January 2012
Newsletter
Dear Fellow DeHaven Members:
The 2012 Baseball and Softball seasons are just around the corner. Other than
some weather (lot's of rain) and some field problems (high grass, ruts etc...)
the 2011 season was a very good one for many of our teams. Since I mentioned it
let me address some of your concerns regarding the fields. You need to know that DeHaven does not own any of the fields that we use nor has any maintenance
discretion over them as well. Both Kiwanis fields along with Ellen Hughes are
owned by the township and managed by their personnel. The Rogers, Scott Avenue,
Elementary (formerly Middle School), and Marzolf fields are owned and
maintained by the School District. You will notice a few improvements this year.
Thanks to Shaler Township, check out the improvements done to Lower Kiwanis and
Jeffrey Fields. Although Jeffrey Field is owned by the school district, the
township will now be handling the maintenance of this field. DeHaven is not allowed to make any material
modifications to these fields including cutting the grass. The school district
has a schedule for servicing these fields which is handled by their personnel.
We have several board members that communicate regularly with both the township
and school district throughout the season letting them know what needs done and
to what field(s). So please understand that as much as we would like to do
numerous field improvements our hands are tied.
Please read further about this year's registration dates, on-line registration
process, costs and other articles from our board members.
I look forward to another successful season.
Sincerely,
Alex Kline
President
Registration
1st Registration Date:
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Registration will be at the McDonalds on Rte 8. 15% of all the sales for these three hours will go to the DeHaven Athletic Association.
2nd Registration Date:
Saturday, January 21, 2012 Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
St. Bonaventure School Cafeteria
Snow Date Only (if necessary):
Saturday, January 28, 2012 Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
St. Bonaventure School Cafeteria
Parents may sign up for coaching positions as well. The board will vote on all final positions.
If you are registering your child for the first time we will need a photocopy of their birth certificate to keep on file. This will be saved from year to year.
It is also suggested to bring your child to the registration as shirts are sized up and available to try on if needed for first time players.
This newsletter is only distributed to our members who we have in our data base. As you know everyone changes their email address from time to time so PLEASE share this with everyone you know so we can get the word out for registration.
WE ALSO NEED YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS FOR OUR DATABASE……………………!!
PLEASE visit our web site at www.dehavenaa.org for upcoming events, dates, times and important announcements. We NOW have “ON-LINE REGISTRATION” available, payment by credit card only, see link at the website.
We are looking forward to another successful season at DeHaven for all boys and girls and it all starts with YOU.
Registration fees are as follows:
Boys and girls ages 4-6 $60.00 Girls slow pitch ages 7-10 $85.00
Girls slow pitch ages 11-18 $90.00
Girls fast pitch ages 9-12 $90.00
Girls fast pitch ages 13-18 $105.00
Boys baseball ages 7-8 $85.00
Boys baseball ages 9-10 $85.00
Boys baseball ages 11-12 $90.00
Boys baseball ages 13-14 $125.00
Boy's baseball ages 15-16 $125.00 We will accept registrations but cannot guarantee we will have enough to field a team. If we are unable to do so we will issue refunds.
The family maximum registration fee is $195.00. (This excludes Federation, Colt League, Pony League and Fast Pitch Softball, when double rostering with Slow Pitch Softball.). Late registration will be subject to a $10.00 late fee per player.
For more information contact Bob Quinn at mail@dehavenaa.org
Baseball
In a few short months our children will again be on the Baseball fields for the start of the 2012 season. The Dehaven Athletic Association has many exciting things planned for the 2012 season. Dehaven had a very successful 2011 season while participating in the Shaler Area Baseball Association (SABA). Just as last year, all of the Dehaven teams at Farm League (9-10) Little League (11-12) and Pony League (13-14) age levels will participate in SABA for the 2012 season. Dehaven will continue to play home games at Ellen Hughes field, Kiwanis Park, Glenshaw Valley field, and the Scott Avenue Pony League field. All away games will be played on the host organization's fields. These fields are within the Shaler Area School District.
As in the past, Dehaven will continue to play an in-house league at the Clinic/T-ball (4-6 years old) and the Instructional League (7-8 years old) levels. Our Instructional League Games will mainly be played at newly refurbished Jeffrey Field, Kiwanis Park, and Ellen Hughes Park.
Dehaven will continue to field Sunday League teams from ages 9-12 in the North Pittsburgh Sunday League. Tryouts for these teams will be announced soon. At the conclusion of the regular season, we will also continue to field our own tournament teams for ages 7-12.
Dehaven will once again sponsor clinics aimed at improving basic hitting, fielding, and pitching skills. We are tentatively planning to hold the clinics at the start of the season. More information will be available via the website after the details are finalized.
At Dehaven, we understand that many of our families are very busy and our organization allows parents to simply enjoy watching their child play the game. Unlike other organizations, Dehaven does not require families to volunteer to work concession stands, sell raffle tickets or candy, or participate in Monte Carlo nights or other fundraisers. The primary way that Dehaven raises funds is through our registration fees.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the season or any suggestions for improvement, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mike Critchlow
Baseball Commissioner
thecritchlows@verizon.net
DeHaven Website
Please visit the website at www.dehavennaa.org and join our email list. Having a comprehensive list of all the families is crucial to communicating with the membership. If you change your e-mail address, please forward it to us so we can keep you informed of all the things the organization is doing. We will be adding a lot of information to the website, so please check it regularly for updates. For important dates please check the 2012 calendar which is updated throughout the season. If you have any suggestions please email me at the below address.
John Fischer
IT Director
412-486-1917
Softball
We are looking forward to a
very exciting 2012 season for the DeHaven girl’s softball program. DeHaven has
one of the largest girls softball programs in Shaler. In 2012 our goal is to
teach the girls the fundamentals of the game and at the same time make sure they
are having fun.
As usual we will be participating in the G.P.G.S.L. (Greater Pittsburgh Girls
Softball League). In 2011 our 10U Girls team was a semi-finalist in the GPGSL
playoffs. The DeHaven organization had tournament teams playing at the 8U, 10U,
12U, and 15U age groups last season. The teams won multiple tournament
championship titles to cap off a very successful season of fun and friendship.
Slow Pitch Softball
Slow pitch softball is available to girls 5-18 years old.
Fast Pitch Softball
Fast pitch softball is available for the 9 and up age groups in the spring and the fall. The Spring Fast Pitch season is very competitive. Usually the girls who participate have played the game before (at least one season of Fall Ball) and are typically very talented at the game of softball. There is also a Fall Instructional Fast Pitch season which is less competitive. This season is more instructional in nature and will give you an idea if your child likes the game and is ready for the competitive spring season.
While we don’t typically have enough interest to form teams at each level, we will accept registrations and field teams if enough girls are interested. Depending on the number of girls registering at each level, we may be required to hold tryouts as well.
Girls playing DeHaven fast pitch will not be permitted to play on a slow pitch team and therefore will not be eligible for the slow pitch tournament teams.
Open tryouts will be held in early June for the tournament teams (slowpitch and fastpitch if applicable). These tryouts will be conducted by evaluators that do not have any girls participating at the level for which they are evaluating.
If you have any questions about the DeHaven Softball program or are in need of additional information, please call Dennis Jones at 412-487-3619.
Marilyn J. Kline Memorial ‘Night Owl’ Tournaments
Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament
As part of the continuing effort to further develop the slow pitch program in DeHaven we will host the following three tournaments: For more details visit our website.
Ages: 8U -
slow pitch
Dates:
Early July
Ages: 10U
- slow pitch
Dates:
Early July
Ages: 12U - slow pitch
Dates: Early July
Dennis Jones
Tournament Director
Batting Cage Complex
All 2012 DeHaven teams will be given a schedule as the season draws near for the use of the batting cage facilities located at the Lower Kiwanis Field. This schedule will last throughout the summer for all softball and baseball teams within the DeHaven Athletic Association. A master schedule will be posted at the cage complex once times are finalized. If you have any suggestions on improving the cage complex or any concerns throughout the season please feel free to give Dave or myself a call.
Tim Fugh, 412-302-2747
Dave Morgano, 412-418-0276
Batting Cage Coordinators
FIELDS
It’s nearly time to get prepared for the baseball and softball season. All the fields are in acceptable condition at this time, however they need cleaned up from the past fall and winter months. We will be realigning some of the fields this year to allow for a better experience for our younger players. This should be exciting for the kids. DeHaven managers and parents play a key role in the condition and upkeep of the fields our kids play on. The school district and township also play a large role in maintaining the fields.
The DeHaven Athletic Association will schedule field day for Saturday March ??????? (weather permitting). Managers are required to report to their home field and prepare the field for the start of the season. It is up to the managers to recruit parents to assist on field day. We appreciate your assistance when called upon by your manager/coach.
I will be responsible for the deployment of lime and field dry to all the fields. Please call me if you are in need of any of these products at any time during the year. My cell phone number is 412-302-2747 and will also be posted in the gang box at each field.
Tim Fugh
Fields and Permits
UMPIRES FOR THE 2012 SEASON
Once again at January's Baseball and Softball Registration, Boys and Girls Age 12 and older by April 1st are eligible, and encouraged to sign up for Umpiring duties in DeHaven AA. Both current and former DeHaven ballplayers are welcomed to sign-up. Umpires will be working the Boy's and Girl's Instructional games (Ages 7 & 8). Please encourage your son or daughter to take advantage of this opportunity. In addition to earning a little money it also teaches your kids some real responsibility. They will be expected to show up on time, learn and enforce the rules of the game, make quick and accurate decisions, and balance their umpiring job with other commitments they may have. All umpires will receive an official DeHaven Umpire t-shirt.
There will be an umpire clinic for all new umpires sometime in March at the Upper Scott field. We will email the membership when the details are finalized. A sign up sheet will be available at registration.
Bill Dadowski
Umpire Commissioner
412-260-5441
T-Ball / Clinic
2012 T-ball and Clinic
T-ball and Clinic are your child’s first chance at introduction into organized baseball. At this level, basic skills, fundamentals and knowledge of the game will be introduced to the kids, but the primary goal will simply be to have FUN.
T-Ball – Boys & Girls ages 4 and 5
During the season, each team will have a scheduled practice night during the week and then play a game against another DeHaven team on Saturday mornings. The fundamentals of batting, fielding, throwing and base running will be the focus of the practices. Hitting will be done from a batting tee both during practice and games.
Clinic – Boys & Girls age 6
During the season, each team will have a scheduled practice night during the week and then play a game against another DeHaven team on Saturday mornings. Again, the fundamental skills of hitting, fielding, throwing and base running will be stressed during the practices. Hitting will be done from a batting tee for the first half of the season and “coach-pitch” will begin after the mid-point of the season, both during practice and at games.
In both T-Ball and Clinic, all parents are asked and encouraged to assist the coaches during practices and games.
Feel free to call me @ 412-260-7278 with any questions. I look forward to a
great season.
Maureen Ricci
Commissioner T-Ball & Clinic
412-260-7278
WAYS & MEANS-
- Greg Buczkowski (412) 303-4269
- Mary Pawlik (412) 956-4565
It’s time for the DEHAVEN Parent Night
When: March 24th
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Where: St. Bonaventure’s Newmeyer Hall
During this event, a brief meeting will be conducted in which all of the managers for the upcoming season will be introduced. After this meeting, food/refreshments will be served, and it will give the parents an opportunity to meet their child’s manager as well as other parents on their team. It is recommended that all parents attend in order to receive important information about the upcoming baseball/softball season. All managers are required to attend in order to pick-up their coach’s shirt and meet their player’s parents. We hope to see you there… Come show your support for Dehaven Athletic Association!!
TEAM SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
In a few short months, the 2012 baseball/softball season will be starting, and the Ways & Means committee is working diligently to raise sponsorship money to help defray the costs that would otherwise be incurred by Dehaven parents. The primary way that this organization acquires sponsorship money is through the generosity of our local businesses. Each year these businesses participate in our Team Sponsorship program. The cost to sponsor one team is $150, the 2nd Team is $125, and each additional team is $100 each. The deadline for the printer is March 7th. If you or your business is interested in being a Team Sponsor, please contact Greg Buczkowski at (412) 303-4269 or Mary Pawlik at (412) 956-4565...
BANNER SPONSORS AT KIWANIS PARK:
To purchase a 3 x 8 professionally designed banner to be displayed on the ballpark fence during the Dehaven tournaments, contact Greg Buczkowski at (412) 303-4269 or Mary Pawlik at (412) 956-4565.
Dehaven would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of our Team Sponsors and Banner Sponsors. Please show your appreciation by supporting these businesses.