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As the Spring Season rolls along, so does 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.
KEEPING TRAVEL TRYOUTS SAFE AND FAIR
In accordance with state and local guidelines and additional social distancing and good hygeine practices, 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):
Fair Tryout Process
- 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.
- If any player or member of player’s household is not feeling well, or running a fever, the player’s tryout should be rescheduled for a later date within 14 days of scheduled tryout.
- 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.
Safe Tryout Procedures
- Dugouts will not be used by players. They may be used by coaches with proper distancing.
- Players will line up their personal gear along the left field or right field fences, six feet apart.
- Restrooms will be available for use, but with social distancing practices.
- Parents or guardians who accompany players to tryouts are asked to wear masks and not gather in close groups, specifically maintaining six-feet-apart social distances.
- Players are encouraged to bring and use hand sanitizer often.
- No player equipment may be shared. Team equipment, such as catcher’s gear, helmets, and chest protectors will be wiped down with disinfectant between each player use.
- Huddles shall be within safe social distancing parameters – six or more feet apart.
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, 2021. 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 remaining tryout schedules appears below.
| TEAM | AGE ELIGIBILITY | TRYOUT DATES/TIMES | FIELD | COACH | COACH EMAIL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8U | Must be 6-8 years old as of January 1, 2021 | Sunday, April 11 Sunday, April 18 2-4 p.m. |
8 | David Cole | davidcole27@gmail.com |
| 10U | Must be 9-10 years old as of January 1, 2021 or pre-approved 10U player | COMPLETED | N/A | Michael DeSanto | mdesanto317@gmail.com |
| 12U | Must be 11-12 years old as of January 1, 2021 or pre-approved 12U player | Sunday, April 11 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 18 8:30-9:30 a.m. |
6 | Matt Radcliffe | matt34rad@gmail.com |
| 14U | Must be 13-14 years old as of January 1, 2021 or pre-approved 14U player | TBA in late April | TBA | Aaron Harding | aharding1220@gmail.com |
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, 2021. 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 remaining tryout schedules appears below.
| TEAM | AGE ELIGIBILITY | TRYOUT DATES/TIMES | FIELD | COACH | COACH EMAIL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6U | Must be 6 years old as of April 30, 2021 | Contact Coach for Private Tryout | TBA | Brandon Booher | brandonboo20@yahoo.com |
| 7U | Must be 7 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 7U player | Contact Coach for Private Tryout | TBA | Landon Hoover | hooverl06@gmail.com |
| 8U | Must be 8 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 8U player | Contact Coach for Private Tryout | TBA | Scott Maskel | scott.maskel@morganstanley.com |
| 9U | Must be 9 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 9U player | COMPLETED | N/A | Brittany Anderson | kbamanderson@gmail.com |
| 10U | Must be 10 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 10U player | Sunday, April 11 9 a.m. |
1 | Corey Hart | csteven27@gmail.com |
| 11U | Must be 11 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 11U player | Sunday, April 11 4 p.m. |
2 | Chris Neu | cneu41@gmail.com |
| 12U | Must be 12 years old as of April 30, 2021 or pre-approved 12U player | Sunday, April 11 8 a.m. Sunday, April 18 Noon |
2 | Rich Day | dayrich5@gmail.com |