Posts by Michael DeSanto

DOWNLOAD SCHEDULE HERE!
You can download the Photo Day schedule here. All photo shoot times should precede your team’s game (or first game if playing a doubleheader). Please remember the entire team is requested to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time.

Come take the field at OYO this spring — 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 Spring 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 spring.

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

As registrations continue to flow in daily, we now one opening per team on most teams in each of our divisions. With registrations outpacing last year’s trends by 15%, 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!

• 0 Openings Available | 69 Teams*
• 1 Opening Available | 3 Teams
• 2 Openings Available | 0 Teams
• * denotes that Tee Ball was sold out, but reopened with one additional roster spot per team

• 08U Softball | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)
• 10U Softball | 2 | Blue Devils, Bruins
• 12U Softball | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)
• Challenger | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)
• Tee Ball | 8* | Athletics, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Mets, Phillies, Pirates, Rays, Reds, White Sox
• Junior Rookie | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)
• Rookie | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)
• Minor | 1 | Indianapolis Indians
• Super Major | 0 | SOLD OUT! (Accepting Wait List Registrations)

* denotes was previously SOLD OUT but re-opened with an additional roster spot on each Tee Ball team roster

Spring brings many things from rain showers to baseball and from spring cleaning to new beginnings. So, OYO presents this awesome opportunity to let your gently used equipment, sports apparel and even game day accessories become another family’s treasure. Donate your baseball and softball-related items and we’ll add them to our sale in late April! Reference the event flyer for details, including how the proceeds from this event will support the LiveLikeB Foundation.

OYO is making plans to host its third annual Declutter for a Cause event on Saturday, April 22.

HOW TO MAKE GENTLY USED EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING DONATIONS
Donations will be accepted through Thursday, April 20 and all items will be sold for set prices on April 22. Here’s a simple 1-2-3 plan for how you can make donations for this fundraiser:

STEP 1 | Dig out old equipment and bag them up (see sidebar for accepted items)
STEP 2 | Drop off your bags of equipment and clothing to OYO (in a bag) at the three-garage barn
STEP 3 | Invite your friends to make donations before April 20 and then shop on April 22

DONATION ITEMS BEING ACCEPTED (AND RESALE PRICE NOTED)
The following items will be collected and then sold for set, non-negotiable prices, including:

$20/set — Catcher’s Gear
$15 — Bat
$15 — Catcher’s Mitt
$10 — Gloves
$10 — Bat Bags, backpack style
$5 — Bat Bags, long style
$5 — Cleats
$5 — Helmets
$5 — Ball Bucket (empty, no balls included)
$3 — Batting Gloves
$3 — Baseball and Softball Pants
$3 — Used Practice Attire/Clothing
$1 — Uniform Socks
$1 — Baseballs/Softballs ($1 each)
$TBD — Training Accessories

OYO Fans,
 
After a wild preseason of both snow and rain, we’re ready for a great stretch of weather leading up to Opening Day and the chance to say “Let’s Play Ball!”
 
On Saturday, April 15, our ballplayers and families will take part in our Opening Day festivities for our 49th annual season of baseball and softball! To help you begin making plans, here are some of the details you should note (and all are subject to change):
 
Arrival for Parade | Coaches should arrive by 8 a.m. and players/families may begin arriving at Oaklandon Elementary (6702 Oaklandon Road) at 8:15 a.m. Families are encouraged to park in the south parking lot of the church lot across the street and walk their player to their designated team meeting spot (download map).
 
Parade and Festivities | The parade will begin at 9 a.m. followed by brief announcements, presentations and ceremonial first pitches at OYO. All players will walk to OYO with the support of a police escort managing traffic to ensure a safe and positive experience, including timely closures of Oaklandon Road and Pendleton Pike for safe crossings.
 
Attire for Walking in the Parade | Players are encouraged to dress warm and wear tennis shoes (not cleats) for the parade. They also should be in uniform!
 
Game Times | Every team will play one game (and a couple teams may have doubleheaders). The season opens with first round of games at 10:45 a.m. Please review your schedule in LeagueApps for game times and field assignments.
 
Drop-off Procedures | Parents should drop their child off in front of the school between 8:15-8:45 a.m. Here are some helpful tips to consider:

• No parking at the school is allowed.
• Parking across the street in the south lot of the church is available.
• Lawrence Police will be available to direct you where to park.

Once a ballplayer connects with his/her team, then the parent has three options:

• Proceed to OYO/Veterans Memorial Park to await for their child(ren).
• Walk south on Oaklandon Road to find a spot to cheer on all the teams, players and coaches participating in the parade.
• Join your ballplayer and his/her team and walk the route!

 
What to Bring | Children should wear their uniforms and coaches/team parents who have purchased a team banner should also bring it for the parade. (Remember, team banners are optional so not all teams will have one.)
 
What NOT To Bring | We are asking all players and families to leave any horns and noisemakers at home to make this a pleasant and safe experience for all players and their families. Also, please leave at home your favorite dogs and pets since these not allowed as part of the parade or at Veterans Memorial Park, home of OYO, at any time.
 
Weather Considerations | As with any scheduled activity at OYO, please call the OYO WeatherLine at 317.767.5170 for the latest updates on the parade and game schedule for the day. As needed, we will begin updating the weatherline before 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 15.
 
Got Questions? | Please ask for help from any OYO Board Member. Our board members will be wearing red shirts and pullovers this year.
 
Concessions will be open! | Be sure to stop by either of our concession stands throughout the day!  Cash and credit cards are accepted.
 
Respect Our Monuments | Please ask your ballplayers and children to not climb or play on the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir monument near Field 1 at the front of the park at any time during the season. Please respect our veterans and the monument placed in their honor.

SUMMARY | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 8:00 a.m.: Coaches and/or Team Parent Arrive at Oaklandon Elementary school and go to designated team spot in the parking lot (area will be marked)
• 8:15-8:45 a.m.: All players should arrive at Oaklandon Elementary
• 9:00 a.m.: Parade begins
• 9:45 a.m.: Parade concludes at Veterans Memorial Park | Ceremony begins
• 10:15 a.m.: Opening Day Ceremony concludes
• 10:45 a.m.: Games begin (reference team’s schedule in LeagueApps)

 
Thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball!

One of the most exciting events each season for all our ballplayers of any age is Opening Day. All our teams convene at Oaklandon Elementary School beginning at 8:30 a.m. and walk the parade route starting at 9 a.m.

The ballplayers, coaches and fans will walk the route from the school, across Pendleton Pike around 62nd Street before entering the southside of the park and gathering on adjacent fields for Opening Day ceremonies, including ceremonial first pitches for the season.

More details will follow in early April about the Opening Day Parade for our 49th season of baseball and softball at OYO! For now, though, here’s the parade lineup!

KNOW ALL THE KEY DATES IN 2023!

All but one of our 10 rec travel teams now have a coach and are making plans for their rec travel season. We hope your ballplayer will join us for this competitive all-star season in 2023!

We offer two rec travel programs — Bombers for baseball, Red Storm for softball — which offer a more competitive experience for interested ballplayers seeking additional game opportunities on Sundays and after the rec league season ends.

These teams are formed in late March and early April based on player participation at tryouts hosted at OYO. So, discover the coach for your child’s age group — and ages are based on the player’s age as of January 1, 2023 (for softball) and April 30, 2023 (for baseball). Bomber Up! Go Storm!

As the spring season is about to begin, so is our rec travel/all-star program.  As parents of a ballplayer between the ages of 6-12 and in either baseball or softball, who might be seeking even a more competitive experience throughout the season, then the rec travel/all-star program is right for you.

ABOUT REC TRAVEL PROGRAM

At OYO, we offer a wide range of programs to help players of all levels of skill, interest and passion experience more baseball and softball.  As a registered family, you’re already intended to participate in our primary and most popular program — Spring Ball recreational league.  However, we also offer a rec all-star/travel program for all our rec league baseball and softball players who are seeking even more baseball and softball development and competitive game opportunities against teams from across Central Indiana. From experience, we know when families hear “rec travel” the misconceptions quickly follow. We’d like to set the record straight on our travel program before you and your ballplayer miss out on a tremendous opportunity this spring and summer.

BACKGROUND

Our baseball travel program is named the Oaklandon Bombers. Our softball travel program is named the Oaklandon Red Storm. And we offer two different levels — full-time travel (FTT) and recreational travel (RT). The full-time travel teams were selected last August and are all set for the 2021 season.

Our RT squads are the same as “all-star” teams selected in other leagues. The minor difference is these teams are formed during the practice season. Then, they practice or play games on Sundays during the recreational league season before coming together to play in local tournaments against similar clubs from other regional youth baseball and softball programs in June and July. A typical RT Bombers/Red Storm regular season runs from April through July in which the team will participate in 4 to 5 tournaments (again, all in Central Indiana).

Only those players who play in our recreational program can tryout for and be selected to play for the RT Bombers or Red Storm. These teams do require families to pay an additional fee to participate, and those fees vary from team to team.

TRAVEL TRYOUT PROCESS

Here is how OYO will manage the rec travel tryouts for age groups we’re able to support this season (based on eligible coaching volunteers):

• Only players who were registered at OYO, are eligible to tryout for a Bombers or Red Storm rec travel team.
• Players must attend a tryout to be eligible for a team. If a player cannot attend the scheduled date(s) and time(s), then they may request an alternate tryout date within two weeks of the posted tryouts for the respective age group.
• OYO will seek to accommodate multiple teams in any age group where the interest from players is supported by qualified and eligible coaching candidates.
• No fees are required to participate in any tryout session.

RED STORM TRYOUT OVERVIEW | SOFTBALL

To be eligible for an age group in Red Storm, the player must not be older than the team’s age as of January 1, 2023. Attendance is mandatory, unless other arrangements have been made with the team’s coach prior to the tryout to schedule an alternate time. There is no fee to participate in tryouts.

Players should arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tryout time and should not wear any hats or uniform apparel affiliating them with any past travel team involvement (at OYO or elsewhere). However, a team-branded batting helmet is acceptable.

A full list of Red Storm rec travel coaches and tryout schedules appears below.

BOMBERS TRYOUT OVERVIEW | BASEBALL

To be eligible for an age group in Bombers, the player must not be older than the team’s age as of April 30, 2023. Attendance is mandatory, unless other arrangements have been made with the team’s coach prior to the tryout to schedule an alternate time. There is no fee to participate in tryouts.

Players should arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tryout time and should not wear any hats or uniform apparel affiliating them with any past travel team involvement (at OYO or elsewhere). However, a team-branded batting helmet is acceptable.

A full list of Bombers rec travel coaches and tryout schedules appears below.

If you missed the popular OYO Shopping Day at Dick’s Sporting Goods in early March, no worries! We’ve partnered with Dick’s Sporting Goods to identify even more savings for you and your ballplayer.

Download this coupon sheet to take advantage of great discounts on footwear, apparel and equipment. These coupons are good for the remainder of the 2023 calendar year. And, if you are in need of what equipment your ballplayer needs, check out our helpful guide online.

Go shopping today for your needs, and take the field tomorrow ready to play! As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball — and thank you for supporting Dick’s Sporting Goods, too!

During the past several weeks, 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 ($525 per team for spring and fall) and every park amenity available has a sponsor (ranging $1250-$1950 per package).

TEAM SPONSORSHIPS
We have team sponsorships available in 2023, including:

• Double Play | Spring and Fall Seasons | $525
• Teamwork | Fall Ball Team only | $200
• Spring Season Teams Needing Sponsors (as of 7 a.m. on March 24)
  • Junior Baseball | Up to 2 more sponsors
  • 14U/16U Softball | Up to 2 more sponsors

FIELD AND AMENITIES PACKAGE SPONSORSHIPS
What’s more, when a business sponsors a field, a walkway, the bullpens or the batting cages, 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 of one of these fields or park amenities at Veterans Memorial Park all year long. We have the following 10 opportunities for naming privileges on the following fields or amenties for one year:

• MVP | Field 3 | $1500
• 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

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!

OYO Board Members recently conducted an important meeting for both new (and returning) OYO Families. This meeting provided an introduction to OYO’s operations and helped set expectations for the upcoming Spring Season. Our families discovered The OYO Way and how it will be carried out throughout the season to maximize the experience our ballplayers and families will enjoy as part of the OYO Family.

We look forward to an exciting 49th Season of baseball and softball at Veterans Memorial Park, the home of OYO. The attached presentation provides all the details necessary to make plans for all the excitement the season will bring.

If you missed the meeting or simply want to access the presentation to capture key dates, learn more about key policies or simply have a handy reference on hand for the 2023 Spring Season, then download the 2023 New Family Orientation presentation. If you have any questions about the upcoming season, please contact an OYO Board Member today.

Also, you can access our 2023 season summary overview here.

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