Posts by Michael DeSanto

Congratulations to all 203-24 OYO Board Members! On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the current OYO Board elected a new slate of board members to help continue serve the OYO families in 2024 and beyond. This unprecedented group of 50+ board volunteers will work tirelessly to uphold The OYO Way and continue to grow our program to serve more than 1600 ballplayers and 1000 families each year. These board members will assume their official roles on November 1, 2023. Don’t forget to thank an OYO Board Member today for their tireless and selfless efforts on behalf of all our OY) ballplayers and families.

General Board Member Responsibilities

All OYO Board members are expected to make a differnece by fulfilling some basic duties and responsibilities, including:

• serving 10-12 AOD shifts per year (six in spring, four in fall, one or two over summer)
• participating in park prep days and projects
• attending monthly board meetings, which are a mix of in-person and hybrid meetings (10 meetings per year)
• assisting with special ad hoc projects, as needed
• review our board member agreement and policies

All-Star/Rec Travel Tournament Chairperson

• Oversee all all-star travel baseball and softball tournament programs and activities
• Partner with Vice President of Travel Baseball, Travel Baseball Commissioners, Vice President of Travel Softball and Travel Softball Commissioners to maximize team recruitment for tournaments
• Manage all facets of the annual David Manlove Memorial Tournament (early June)
• Manage all facets of the annual Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament (July)
• Provide guidance for full-time travel program to help them coordinate and manage successful tournaments independently
• Responsibilities include overseeing (and not directly doing) with the help of other OYO Board Members to market the event, field inquiries from interested teams, collect registrations, ensure payments are made, finalize rules, develop schedules, select trophies, recruit umpires, communicate to participating teams and execute event

NOMINEE SECURED | All-Star/Rec Travel Baseball Commissioner

• Supports development of all rec travel teams for all eligible age groups
• Finalizes and circulates rec travel application form and orchestrates selection process for head coaches in conjunction with the VP of Travel Baseball and the OYO Executive Board
• Coordinates and facilitates coaches’ meeting for all rec travel coaches
• Oversees all coaches and their respective teams to ensure proper conduct
• Supports the Rec Travel Tournament Chairperson, as needed, with validation of team registrations and related assignments as issued by the Chair
• Conducts monthly reviews of each team’s financial ledger

NOMINEE SECURED | Grounds Co-Chairperson (1 more needed, 4 co-chairs already secured)

• Maintain fields for everyday use, including bunker-rake application as specified by Facilities and Grounds Manager
• Maintain grounds conditions, including fences, dugouts, etc.
• Support external services, including lawn care, grounds crews, etc., as requested by Facilities and Grounds Manager
• Manage Park Prep Days, including punch list development and supplies purchases
• Provide working equipment for fields, including chalkers and foul line sprayers

NOMINEE SECURED | Scheduling Co-Chairperson (1 more needed, 2 co-chairs already secured)

• Oversee and coordinate all league regular season and all tournament game schedules
• Responsible for the rescheduling of all make up games, where applicable
• Conduct blind tournament draws and produce tournament brackets for all league tournaments
• Collaborate with the Umpire Committee when scheduling games and tournaments to ensure proper umpire accommodations and staffing can be achieved
• Schedule teams for batting cage reservations upon request within 24 hours of receiving information
• Develop Advisor on Duty schedules for spring and fall seasons

NOMINEE SECURED | 08U Softball Commissioner

• Oversee all activities and planning for 08U Softball division
• Review rules in advance of season and make recommendations to board for possible changes
• Recruit coaches, as needed, based on monitoring of coach applications
• Develop player ranking report for each spring/fall season
• Attend/facilitate annual coaches meeting for spring/fall seasons and meet with division’s coaches
• Develop rosters and input teams into LeagueApps
• Communicate regularly with division’s coaches and, as needed, with entire division
• Coordinate all logistics (team assignments, coaching, etc.) for annual Spring Season all-star game

NOMINEE SECURED | 14U/16U Softball Commissioner

• Oversee all activities and planning for 14U | 16U Softball division
• Review rules in advance of season and make recommendations to board for possible changes
• Recruit coaches, as needed, based on monitoring of coach applications
• Attend/facilitate annual coaches meeting for spring/fall seasons and meet with division’s coaches
• Develop rosters and input teams into LeagueApps
• Communicate regularly with division’s coaches and, as needed, with entire division

NOMINEE SECURED | Junior Rookie Commissioner

• Oversee all activities and planning for Junior Rookie division
• Review rules in advance of season and make recommendations to board for possible changes
• Recruit coaches, as needed, based on monitoring of coach applications
• Develop player ranking report for each spring/fall season
• Attend/facilitate annual coaches meeting for spring/fall seasons and meet with division’s coaches
• Develop rosters and input teams into LeagueApps
• Communicate regularly with division’s coaches and, as needed, with entire division
• Coordinate all logistics (team assignments, coaching, etc.) for annual Spring Season all-star game

NOMINEE SECURED | Super Major Commissioner

• Oversee all activities and planning for Super Major division
• Review rules in advance of season and make recommendations to board for possible changes
• Recruit coaches, as needed, based on monitoring of coach applications
• Develop player ranking report for each spring/fall season
• Attend/facilitate annual coaches meeting for spring/fall seasons and meet with division’s coaches
• Develop rosters and input teams into LeagueApps
• Communicate regularly with division’s coaches and, as needed, with entire division
• Coordinate all logistics (team assignments, coaching, etc.) for annual Spring Season all-star game

NOMINEE SECURED | Special Programs Chairperson

• Oversee all festive aspects around special events and ad hoc projects sponsored by OYO
• Create an exciting and vibrant atmosphere for families for key player-friendly activities
• Collaborate with Administrative Chair on Opening Day Parade, Future of OYO Parade
• Collaborate with Executive Vice President, 2nd Vice President and Commissioners on Rec League all-star games for Spring Season
• Coordinate efforts involving the Indians Knot Hole Club memberships, used equipment sale and related events

NOMINEE SECURED | Training Chairperson

• Responsible for training and development of all players and coaches
• Maintain and update Skills Development Framework materials and resources
• Coordinate and staff onsite player development clinics with external instructors during the season
• Coordinate and staff coaches’ clinics before each spring and fall season
• Oversee and manage the Winter Workout program for baseball and softball participants

NOMINEES SECURED | Ways and Means Co-Chairperson

• Responsible for all fundraising, including sponsorship support for each spring and fall season
• Solicit corporate sponsorships for naming rights to select fields and structures around the park
• Solicit team sponsorships for each spring and fall rec league team
• Collect pledged funds and coordinate delivery to the Treasurer via check or online payment
• Maintain all accurate records, including fees paid, contact information and player request information
• Coordinate information for uniform printer by stated deadlines and for sign printer for display signs to be posted at Veterans Memorial Park

The term for the aforementioned positions begins in November and continues for one full year (November-October). Each role is essential to the operation of our league.

Fall Ball Opening Day is just around and the corner- and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! Come out and join us for our first annual Fall Ball Opening Day Jamboree featuring fun entertainment around the park. All festivities are set for Sunday, August 27, and the festivities include:

• Jam with non-stop music from our OYO DJ and get your selfies at our photobooth station!
• Play baseball toss and win prizes for top scores!
• Commemorate the event with custom t-shirts and apparel with our onsite vendor and sponsor!
• Update your baseball/softball gear with our used equipment sale with process benefiting OYO scholarship fund!
• And, wait there’s more! Get your caricature and capture this moment forever!

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!

Come to the park early, stay late after your game, but whatever you do, be there August 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.!! Play ball!

Date: Sunday August 27,  2023

Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: OYO | Veterans Memorial Park

OYO Fans:

The 2023 Fall Ball season is officially underway. Thanks to the remarkable work of our volunteer baseball and softball commissioners, we have secured coaches for most of our teams and we have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure fair and balanced rosters, grant requests where feasible and finalize practice schedules for all teams.

FIRST, WE NEED FIVE MORE COACHES IN ROOKIE, SUPER MAJOR

• Rookie | 2 openings | Cardinals, White Sox
• Super Major | 3 openings | Angels, Cubs, Indians

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS, PRACTICE SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE
All team assignments have now been published. Simply login to your dashboard via our website powered by LeagueApps. When you check out your assignments online, you will find your ballplayer’s team name, coach information and practice times. Game schedules are forthcoming in early April.

Also, if you believe you are in the right place but the roster or practice schedules are not showing, then we likely overlooked one of the publish checkboxes. Simply email us and we’ll turn it on for you!

COACHES WILL TOUCH BASE SOON
By Wednesday evening, all head coaches will communicate directly with their teams to make preliminary introductions and set expectations. In the event you don’t hear from your coach by Wednesday, then you’re encouraged to email your coach directly with any questions you may have about the upcoming season! You can find the coach’s contact info via LeagueApps on your roster.

PRACTICES START SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
All practice times for Sunday practices and weeknights, can be found in LeagueApps, too. Unless the OYO Board makes a leaguewide announcement, all practice decisions are left to the discretion of the the team’s coach when the weather is in doubt.

The OYO Weatherline by Champion’s Edge (317.767.5170) is reserved exclusively for game day communications so please check with your coach about practices this fall. Please note, Opening Day for games is Sunday, August 27 (and weeknight practices continue all season long even after games begin).

YOU KNOW YOUR TEAM…NOW GO TELL YOUR FRIENDS THERE’S STILL ROOM THIS SPRING!
Most teams still have 1-2 openings left for the 2023 Fall Ball season. We have approximately 80 roster openings remaining across all 10 divisions, and we will soon begin wait lists in many divisions (as we have done for the past three seasons). Spread the word about the remaining 2023 Fall Ball openings to your friends and encourage them to come and play at OYO (but please note we cannot guarantee same-team placement). Don’t let them miss out on the fun this season!

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING OYO AS YOUR PLACE FOR BASEBALL & SOFTBALL
Once again, we truly appreciate your understanding and patience as we completed the team assignment process this fall. Most importantly, thank you for choosing OYO as your family’s place for baseball and softball. We appreciate your continued interest and support!

Play Ball!
OYO Board of Directors
www.oyoball.org

Come take the field at OYO this fall — and encourage your friends to do the same! We have room for more ballplayers! So, be sure you are registered and then tell your friends there’s still space for them for the 2023 Fall Ball Season.

All future registrations will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Once we reach maximum capacity, LeagueApps will automate a waiting list process (where players can register and be added to the wait list at no charge). That said, based on experience, we know we will receive a flurry of registrations as we approach the practice season.

REGISTER TODAY! RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS TODAY, TOO!
Don’t delay or you may find your ballplayer left off the ballfield. Let your friends, classmates, neighbors, and relatives know they can still join us this fall. Review our online overview for the 2023 Fall Ball! Once gone, there will be no additional openings available, just wait lists unfortunately. Act now!

With registrations outpacing last year’s trends by 10%, we are quickly approaching maximum capacity and the openings remaining are all we have left to offer to interested families. So, act now!

Don’t Delay! Register Today!

OYO Board Members recently conducted our exclusive Coaches’ Meeting and Orientation for our Fall Ball 2023 softball and baseball coaches. This meeting helps ensure all our coach volunteers are aligned in how they will leverage our organization’s resources and collaborate frequently to maximize the development of all our ballplayers across the league. What’s more, they are prepared to demonstrate great teamwork in providing our young softball and baseball players a memorable on-field experience this spring.

We hope the information attached provides our coaches with the details needed to execute a quality experience for all our ballplayers and their families. If you have any questions about the upcoming season, please contact an OYO Board Member.

As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball this fall. And, we truly appreciate you sharing your talents and volunteering to be a coach this season. Play Ball!

Link to Coaches Meeting Orientation:

• Coaches’ Overview (presentation)
• Key Fall Ball Takeaways Summary (for coaches)
• Must-See Video for Proper Field Maintenance Techniques

Links to Helpful BASEBALL Coaching Resources:

• Rules
• Player Development Progression Framework | Baseball

Links to Helpful SOFTBALL Coaching Resources:

• Rules
• Player Development Progression Framework | Softball

Come take the field at OYO this fall — and encourage your friends to do the same! We have room for more ballplayers! So, be sure you are registered and then tell your friends there’s still space for them for the 2023 Fall Ball Season.

All future registrations will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Once we reach maximum capacity, LeagueApps will automate a waiting list process (where players can register and be added to the wait list at no charge). That said, based on experience, we know we will receive a flurry of registrations as we approach the practice season. Don’t delay or you may find your ballplayer left off the ballfield this fall.

REGISTER TODAY! RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS TODAY, TOO!
Let your friends, classmates, neighbors, and relatives know they can still join us for the 16th Annual Fall Ball season. Review our online overview for the 2023 Fall Ball! Once gone, there will be no additional openings available, just wait lists unfortunately. Act now!

As registrations continue to flow in daily, we now have only one opening per team on most teams in each of our divisions. With registrations exceeding last year’s totals with still a month before Opening Day, we are quickly approaching maximum capacity and the openings remaining are all we have left to offer to interested families. So, act now!

Don’t Delay! Register Today!

Since the start of 2023, all of us at OYO have been humbled by the amazing and generous support of the local business community. Dozens of businesses and organizations have graciously stepped forward to make a difference. We truly value the investment businesses are making in OYO so, in turn, we can, invest in our ballplayers and fields, too. However, there’s still a lot more work to be done to ensure every team has a team sponsor (starting at $200 per team in Fall Ball) and every park amenity available has a sponsor (ranging $750-2000 per offering).

When a business sponsors a team or a field or batting cages or so on, they are providing critical funds to help maintain and upgrade the park, improve our program and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our ballplayers and families. In exchange for their support, the supporting company will receive an exclusive sponsorship in accordance with the package selected and marketing around Veterans Memorial Park all year long.

As of July 18, we still have the following opportunities for naming rights on various park amenties for one year:

• MVP | Field 4 | $1500
• MVP | Field 5 | $1500
• MVP | Field 7 | $1500
• MVP | Field 8 | $1500
• MVP | Field 10 | $1500
• MVP | Field 11 | $1500
• On Deck | Batting Cages (all three cages) | $1950
• Clubhouse | Walkway Street Signs (one path left) | $1250
• Bullpen | Bullpen Signage | $1250

In addition, we have team sponsorships available, including:

• Teamwork | Fall Ball Season | $200 | 5 team opportunities available

Can we count on your company’s support in 2023? Or can you make a referral to a company that can support OYO in 2023? Help us continue as one of the largest and most impactful non-profit organizations dedicated to local youth baseball and softball in Central Indiana. Learn more about the OYO Sponsorship program online. And, if you have any questions or need more information, please email the OYO Sponsorship Committee.

Thank you for your interest, consideration and referrals! We look forward to an amazing season!

The 2023 OYO Board of Directors have rolled up the sleeves and jumped in the trenches to already begin making preparations for next year’s seasons serving all our rec league, rec travel and full-time travel ballplayers. To ensure we continue our success into our 49th Spring Season and 16th Fall Ball Season, we are seeking a few more volunteers!

The OYO Board of Directors is a group of remarkable and incredible people who genuinely enjoy serving the league’s ballplayers and families by sharing their time and talents. If you have ever thought about serving on the OYO Board, we would like to explore these opportunities with you (or others where we can consider co-chair capacities). Your inaugural term would begin after being elected at the next OYO board meeting and continue through October 2024. Our current needs are listed here and detailed “job derscriptions” appear further below on this page:

• Scheduling Co-Chairperson
• Training Chairperson
• Rec Travel Tournament Chairperson

If you enjoy giving back to the community and teaming up with friends from throughout OYO to create memorable experiences, then the 2023 OYO Board of Directors is the place to be. What’s more, the OYO Board just happens to be one of the largest youth sports all-volunteer board of directors in Central Indiana.

Just simply email us to let us know you’re interested in joining the 2023 OYO Board of Directors. Then, based on your interest, experience and background, we’ll work with you to pair you with the role or need that best fits your interests.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL OYO BOARD MEMBERS

• Attend and participate in monthly board meetings (one per quarter in person, remainder virtual)
• Serve Advisor on Duty (AOD) shifts during spring and fall seasons (approx. five in spring, three in fall)
• Represent the very best of OYO at all times (including social media engagement, sportsmanship)
• Fulfill duties of chairperson role and keep appropriate executive board members informed

At this time, the following two board positions are available (and duties listed under each):

SCHEDULING CO-CHAIRPERSON 

• Oversee and coordinate all league regular season and all tournament game schedules
• Responsible for the rescheduling of all make up games, where applicable
• Conduct blind tournament draws and produce tournament brackets for all league tournaments
• Collaborate with the Umpire Committee when scheduling games and tournaments to ensure proper umpire accommodations and staffing can be achieved
• Schedule teams for batting cage reservations upon request within 24 hours of receiving information

TRAINING CHAIRPERSON 

• Responsible for training and development of all players and coaches
• Maintain and update Skills Development Framework materials and resources
• Coordinate and staff onsite player development clinics with external instructors during the season
• Coordinate and staff coaches’ clinics before each spring and fall season
• Oversee and manage the Winter Workout program for baseball and softball participants

REC TRAVEL TOURNAMENT CHAIRPERSON

• Oversee all all-star travel baseball and softball tournament programs and activities
• Partner with Vice President of Travel Baseball, Travel Baseball Commissioners, Vice President of Travel Softball and Travel Softball Commissioners to maximize team recruitment for tournaments
• Manage all facets of the annual David Manlove Memorial Tournament (early June)
• Manage all facets of the annual Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament (July)
• Provide guidance for full-time travel program to help them coordinate and manage successful tournaments independently
• Responsibilities include overseeing (and not directly doing) with the help of other OYO Board Members to market the event, field inquiries from interested teams, collect registrations, ensure payments are made, finalize rules, develop schedules, select trophies, recruit umpires, communicate to participating teams and execute event

Learn more today…

If you have questions, contact Michael DeSanto, President. 

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 volunteer service in 2023. Rest assured, more than 1000 families and 1600 ballplayers will greatly appreciate the difference you make.

Step up to the plate and join the board!

All head coach applicants and those interested in being assistant coaches should attend this important pre-season meeting. The 2023 Fall Ball Season Coaches Meeting is set for Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 8-10 p.m. at OYO on Field 2. (All attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair and notepad.)

This meeting is specifically for all head coaches and interested assistant coaches in all our Fall Ball divisions.

We take player development and enjoying the experience seriously at OYO. For those who have attended in the past, this meeting will be facilitated differently, especially in the content shared and the impact you have on the eventual team development. In short, there are some very important new guidelines and protocols for coaches to follow and participation is requested of all head coaches.

And to clarify, yes, assistant coaches are encouraged to attend and participate in this annual Coaches’ Orientation and Player Selection/Ranking. At OYO, we do not conduct an actual player draft, rather commissioners will use feedback from this meeting and a formula per our team development guidelines to finalize teams following the conclusion of the meetng.

If you have any questions about coaching or division-related matters at OYO — or for additional questions about OYO’s operations, planning and preparation for the upcoming Fall Ball Season — please contact:

• Charity Weaver, OYO Executive Vice President (baseball)
• Mario Covarrubias, OYO 2nd Vice President (softball)
• Michael DeSanto, OYO President

As always, thank you for all you do for OYO’s ballplayers and families and thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball this spring!