Umpire Fees (10 games)	$40 per game	$ 400
Equipment & Training Aids	Team Needs	$ 500
Softballs (2 doz)	$60/dozen	$ 120
Team Banner	1 Banner	$ 50
Team Photography | Professional Shoot	November	$ 250
Team Photography	Multiple Games	$ 250
Misc/Social	$80/player	$ 880
Registration Fees	Administrative	$ 420
Indoor Facility Rental	OYO Bullpen	$ 750
TOTAL		$15,070 $1,375/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