ROCKAWAY BOROUGH LITTLE LEAGUE

This year we are going to have an end of season party on Saturday, June 22 for the league at the TJ Fields.

We would like input and help from everyone.

Some of the ideas we like so far:

Renting a dunk tank, want to dunk our umpires, managers, coaches, some of the players?

Kick ball game for tee-ball

Home run (longest ball) contest for each grade/division.

Pot luck; Little League will provide the hot dogs and hamburgers, everything else will be pot luck brought by our players.

DJ

We have considered renting a large tent with table and chairs

This process has just begun so please reply all your ideas and that’s work to make it happen.

If you have ideas to contribute please use the Contact Us, Tom Patton page and send me an email.

The minutes from our board meeting 5/14 are available on our About Us, Minutes page.

We already have filled half of the available spots for Buddies at our Challenger games on 6/15. Don’t miss this super fun, super moving experience. Buddie registration is open to RBLL player’s fourth grade and up. Older siblings or post RBLL players may register for the Junior Volunteers, younger siblings or RBLL players may register for our booster’s, and we need a lot of adult help.

Registration to volunteer for our 2013 Challenger Games is now open. Games begin at 2:00. We need adult volunteers to set up the fields at 9:00 AM. We need adult volunteers to run the snack stand and cook hot dogs for all of our players, run our VIP parking, help with our Booster Club, and help on the field. We need 40 Buddies to assist our Challenger Player counterparts. Buddies must play in RBLL and be in fourth grade and up.

We have added a great new program to our Challenger League day. Our Booster club is open to our younger players and siblings of our players. They will meet before the game and make posters and pom-poms to cheer on the players.

In three shifts adult volunteers will set up the fields, run the snack stand, “police the parking lot”, handle the games, play the music, announce the games, manage our teams, and ensure the fun and safety of all participants.

For those RBLL players who have aged out and want to participate we have a million great ways for you to participate, some will help with out “little’s” in their booster club, some will coach or base umpire the games, some will help with the snack stand. We have some paper work for you but start by registering and we will take it from there.

The Rockaway Borough Girls’ Minors Softball Team sponsored by Gearhart Chevrolet managed by Shawn Connington continued their undefeated  season this week with two wins. They played strong on Thursday in Hopatcong, Sarah Smith hit a triple and Teresa Ulinski, Cameron Dietrich, Erin Dietrich and Stephanie Smith  hit doubles contributing to the 23 to 11  victory.  Saturday, saw Gearhart playing Lakeland  Purple.  Sarah Smith hit a home run driving  in two runs in the second inning.  The team combined for an exciting double play  in the third inning. they finished the game with a 13 to 5 win.

Gearhart season is  5 wins and 1 tie. Way to go, girls! J. Bizub

Rule 2.00 “definitions of terms”, states if the pitch touches the ground and such pitch touches the batter, the batter shall be awarded first base!

Saturday’s game in Hopatcong was a bit “strange”.  There were rule interpretation issues with the other team but we made the best of it and our girls SHINED!  I had to leave early so don’t have all my notes and considering the other team didn’t believe in the 3 out rule well……

Anyway, I was so proud when at the 3^rd out all our girls went to bring it in.  They showed they were paying attention to what was going on in the field and they know the game.  How awesome is that!  Each girl really exhibited a knowledge of where to throw the ball, (when coach Jessica wasn’t telling them the wrong play).There was very little T action from us and all the girls HIT!   Hailey twisted her ankle and after sitting out with some ice came back with a smile and ready to play.

Our girls showed they really are listening, they are getting an understanding of the game and their skills just keep improving.  As always, thank you to our wonderful coaches. The work you have all put in with them is showing on the field. Manager Jessica Patton

Click here to view our final umpire schedule. We have been working to re-due how we handle umpires since the end of last season. We have come a long way in a year. Thank you Tony Manno for setting it all up. Managers who use umpires need to review the schedule. Any changes you need to make the umpires contact information is available, please reach out directly to your umpire for time, date, or field change. If your umpire cannot accommodate the change reach out to Tony Manno.

Minor baseball is a thrilling division this year! 14 teams,  six towns, and Rockaway has four teams sitting 2-5 in the standings.

Tonight G. Weber Masonry played the 1-0 Tri-Town Surface Source, they are in first but they have only played one game, the rest of the division has around (regardless, you want to knock off number one).  Rockaway came out strong with two runs off four hits. G. Weber was playing back to back games (we won last night 8-1) so Jesse made his pitching debut and pitched great. Sub-par fielding led to a score of 7-2. Ben came in the third and shut them down. Rockaway clawed their way back to a 7-7 tie in the six, with bases loaded Scott was hit by a pitch off the dirt but the umpire said he wasn’t enforcing that rule at this level, the run didn’t score and the game was under protest. Ben came out for the six with 12 pitches left. He got two out with a runner on third. We cut and paste our pitchers to get the last out (and we really came close) but we didn’t make it. Final score 7-8 Surface Source in a super fun game that had it all.

Riely McDonald behind the plate

The girls had a great game today (5/1). They all really showed they continue to understand the game and where the ball should be going.  They are all enthusiastic and excited to be there and play.  I know everyone wants a turn playing 1^st, pitcher and catcher and I really am rotating them as best as I can and each girl will have the opportunity to continually move and play all the positions.  Batting order continues to be 1^st come 1^st one to bat with the exception of coaches kids who after their 1^st shot at being 1^st will be moved down in the order.

1^st inning Hailey boldly stepped up to be our catcher always a brave move.  Our first out was done with Marissa stopping the ball and getting it to our 1^st basegirl Gabby.  Noa stopped the 2^nd ball as pitcher and got it to our first basegirl Gabby for out #2 and Olivia got our 3^rd out at 3^rd base.

Julianna made 2 great outs at 3^rd that I know for sure.  I am honestly missing or can’t understand my own shorthand for the 3^rd out so I apologize to whomever I am missing.  Riley was our brave soul behind home plate and she just looked too darn cute in all that equipment

3^rd inning, Marissa took catchers position and Jordan made 3 great outs as pitcher tagging out the runners at home.

Great job by all the girls.  They truly continue to develop and I know their efforts will continue to show.  Everyone got a hit without the T (with some t’s coming out) but mostly no T’s today and everyone’s batting confidence showed.

Thank you to all our coaches.  The progress of the girls truly is because of all efforts by all the coaches on the field.  The more people out there the more they can continue to grow and learn, THANK YOU! Manager Jessica Patton