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|  | Content published in the following locations: | Spring Registration 2010 Now Open! 2/2/2010
Yes - spring is coming! Registration for our spring season is now open. Registration is open Feb 2 thru Feb 28. After March 1, late registrations will have a $20 fee added and registration will close completely by March 6 so don't wait to register! REGISTER NOW and please make sure you are added to our e-mail list so that you receive up-to-date information about upcoming player screenings and clinics. |
 Content published in the following locations: | Amherst Baseball Club's Rationale for Managing Cal Ripken Baseball Program Available. 12/7/2008
Amherst Baseball Club (ABC) has published (below on this page, or by clicking HERE) the rationale for requesting full management responsibility for the Amherst Cal Ripken baseball program, currently managed by Amherst Recreation Department.
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Content published in the following locations: | Amherst Baseball Club Supports Article 24 2/3/2010
There are many e-mails circulating asking for support of Article 24. We have outlined below the issues and the reasons why your support is critical.
Article 24 (petition article) is the request for $625K to allow Rec to purchase land to replace Cemetery Fields. Its' language allows for money to be used to develop land in addition to purchasing it. If you are not aware, Rec has a P&S agreement on the Brewster property which is a 57 acre property along Stearns Rd. ABC recommends supporting this article.
Because the Board of Selectmen will ultimately have to agree to purchase the property, there has to be a voter mandate indicating that land for active recreation is what the town wants. From our perspective we only see this being accomplished through a "yes" vote on Article 24 - the stand-alone petition article. That delivers the message that the vote is about the need for recreational fields. If the OSAC article wins, and Article 24 does not, although the funding will be there in theory, the message from youth sports will not. So, why is Wed night so important if the actual vote doesn't take place until March 9? Because it is at the deliberative meetings where citizens can move to get language in the articles changed. This is determined solely by the people present and participating at the deliberative session. So, in theory we could all choose not to attend tomorrow night only to find out Thursday morning that a small group of citizens, most likely with no children in youth sports, moved to have the language amended and now the Rec article only has $50K available. Or that they've added the ability to block a land purchase with a petition. It is only by having adequate numbers there ourselves that we can ensure that the Articles are not re-written. Articles 23 and 24 will be discussed 2nd and 3rd on the agenda and then we can all leave and hopefully be home by 9:00 (unless you're having so much fun you want to stick it out).
We hope to see you there Wednesday night.
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 Content published in the following locations: | ABC General Meeting Well Attended, Ideas Shape Upcoming Season 1/18/2009
The Amherst Baseball Club General Meeting, held Thursday, January 15 at
the Middle School, drew over 30 parents to discuss the recent
compromise between Amherst Baseball Club and the Amherst Recreation
Commission, to transition town baseball to the private club.
Board President Greg MacDonald solicited input on coach development
plans, the need for volunteer and board member opportunities,
pre-season coaching clinic possibilities, and the need 70-foot baseball
diamond.
MacDonald explained the purpose of creation of a 70' diamond for the
Majors division. "Most of our bordering towns including Milford,
Brookline, Hollis and Nashua have created a 70' program which serves as
a transition to the 90' diamond that players move to when they turn 13.
The national Cal Ripken organization has identified the move to the 90'
diamond as one of the reasons baseball enrollment numbers drop at the
Babe Ruth level. Many kids have found the move from a 60' diamond to a
90' diamond overwhelming and they grow quickly frustrated and decide to
walk away from the sport. By giving kids this transition period it will
provide more time for skill development and support and build their
self-confidence. The improved self-confidence tends to favor kids
staying engaged in the sport as they move up to the Babe Ruth and
Middle School team level."
MacDonald went on to explain that "the actual field changes involve
very little labor and cost and could be completed in a day. The field
can then be used interchangeably as both a 60' and 70' field. The Club
has had some positive preliminary discussions with the Recreation
Department and is hoping to continue the discussion with the Amherst
Recreation Commission in the upcoming month. The Club is willing to
provide labor assistance and financial support towards this endeavor."
MacDonald also presented the Club's commitment to keeping baseball fees
as low as possible. Current fees of $80 for Minors/Majors, and $90 for
Babe Ruth, represent a lower fee structure than 2007 and 2008. "We feel
with proper fundraising and financial management, the Club can keep
baseball in Amherst affordable. We also introduced a sibling discount,"
MacDonald added, "which is new this year and is intended to keep costs
down for families with more than one child in the program."
Board member Peter Batchelder provided a quick overview of the new web
site the club launched last Spring. "We built this web site to serve as
a central communication platform for the Club." The inclusion of a game
schedule calendar and a library of resources necessary to run a
cohesive program makes the site an important communication tool. We
know parents are busy and that with so many coaches and volunteers
communicating to their team," Batchelder said, adding, "it's difficult
to ensure schedules, philosophies, cancellations, etc, to be
consistently communicated."
"We'd also like to include more media on the site, such as photos and
video shot by team parents," Batchelder said. "These games are great
fun for the kids and parents, and being able to view photos and videos
is something we know kids love to do."
The site is also equipped to handle online registration,
which is currently activated. "We received over 20 registrations within
the first day of the activation of the registration," Batchelder said.
Volunteer opportunities to assist the club exist, and interested
parents are invited to help out. If parents wish to coach, participate
in fundraising activities, event coordination, etc, feel free to
contact the club at info@amherstbaseballclub.org.
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