Posts by Michael DeSanto

Missed out on tournament apparel, or couldn’t find the size you were looking for? Our Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament online store is now open.

Whether we sold out of your preferred size or you simply want another chance to order, the online store offers tournament apparel in a variety of styles and sizes so you can show your tournament pride long after the final game.

The online store will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, so don’t miss your chance to order.

Thank you for supporting OYO and the Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament!

Bill Sturm family representatives who visited us at OYO during the tournament.

The 29th Annual Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament welcomed 64 baseball and softball teams to OYO for a weekend of competition, sportsmanship, and community in late June.

Throughout the tournament weekend, the weather created challenges throughout the weekend, including rain that canceled games on June 26 and heavy storms the following evening that required modifications to the one-day elimination round schedule on June 28. Nonetheless, coaches, players, families, volunteers and tournament staff worked together to help complete the event. We are grateful to everyone who showed patience, flexibility and a willingness to lend a hand, especially those who assisted with field preparation on Sunday morning.

Founded in 1996, the Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament honors one of OYO’s founders, Bill Sturm, who believed every child should have the opportunity to play baseball or softball regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. His commitment to serving young athletes continues to inspire OYO nearly 30 years later.

This year’s tournament has generated approximately $3,500 to support OYO’s scholarship program, which helps more than 75 children participate in baseball and softball each year.

Thank you to all the dedicated and resilient players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, sponsors and families for helping make another successful Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament possible. Your support ensures Bill Sturm’s legacy continues to create opportunities for young athletes both on and off the field.

Thanks for your interest in OYO and creating a fun and memorable experience for all of OYO’s ballplayers and families!

Support OYO and hundreds of ballplayers this fall with your sponsorship — and get some timely marketing benefits, too!

We’re looking forward to an exciting Fall Ball season. As with each season, we’re also in need of growing our support from the business community to ensure all our teams are supported by a team sponsor.

For those parents and/or businesses who have helped sponsor a team, we appreciate your support, which helps keep our registration fees flat year over year despite rising costs. With Fall Ball registration expanding quickly each and every day, we’re expecting more growth in what is already the largest Fall Ball program in Central Indiana.

As we prepare for the 2026 Fall Ball season, we are seeking your support. If you’re interested or know of a business that wants to support OYO, let us know today. What’s more, we also can guarantee your sponsorship will be tied to your ballplayer of choice, if relevant and received by July 20.

Our Fall Ball sponsorship program begins at $200/team.  Visit our sponsorship page to learn more email the OYO Ways and Means Committee.

We appreciate your consideration and support in OYO!

Being a head coach at OYO is one of the most rewarding and memorable volunteer opportunities we offer!

OYO encourages you to help make our 19th annual Fall Ball season a success by sharing your passion for helping our ballplayers enjoy learning the fundamentals and  playing the game. We have the tools and resources available to help you maximize player instruction, development and opportunities.​

Regardless of past coaching assignments at OYO, if you’re interested in coaching a youth rec league baseball or softball team this fall, please complete our online coach’s application. The application requires less than five minutes to complete.

Only head coach applicants need to submit an application – and we ask you to register soon! Thanks for making a difference in our ballplayers’ lives.

If you have any questions about coaching, please contact one of our program leaders, including:

• BASEBALL | Aaron Campbell
• SOFTBALL | Mario Covarrubias

Thanks again for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball!

Softball Camp Cathedral 2026 Flyer

Cathedral’s 2026 Regional Champions Softball Program is hosting their annual Softball Camp July 6-9 from 9-11 a.m. at Brunette Park. This camp is open to children entering grades 4-8. The cost of the camp is $90. However, OYO athletes can use the code oyo26 to receive a $20 discount when registering for this softball camp!

The Cathedral Softball Camp is designed to teach each girl the fundamentals that will help her be a successful softball player. These fundamentals will include hitting and fielding. Also, there will be a section of the camp dedicated to those girls who want to learn more about pitching and catching.

This camp is held at our Brunette Park Athletic Facility, located at 9802 Little League Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235.  The facility lays just south of the intersection of 46th Street and Mitthoeffer Road.

Come out and learn from this championship-caliber coaching staff and players!

REGISTER TODAY!

Make a difference at OYO by sharing your time and talents with all 1300 families and 2000 players, who call OYO home for their baseball and softball experience every spring, summer and fall!
 

Even though, we’re not even halfway through the calendar year and the Spring Season is not yet complete, it’s never too early to look ahead. We’re less than 90 days away from our 2026 Elections at OYO — and the task is just as daunting as ever when you consider the board involves more than 60 volunteers. So, we are preparing for the upcoming elections in September.
 
Want to get involved now? There are many known opportunities!

Simply send an email to learn more.

Now back to recruiting for the 2026 OYO Board Term!

So, more than ever, we’re seeking volunteers to eventually join OYO’s 50-position, 60-member Board of Directors — making it one of the largest youth sports all-volunteer board of directors in Central Indiana. If you enjoy giving back to the community and teaming up with friends from throughout OYO to create memorable experiences, then the 2027 OYO Board of Directors will be the place to be.
 

What’s the reward of being an OYO Board Member?

Being a board member is an honor and a privilege at OYO. We are fortunate to have a very diverse board. We have board members who have been involved for nearly 25 years and some as recent as last fall. We have board member representation from baseball and softball. We have some many from the rec league and some from the travel program, too. We have a nice balance between moms and dads, aunts and uncles and we also have a blend of those with children participating in the league and those who don’t and just enjoy giving back to a program that supported their family over the years.
 

So, why not you?

Dating back to our records from as early as 2002, more than 325 individuals have volunteered their time and talents as board members to help ensure our ballplayers and families could truly enjoy their OYO experience each season. These are not just board colleagues, but friends outside of OYO, too. Being a board member is fun and rewarding, too. Each board member finds great satisfaction in rolling up their sleeves and jumping in the trenches to work with fellow board members who work tirelessly for the children and families of OYO. More importantly, we are just everyday moms and dads — like you — who have a ballplayer or two playing at OYO.
 

So, why not now?

Just simply email us to express your interest in learning more about joining the OYO Board of Directors. Then, we’ll work with you to pair you with the role or need that best fits your interests. The chart below highlights the overall composition of the new board of directors organizational structure.
 

Elections for the 2027 OYO Board of Directors is Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Jenn Park.

Thank you for your continued support and choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball. Now, we hope you will answer this call and make OYO the beneficiary of your servant leadership efforts in 2027. Rest assured, more than 2000 ballplayers from 1400 families will greatly appreciate the difference you make.
 
Come join the OYO Board!

OYO is excited to share another opportunity for your softball player to improve their skills. For softball players ages 7-14 living in the MSDLT school district, this camp is just the place to be in mid-June. Facilitated by the Lawrence North High School softball coaching staff and players, we encourage all eligible OYO ballplayers, regardless of their experience, to participate in this exclusive camp to discover new offensive and defensive fundamentals.

EVENT | 2026 Lawrence North Fundamental Softball Camp/Clinics

DATE  | June 15-17 (June 17 is for pitchers and catchers only)

TIME | 5-7 p.m.

LOCATION | Lawrence North Softball Fields

WHAT TO BRING | Cleats, glove, bat and helmet (and catchers should bring their own equipment, if available)

FEE | $50 per player payable to Lawrence North Softball (see flyer for details)

REGISTRATION | ASAP, but no later than June 15

DETAILS | Please reference the LN Softball Camp registration form and flyer for details.

QUESTIONS | Email Lawrence North Softball Head Coach Matt Marino at mmarino@proassurance.com

As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball  and softball!

OYO Coaches:

First and foremost to all our coaches and volunteers, thank you for all your time, effort and support this spring. We appreciate the difference you’ve been making with your teams and creating a memorable game day experience each and every time you’ve taken the field, when the weather has cooperated. Yet, time flies when we’re having fun…and now we’re heading into our final two weeks of the regular season for our younger divisions just as our older divisions are ramping up.
 
Below are eight important and timely reminders and responsibilities for all head coaches in every division this spring.
 
ALL COACHES IN ALL DIVISIONS (except Tee Ball) | Mandatory Pre-Tournament Coaches Meeting Is Tuesday, June 2 at 8:15 p.m.
Preferably your team’s head coach or, alternatively, a team representative must attend this important and required meeting. This meeting is set for TOMORROW (Tuesday, June 2) at 8:15 p.m. at OYO on Field 2. 
REMINDER | Your attendance helps you earn additional coach incentive dollars, and also keeps you eligible to coachin the rec league tournament!
 
ALL 12 & UNDER DIVISION COACHES | Player Evaluations Due by EOD on Tuesday, June 9
The online process of coaches completing the end-of-season player evaluations has been a constant at OYO since 2008. Please find attached a simple one-page PDF to complete your team’s player evaluations in LeagueApps by Tuesday, June 9. This should be completed by Tee Ball coaches at this time as well.
REMINDER | Successful, timely completion of this evaluation helps you earn additional coach incentive dollars, and also keeps you eligible to coach in the rec league tournament!
 
ALL JBB & 14U/16U COACHES | Player Evaluations Due by EOD on Tuesday, June 23
Since the season is only beginning for these two older divisions and the tournament commences at the end of the month, the deadline for completing this is adjusted accordingly. Please find attached a simple one-page PDF to complete your team’s player evaluations in LeagueApps by Tuesday, June 23.
REMINDER | Successful, timely completion of this evaluation helps you earn additional coach incentive dollars, and also keeps you eligible to coachin the rec league tournament!
 
Review Our Rules Ahead of the Tournament
Some rules change slightly, many rules remain the same. A tournament-specific rules summary will be posted online on Tuesday, June 2. That said, you can review all of the OYO baseball rulesand OYO softball rulesfor what you need to know in terms of rules variations for the rec league tournament starting Friday, June 12 for our younger divisions.
 
Download Your Division’s Bracket Today
The tournament brackets are available onlinefor each division. Download the brackets today and map out your team’s path through the tourney.
 
The Code of Conduct and The OYO Way Matters Now More Than Ever
As our weeks together wind down, we want all our families to have a wonderful and enjoyable finish to the season. We encourage you to review The OYO Code of Conduct and The OYO Way— and then remind your players and parents of those principles, too.
 
Thank You!
As always, we truly appreciate all you do for OYO’s ballplayers and families! Without your incredible volunteerism and commitment, we would not be able to provide a memorable and quality experience for all our ballplayers and families. Thank you for making a difference, and thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball!
 
 Got Questions?
If you have any questions or need something more, less or different, please contact any of the following OYO Executive Board members (or your division commissioner who are cc’d on this email) for assistance:

• Aaron Campbell, Vice President of Baseball
• Mario Covarrubias, Vice President of Softball
• Anthony DeSanto, Vice President of Game Day Operations
• Michael DeSanto, President

 
With much appreciation and gratitude!
The OYO Board of Directors
www.oyoball.org

ACCESS REAL-TIME BRACKET UPDATES HERE! (REFLECTING UPDATES FOLLOWING CANCELLATIONS ON JUNE 17)

In preparation for the 2026 Spring Season Rec League Tournament, here are some important and timely reminders, updates and info to improve your experience throughout the tournament.

The Tournament | OYO operates a double-elimination tournament for all our divisions, except Tee Ball. The tournament runs from June 12-22 for our younger age groups. The older divisions (JBB and 14U/16U) begin 29. (Tee Ball should refer to its existing game schedule and participation trophies will be presented following the Future of OYO Parade which commences after all Tee Ball games are complete on June 20.)

The Brackets | The 2026 Spring Season Tournament brackets are available online, which we will do our best to keep up to date throughout the tournament.

Tournament-Specific Rules | Here’s a summary of all tournament-specific rules that are particularly relevant for the rec league tournament. For the full slate of OYO house rules, you also can access those here.

Home and Away | One of the most frequently asked questions is the Home and Away assignments. For all games, this is facilitated by the umpire during the pre-game coaches’ meeting with either a coin flip or ball roll.

Positive Experiences | We want to encourage all our families, coaches and players to end the season on a high note. Please remember, coaches coach, players play, umpires umpire and fans cheer. The more positive each facet of our league can be during the game, the more we can create a memorable experience for all our ballplayers. Please check out The OYO Way and the OYO Code of Conduct.

Ejections | While we hope we do not experience this on any field, for full transparency, any player, coach or fan who is ejected will be asked to leave the park and need to await reinstatement from the OYO Executive Board.

As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball. And, we wish all our teams “good luck” during the Spring Season Rec League Tournament!

Play Ball!