Posts by Michael DeSanto
Share Your Feedback About Your Rec League and/or Travel Coach by July 1
OYO Fans:
Greetings! As our 2022 Spring Season winds down and we look ahead to future fall and spring seasons, we welcome additional feedback from all our families. For those who have completed the OYO Spring Season survey, thank you! We will be reviewing those results in the weeks ahead.
Now, we are also diving deeper in understanding how our coaches served you and your ballplayer this spring. As we continue to review and debrief on the season, our goal and commitment is to continue identifying, recruiting and retaining our top coaches. Your feedback will help us immeasurably in our pursuit to understand the attributes and qualities of a fun, encouraging and developmentally-sound head coach for our teams at every level. We have provided the opportunity for you to evaluate your ballplayer’s coach in the rec league, in the rec travel program and/or the full-time travel program. Please scroll accordingly to find your team’s coach in the drop-down menu.
Click the link below to access the survey and assess your ballplayer’s coach(es) this spring. The survey will remain open through Friday, July 1, 2022.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/
We appreciate you commiting the time to share your input and feedback. Thank you for your continued support — and, as always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball.
With much appreciation and gratitude,
The OYO Board of Directors
Fall Ball Registration Opens June 25
With the 2022 Spring Season coming to a close for most age groups this past weekend and others wrapping up their seasons in the next two weeks, families are asking “What’s Next?” for their ballplayers. And, our answer is simple “Fall Ball”!
On June 25, registration for our widely popular Fall Ball program will open. And, we encourage all our families to register ASAP! Last year, eight of our ten divisions were “sold out” before practices began and wait lists were formed. Due to the compressed format of the schedule, we can only accommodate a finite set of teams in each division. In 2022, the number of players we can accept in each division breaks down as follows:
- Tee Ball | 80 players
- Junior Rookie | 66 players
- Rookie | 96 players
- Minor | 72 players
- Super Major | 72 players
- Junior Baseball | 96 players
- 08U Softball | 60 players
- 10U Softball | 48 players
- 12U Softball | 48 players
- 14U/16U Softball | 48 players
Visit our website for more details about the 2022 OYO Fall Ball.
Once again, check back on June 25 to register your ballplayer!
Thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball! We look forward to seeing you soon!
14U/16U Softball and Junior Baseball Tournament Brackets Released
14u/16U Softball and Junior Baseball Fans:
As your 2022 Spring Seasons begin to wind down, here are three important reminders, updates and info to improve your ballplayer’s experience
The Tournament | OYO operates a double-elimination tournament for all our divisions, except Tee Ball. The tournament for our two older divisions begins as early as Thursday, June 23 and runs as late as Friday, July 1, depending on the division. Please note, depending on weather-related cancellations and delays due to weather, the tournament may need to extend beyond the posted dates.
The Brackets | Please access your division’s tournament bracket below (see links for your division’s bracket). If you have any questions about your bracket, please contact your coach or division commissioner.
Tournament-Specific Rules | Take the time to review the baseball rules and softball rules online to be in the know about any tournament-specific differences.
As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball.
Play Ball!
The OYO Board of Directors
The Latest Spring Season Tournament Brackets & Rules
NOTE: The links to each individual division bracket below are updated with any changes as a result of games needing to be rescheduled as a result of the postponements experienced on Sunday, June 12 and Monday, June 13.
OYO Fans:
Now, with the 2022 Spring Season Rec League Tournament in full swing, here are three important reminders, updates and info to improve your experience this spring.
The Tournament | OYO operates a double-elimination tournament for all our divisions, except Tee Ball. The tournament begins on Monday, June 6 and runs through Thursday, June 16. Depending on cancellations and delays due to weather, the tournament may need to extend beyond June 16.
The Brackets | We’ll provide updates to the brackets nightly by 11:59 p.m. All brackets are being offered as a shared Google document for viewing purposes only. All updates will be completed by the OYO Scheduling Committee. Please access your division’s tournament bracket below (see links for your division’s bracket). If you have any questions about your bracket, please contact your coach or division commissioner.
Tournament-Specific Rules | Here’s a summary of all the rules that are particularly relevant for the rec league tournament.
As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball.
Play Ball!
The OYO Board of Directors
Missing an Item? Check OYO’s Lost and Found!
Did your ballplayer leave behind a glove or bat? Have you misplaced sunglasses or a chair? Are you searching for a sweatshirt or water bottle? Then there’s a good chance OYO has saved it and added it to our growing stash of Lost and Found items.
Take the time to visit the Lost and Found before the season ends. You can find these items inside the side door of the three-garage barn between Fields 2 and 3. All items are stored in or around the green bin.
Once the season concludes in late June, any unclaimed items will be donated.
Your Opinion Counts! Complete the Annual OYO Survey by June 17
The Oaklandon Youth Organization is committed to providing you a quality baseball and softball experience for your ballplayer and family. To better deliver the value and service you expect, we want to understand your overall experience and identify areas you recognize needing improvement.
We have experienced more growth, new programs and more opportunities for ballplayers and families. So, now, we want to know how we’re doing and meeting your expectations. And, we welcome your feedback from all OYO rec league families who participated in our 2022 Spring Season. This survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Check your email for an invitation from OYO via SurveyMonkey. As with any mass email strategies of this kind, please check your spam filter for an email invitation if you do not see. And be sure to complete the survey by EOD on Friday, June 17.
We appreciate your consideration for sharing your input and recommendations. Thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball!
It’s OYO Day at Victory Field on Sunday, June 12
Come one, come all! It’s OYO Day at Victory Field! All our ballplayers can participate in an on-field parade before the game. Cheer on the Indians all-game long while interacting with Rowdie, too. And, our Knot Hole Club members can enjoy running the bases following the game. And, don’t forget, there are lots of fun entertainment and giveaways at Victory Field during the games, too!
We are thrilled to have the Indianapolis Indians’ organization as one of our league sponsors this year, and this is one more benefit from this amazing partnership we share.
The OYO Day at Victory Field is set for Sunday, June 12. Our hometown Indians will take on the Columbus Clippers on Sunday, June 12 at 1:35 p.m. However, make plans to arrive early enough to enjoy some of the pre-game activities and get player autographs, too!
OYO’s ballplayers are encouraged to wear their rec league jerseys and can participate in an on-field parade pre-game. To do so, our ballplayers need will need to lineup behind Section 117 at 12:50 p.m. as the parade will start promptly at 1pm.
Reminder, Knot Hole Club members get to attend the game for free! And family members can purchase discounted tickets here.
Let’s make this a great showing for OYO at Victory Field! Thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball!
Annual David Manlove Memorial Tournament Set for Sunday, June 5
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, 49 baseball and softball teams from around Central Indiana will gather at Veterans Memorial Park for our 21st Annual David Manlove Invitational Memorial Tournament. This tournmanent is near and dear to OYO for many reasons.
David was one of OYO’s own who lost his battle with addiction. David’s life continues to touch others through the efforts of his parents and The 24 Group by providing education, awareness, and assistance to families of youth and young adults dealing with the disease of addiction. OYO is honored to continue to support this important cause by donating all the proceeds from this tournament to The 24 Group.
The David Manlove Memorial Tournament is nearly a completely all-volunteer operation. All net proceeds from this tournament are donated to The 24 Group, which was founded by David’s parents — Kim and Marissa Manlove — to help families who are dealing with alcohol and substance abuse, especially among teenagers. While we host this tournament to raise money in David’s name, the more important reason is to spread the word about substance abuse so our families understand addiction is a disease that no one is immune to it regardless of geographical location or financial means. Over the years, the OYO Family has learned nothing helps them heal more than seeing and talking to the kids at the ballpark. Learn more about the annual David Manlove Memorial Tournament today.
On behalf of OYO, we appreciate the tremendous support from youth baseball and softball programs from all across Central Indiana.
And, you can learn more about the mission of The 24 Group, online.
2022 Spring Season Tournament Brackets Now Available
OYO Fans:
As we approach the final week of the regular season, we are most impressed by the development of all our ballplayers, teams and coaches. Everyone has worked so hard this year to make this season fun and memorable, but also one where we introduced a new skills development framework and put it to use.
All these efforts are designed to help teams progress and put themselves in position to be competitive during an exciting and enjoyable Rec League Tournament.
The Tournament | OYO operates a double-elimination tournament for all our divisions, except Tee Ball. The tournament begins on Monday, June 6 and runs throught Thursday, June 16. Depending on cancellations and delays due to weather, the tournament may need to extend beyond June 16. Please note, it is possible on June 11-12, it is possible for a team to have to play two games depending on the outcome of their games and games are scheduled for Sunday, June 12 in select divisions.
The Brackets | At OYO, we are a developmental league first during the regular season. We do not keep standing, and all first round games/tournament brackets were completed through a computerized random draw in LeagueApps. Please access your division’s tournament bracket below (see links for your division’s bracket). If you have any questions about your bracket, please contact your coach or division commissioner. You also may email OYO for any clarification, as needed.
We wish all teams a memorable ending to their regular season between now and June 4 and a great start to their tournament experience on Monday, June 6.
As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball.
Play Ball!
The OYO Board of Directors
OYO Photo Night Set for Friday, May 13
Ready, Set, Smile! Team and individual pictures for our 2021 Spring Season will continue a new format involving a new look and feel rolled out in 2021. The second-annual OYO Photo Night is set for Friday, May 13, 2022, so mark your calendars! Order your photos today!
OYO Photo Night allows us to better manage our team and individual photos while creating a better overall experience for all our ballplayers and families. In partnering with H&R Photography, we have devised a win-win formula with this dedicated Team Photo Night for all our teams in our younger divisions.
This night will involve both team photos and player individual photos. We’ve designed the Photo Night experience so teams will be scheduled on ballfields this year between 5:30-7:45 p.m. The schedule can be accessed using the link below. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your time slot to keep us on schedule. With the help of OYO players and parents, coaches, and board, we continue to make picture day a smooth adventure for all.
Please note, no games are scheduled for Friday, May 13. (And, if needed, the rain date is set for Friday, May 20.)
Lastly, up until the Wednedsay, May 11, 2021, orders may be placed online. On behalf of H&R Photography, thank you for making our annual OYO Photo Night another successful experience. See you at the ballpark!
Ready, Set, Smile!
The OYO Board of Directors