News

All head coach applicants and those interested in being assistant coaches should attend this important pre-season meeting. The 2024 Spring Season Coaches Meeting is set for Thursday, February 29 from 7-9 p.m. at Jenn Park, 10450 East 63rd Street in Lawrence.

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

In addition, all assistant coaches are encouraged to attend and participate this annual coaches meeting. Please note, 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 Spring 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!

If you are new to OYO or have been curious how and why OYO manages our youth baseball and softball league the way we do, then discover OYO in early March! Come join us for our New Family Orientation to better understand the programs we offer and what to expect throughout our 50th year of baseball and softball at OYO!

Led by veteran members of the OYO Board of Directors, this meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at Jenn Park, located at 10450 East 63rd Street, Indianapolis, 46236.

During this meeting, we will introduce families to the league’s history, values, programs and logistics. This exclusive session for all OYO families will provide you with the answers to common questions and lay out what you can expect during the season. Get a sneak peek about this year’s meeting by reviewing the annual open letter to all OYO families.

If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact the OYO Board today!

Thanks again for choosing OYO for your baseball and softball experience! We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, February 28 at Jenn Park!

As we we slowly inch our way toward the 2024 Spring Season, we have one board committee that is in need of two more members to ensure a smooth experience all year long.

We are seeking two more scheduling co-chairs to join the OYO Board and help create accurate and balanced schedules throughout 2024. If interested, let us know today!

In short, we want you — and our 1800 ballplayers from nearly 1200 families need you! If you enjoy giving back to the community, demonstrate amazing grace and patience with ballplayers and families and desire to team up with fellow volunteers and make new, lasting friendships, then the 2024 OYO Board of Directors is the place to be.

What’s expected of a Scheduling Co-Chair?

• Be an active member of a 3-4-person committee that carries out the duties of this game day operation function
• Oversee and coordinate all league regular season and all tournament game schedules
• Conduct blind tournament draws and produce tournament brackets for all rec 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
• 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)

So, why you? During the past 20 years, more than 250 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. We are fortunate to have a very diverse board representing every aspect of OYO’s baseball and softball programs and stakeholders. We are not just board colleagues, but friends outside of OYO, too. Being a board member is fun and rewarding as 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, dads, coaches, team parents, fans and more — like you — who have a ballplayer or two playing at OYO.

To get involved… All you need to do is reply to this message and let us know you’re interested. Then, one of our current executive board members will work with you to pair you with the role or need that best fits your interests.

Thank you for your consideration and continued support and choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball. We hope you will answer this call and make OYO the beneficiary of your volunteer service in 2024.

Join the Board!
The OYO Executive Board
www.oyoball.org

This is it, folks! We’re down to our final days of open registration for our Winter Workout program.

Registration closes Sunday, January 28. We still have a few openings in every age group, and all sessions are held on Saturdays at the following times:

• 8:00-9:00 | Junior Rookie
• 8:00-9:00 | Rookie
• 10:00-11:00 | 08U Softball
• 11:00-12:30 | Minor
• 12:30-2:00 | Super Major
• 12:30-2:00 | Junior Baseball
• 4:00-5:30 | 10U Softball
• 5:30-7:00 l 12U Softball
• 5:30-7:00 | 14U/16U Softball

Secure your ballplayer’s spot in the 2024 OYO Winter Workouts, facilitated by Dan Underwood and his team of assistants at Underwood Baseball. Sessions run weekly on Saturdays thru March 9.

DON’T DELAY, REGISTER TODAY!

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

Registration for this season is strong, and once again outpacing past trends showing we have hundreds of ballplayers anxious to get back out to the ballpark for the start of our 2024 Spring Season!

OYO encourages you to help make our 50th annual spring 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 in 2024, 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 | Charity Weaver
• SOFTBALL | Mario Covarrubias

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

More than 50 members of the dynamic 2024 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 50th Spring Season and 17th 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). Our current needs are listed here and detailed “job derscriptions” appear further below on this page:

• • Scheduling Co-Chairs (2 openings)
  • Ways and Means Co-Chair (1 opening)
  • At-Large Board Positions (4 openings)

If you enjoy giving back to the community and teaming up with friends from throughout OYO to create memorable experiences, then the 2024 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 2024 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 three board positions are available (and duties listed under each):
 

SCHEDULING CO-CHAIR

• 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

WAYS & MEANS CO-CHAIR 

• 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 Par

AT-LARGE BOARD POSITIONS

• Assist with special ad hoc projects, as needed
• Invest the time and effort to learn more about OYO
• Serve as an ambassador for OYO on and off the field by promoting programs and services
• Shadow select board members to better understand functions and duties

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 2024. Rest assured, more than 1000 families and 1800 ballplayers will greatly appreciate the difference you make.

Step up to the plate and join the board!

Create the experience when you work in concessions! The OYO Concession Stand is an integral part of the OYO experience. It is a quality job opportunity for any young individual looking to gain valuable experience and earn a paycheck, too! We are seeking new members of our amazing Concession Stand staff in 2024!

Apply to work in the city’s most popular and fun concession stand!

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season capped off with a pleasant New Year’s celebration with family and friends. Now that 2024 has finally arrived, OYO is ready to kick off our programs for the year, too! And this starts with the Winter Workouts you registered your ballplayer for this winter.

To get you ready for the workouts at Underwood Baseball, which begin tomorrow — January 6, 2024 — for all age groups, here are some FAQs. Of course, if you have any additional questions or need something more, less or different before the workouts begin, then just let us know.

What time is your ballplayer’s weekly workout session?
Below is the summary of workout times for each baseball and softball age group.

I heard Underwood Baseball moved, so where is the new facility located?
Yes, Underwood Baseball did move! The facility’s new address is 3849 Richardt Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46226. For some quick tips, here are some notes:

• It is near the southwest corner of the I-465/Pendleton Pike interchange
• Located in the back of the industrial park located behind the Pendleton Trade Center (which includes shops such as Subway, T-Mobile, Next Day Signs, etc.)
• When turning into The Pendleton Trade Center, take an immediate left to remain on access road
• Follow the access road to the stop sign (where Hilti will be on your right)
• Turn right at stop sign, take immediate left and proceed to second row of buildings
• Underwood Baseball is in second row at the very end (3849 Richardt Avenue, Suite 101)

How should players dress for the workouts?
Players should wear clothers they would normally wear to a team practice. We recommend baseball/softball pants or sweat pants and a couple layers on top. Depending on the time of day, the facility can be a little chilly but as it warms up, your ballplayer may be more comfortable wearing a layer or two less.

What equipment does my ballplayer need and what should they wear?
We are asking every player to have their own helmet, bat and glove. In addition, your ballplayers should wear indoor practice attire and tennis shoes or turf shoes. No cleats are permitted.

How will the sessions be facilitated?
All our sessions will be hosted by Dan Underwood, a proven baseball and softball trainer and also serves as the 2024 14U FTT Oaklandon Bombers head coach. All sessions will be customized for each age group, and individual volunteer instructors will help players execute the drills being taught at the workouts.

Got Questions?
If you have any questions or need additional feedback or insight, then please email us and we’ll be sure to provide the information or support you and your ballplayer need!

Thank You!
As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball. We particularly appreciate your participation in our Winter Workout program!