A special thanks the all of the students in the Event and Facility class for all of their hard work, Scott Swan for tossing out the first pitch and to Emily Anne Guffey for singing the National Anthem and to Keith Myers from Horizon Christian Church for giving the invocation.

We would especially like to thank those businesses and organizations that donated prizes for us to raffle.  All registered families were entered into the drawing and below is a list of those players who were randomly chosen as winners:

• Kaity Welling
• Kincaid Jones
• Kiara Gibson
• Trenton Chandler
• Jacob DeRushie
• Joshua Jones
• Stanley Socks
• Addisyn Baer
• Leah Bigsbee
• Cooper Lewis

If a parent or guardian could please contact Leigh Ann Bussell at 317.509.2213, we will schedule a time to get you your prize!

The 2012 mPicture Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2012.  In the event of inclement weather, the Picture Day rain date is Saturday, May 12, 2012.  A complete schedule will be distributed to coaches and posted in TWIO by April 30, 2012. 

We’ve also reserved Monday, June 11 for all Full-Time and Rec Travel photos as well as photos for all our Babe Ruth and 14U Softball teams.  All teams need to participate in our Picture Day as these photos are also used to complete each team sponsor’s commemorative plaque.

On game days, we will continue to utilize the OYO Weatherline to communicate important information and timely updates on Saturdays.  When necessary, the OYO Weatherline will be updated by 5:15 p.m. on weeknights, 8:15 a.m. on Saturdays. 

The OYO Weatherline number is 317.767.5170.

Please keep in mind, the OYO Weatherline is used exclusively for gameday updates for our 12 and under leagues.  It is not used for is practice days or for Babe Ruth or 14U Softball games.  All practice decisions are left to the coaches as are the game decisions for Babe Ruth and 14U Softball.   For the next couple weeks, parents should check with their coach to determine if the team’s practice plan when the weather is questionable.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

If you have already registered, thank you for your support of the OYO program.  We hope you also will encourage your friends, classmates, and neighbors to register!  All families can register online. 

If you have any questions, please contact the following commissioner:

• 14U Softball:  Brian Zielinski @ bzielinski7302@comcast.net
• Babe Ruth:  Kelly Mauk-Neal @ georgebean322@yahoo.com 

Don’t delay!  Register soon and secure your place for our 2012 season.

When is Opening Day? What is the Schedule?

Opening Day is this Saturday, April 21.  The schedule is as follows:

• 8:30 a.m.:  Players should arrive at Oaklandon Elementary School
• 9 a.m.:  Parade begins 
• 11 a.m.:  Games begin (consult your schedule for game time/field location)

What should my baseball/softball player wear?

Players should wear their uniforms, especially jerseys and hats. If possible, please add extra layers, as needed, under their jerseys.  Players — and parents — should also wear comfortable walking shoes (not their cleats).

Where should I go when I arrive at Oaklandon Elementary School?

Teams will be aligned by age group (beginning w/ Challengers and Tee Ball). Please download the map showing the layout of the school’s parking and where teams are assigned to meet.

What are the drop-off procedures?

Parents should drop their child off in front of the school beginning at 8:30 a.m. Parents may then proceed to OYO/Veteran’s Memorial Park to await their child(ren).  If you need to park and walk your child to find his team, you may do so across the street at the former Oaklandon Christian Church.  Space is limited and cars must be removed from the parking lot by noon on Saturday.  No parking is allowed at Oaklandon Elementary School.

Does my team need to bring anything?

Other than your team spirit, you may want to bring your team banner, if you created one this year. (Remember, team banners are optional so not all teams will have one.)  And for parents, you are encouraged to bring wagons and strollers for your little ones who might grow tired walking the parade path.

Is there anything my player should NOT bring?

Yes. 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.

What happens on the parade route and when we arrive at the park?

All players will walk to OYO with the support of a police escort managing traffic to ensure a safe and positive experience. The Lawrence Police Department closes Oaklandon Road for the parade, and they also will stop traffic at the intersection of Oaklandon Road and Pendleton Pike.
 
Once all teams arrive at the park, there will be a few Opening Day ceremonies, including a proclamation from the Mayor of Lawrence, playing of the national anthem, and our annual throwing of the first pitch.

And, of course, when do games start?

All Tee-Ball/Challenger teams play at 11 a.m.; all other leagues follow later in the day. Please review your schedule at the League Toolbox site for more details about game times and field assignments.

What should I do if it’s raining on Saturday morning?

As with any scheduled activity at OYO, please call the OYO WeatherLine at 767.5170 for the latest updates on the parade and game schedule for the day.

What if I need help or have questions during the day?

Please ask for help from any OYO Board Member.  They will all be wearing blue shirts or jackets donning the “OYO Baseball and Softball Volunteer/Staff” moniker.  You are welcome to seek their help any time you have a question on Opening Day or throughout the season.
 
Thanks again for your continued support!
 
Let’s Play Ball!
The OYO Board

When you call the weatherline, we encourage you to listen to the entire message.  It is possible, we may cancel only a select handful of games if they did not weather the storms well.  (Once again, a critical reason for coaches and parents to help rake/drag fields after practices and games.) 

If we cancel a full slate of activities scheduled for the park, then no activity should take place on the fields, including ad hoc practices, travel games, etc.  On a similar note, Babe Ruth and 14U Softball do not follow the Weatherline announcements.  They employ a different communication process.

Whenever in doubt, parents should contact their coaches and coaches should contact their commissioners.  Thank you for your understanding and support.

As with most team-specific information, you can access your team’s schedule via League Toolbox.  Simply select the division your child plays in, the team he/she is assigned to, and “schedule” to view your calendar by month, week or day. 

If you have any questions about your team’s game schedule, please contact your coach.  And here’s a quick reminder about our rainout policy.

OYO’s fees are based on a 12 game (tee ball, junior rookie) or 13 game (older age groups) schedule.  However, to help your family better plan for games, we have automatically scheduled all teams to either 14 or 15 games, respectively.  As a result, rainouts are not rescheduled.  For more insight about this policy, please review the link above.

Attached is a complete list of sponsors to date for our 12 and under leagues.  Teams have been inquiring about their sponsor assignments, and we hope this report helps provide the info team parents and coaches might be seeking.

And finally, as you review the list of companies supporting OYO this season, if you have a chance to patronize their business, we encourage you to do so.

In less than two weeks, 14U Softball and Babe Ruth teams will begin being formed for their 2012 seasons starting in early May.   So all eligible players for these leagues are encouraged to register soon and secure their spot.  In 14U Softball, Junior Babe Ruth and Senior Babe Ruth, roster spots are limited.  To secure your place, register before Friday, April 27.

If you have already registered, thank you for your support of the OYO program — and now encourage your friends, classmates, and neighbors to register!  All families can register online. 

If you have any questions, please contact the following commissioner:

• 14U Softball:  Brian Zielinski @ bzielinski7302@comcast.net
• Babe Ruth:  Kelly Mauk-Neal @ georgebean322@yahoo.com 

Don’t delay!  Register soon and secure your place for our 2012 season.

• Review the Orientation Meeting Presentation – Team Parents (and coaches) should review the overview provided at the Team Parent session last week.  You can download the presentation deck from OYO’s website.  There’s lots of valuable info related to team duties, picture days, treat tickets, and more.
• Collaborate with Coach on Setting Team Fees – Team Parents and Head Coaches should determine any team-related expenses (e.g. treat tickets, names on jerseys, end-of-season party/gathering) and set a fee for each player and share that info with the parents on your squad.
• Treat Ticket Table Available This Saturday – Are you needing to purchase treat tickets for Saturday’s game or even the entire season?  Then we can help!  On Saturday, near the main concession stand, Wendy Lankford, team parent chair, and other OYO volunteers will handle any transactions directly related to your team’s treat ticket needs.  So come prepared to purchase your team’s treat tickets!

Thanks for all you do for the children and families of OYO.