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Spring 2009 Rec Baseball & Softball
Bridgewater Baseball & Softball is looking forward to the Spring 2009 Recreational Season! Our all-volunteer league has grown to include over 1,500 boys and girls in our spring program alone, along with recreational programs in summer and fall. Despite our growth, we continue our goal of providing a personal and rewarding experience for children of all ages, ensuring that they play with their friends from school at the younger ages, have fun, and learn the fundamentals of the game and sportsmanship. Our strong partnership with the Township of Bridgewater, along with our own sponsorship dollars, allows us to play on state-of-the-art fields and provide premier facilities for your family.
REGISTRATION: Starting this spring, you will register for baseball and softball on-line through our website http://www.bridgewaterbaseball.com (there is no longer In-Person Registration). On the website, click on the "Register Online" tab in the column on the left side of the screen and follow the registration instructions. After you complete all the required information, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Spring Registration is open from December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009. Registrations received after January 31st will include a $30 Administrative Fee, and will run the risk of your child being placed on a waiting list for the 2009 season, as team placements will already be underway.
WORK BOND: The operation of our all-volunteer league and the concession stand at Prince Rodgers continues to require family support. All families are required to pay a $100 work bond and fulfill volunteer time for the Spring Season. Families with children only in T-Ball or Babe Ruth are exempt from the work bond. Work bond volunteer time is accomplished througth concessions, coaching, admin work, or other volunteer options that are posted on our website during the season. You have the option to forfeit the work bond if you do not wish to volunteer your time. If you fulfill the work bond, it will carry forward to registration for the following year.
If you satisfied your work bond requirement last year, you will receive a “Credit Voucher #” above the name on the address label that is mailed to your home at the end of November. If you missed it, you can write to
to get your Credit Voucher #. Without a voucher number, you must pay the $100 work bond.
MARKETING & SPONSORSHIP: We are thankful to all the individuals and businesses that have continually supported our program by advertising at our facility and sponsoring teams. If you are interested in sponsoring a team or advertising at our complex please, go to the “Sponsors” tab. The continued support and the need for new sponsors is an important element of our league operations and benefits so many kids. Every year a new crop of T-Ball teams are created and are in need of team sponsors. We look forward to your support.
LEAGUES/ELIGIBILITY: All of our Spring Leagues are formed strictly on the basis of a child’s grade in school, with a couple of exceptions, which are noted. Despite age restrictions for other programs, like summer tournament play, we continue to maintain this policy as a league so that the children can play with their grade school friends. If you have any questions about our various leagues, see the section below on "League Info with Age/Grade Guidelines". Also, check "Contact Info" for League Commissioners for various age groups.
2009 SPRING SEASON DATES: please advise your other spring sports coaches about these dates now to avoid conflicts.
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Events
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Dates
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Games Begin
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Monday, April 13, 2009
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Opening Day
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Saturday, April 18, 2009 (rain date Sunday Apr 19th)
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Picture Days
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Saturday/Sunday, May 2-3, 2009
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Championship Day & Closing Ceremonies
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Saturday June 6, 2009 (rain date Sunday June 7th)
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COACHES: Finally, a big part of our league’s success is based on great coaching support and involvement. Every year we add a whole new set of coaches to lead our T-Ball program, in addition to on-going needs for all levels in Baseball and Softball. If you are interested, please indicate it when you register. You don’t have to be a baseball expert. We are looking for well-organized and positive individuals to get involved and help maintain a strong and fun program for our kids.
We look forward to seeing you on the fields in the spring!
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Spring League Commissioners
Commissioners are responsible for managing teams, coaches, schedules, clinics, rules, and all aspects of play in their respective leagues. Once teams are formed, your primary point of contact will be your team manager.
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2009 Leagues
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Grade
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Commissioner
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E-mail
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SOFTBALL CHAIRMAN
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Dominick Gonnella
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Softball Pee Wee Commissioner
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1/2
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John Murphy
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Softball Minors Commissioner
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3/4
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Dominick Gonnella
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Softball Majors Commissioner
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5/6
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Joe & Debbie Rebetje
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Softball Seniors Commissioner
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7-10
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Dominick Gonnella
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BASEBALL LOWER LEAGUE CHAIRMAN
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Danny Gerlach
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T-Ball Commissioner
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K
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Ed Cozzi
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Baseball Farm A Commissioner
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1
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Art Lehberger
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Baseball Farm AA Commissioner
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2
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Danny Gerlach
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BASEBALL MIDDLE LEAGUE CHAIRMAN
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Kevin Gokey
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Baseball Minors Commissioner
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3/4
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Randy Langenfeld
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Baseball Majors 50/70
Commissioner
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5
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Ed Adamcik
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Baseball Majors 50/70 Commissioner
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6/7
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Kevin Gokey
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BASEBALL UPPER LEAGUE CHAIRMAN
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Rodney Pennella
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Baseball Pony Commissioner
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7/8
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Glenn Petillo
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Baseball Seniors Commissioner
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8-10
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Rodney Pennella
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Babe Ruth League Commissioner
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16-18
yrs old
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Danny Gerlach
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League Info for Various Grades & Ages
T-BALL (for boys and girls)
New this year, adding 5 year olds! For all our Kindergarteners, and children not yet in Kindergarten who will be 5 or 6 yrs old by 9/30/09. This is an instructional, non-competitive league for boys and girls. Coaches concentrate on teaching basic baseball rules and skills. Teams are formed geographically. A soft core baseball is used for safety. No substitution and full roster batting are used, and players are able to try many field positions. A batting tee is used at the beginning of the season, and coaches transition players to hitting a soft pitch. Games for all T-Ball teams begin around 6:00pm at fields throughout Bridgewater.
The softball leagues are divided strictly on the basis of school grade. All leagues play 2 days per week, usually with start times at 6:00pm or 7:45pm. While our preference is always to play games at 6:00pm, field availability requires that we rotate the 7:45pm game times through the teams in Minors and above. In Pee Wee, Minors and Majors there are no scheduled Saturday games, but the Softball teams have the first priority to those fields on Saturdays if they wish to schedule an extra practice, or make-up a rained-out game. Seniors can schedule make-ups on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
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League
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Grades
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Game Days & Times
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Extra Practice
or Make-up Day
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Pee Wee
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1/2
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Tuesdays & Thursdays - 6:00pm
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Saturdays
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Minors Softball
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3/4
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Mondays & Thursdays - 6:00pm or 7:45pm
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Majors Softball
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5/6
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Tuesdays & Fridays - 6:00pm or 7:45pm
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Senior Softball
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7/8/9/10
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Wednesdays - 6:00pm or 7:45pm
& Saturdays - 9:00am or 11:00am
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PEE WEE - Grades 1/2: This instructional league takes over where Tee Ball left off. Players receive on-field instruction in batting, fielding, sliding, game rules, safety, and good sportsmanship. All players are placed on teams geographically. A soft core softball is used, no substitution and full roster batting are used, and players are able to try many field positions. Games times are always 6:00pm.
MINOR LEAGUE - Grades 3/4: This league is semi-competitive with teams formed based on evaluations and a draft. Coaches usually hold practices, players play some different positions, including pitcher and catcher, and all players are guaranteed playing time in every game. A post-season playoff is held, in which all teams participate, to determine a season champion. Games during the week are played on Monday and Thursday nights at 5:45pm and at 7:45pm.
MAJOR LEAGUE - Grades 5/6: This competitive league has standings maintained, and an exciting end-of-season playoff in which all teams participate. Teams are selected in a draft. Players may expect to focus on specific playing positions and to learn more advanced skills. Games during the week are played on Tuesday and Friday nights at 6:00pm and 7:45pm.
SENIOR LEAGUE - Grades 7-10: This competitive league has standings maintained, and an exciting end-of-season playoff in which all teams participate. Teams are selected in a draft. (Freshman players who make the high school freshman team will be distributed evenly among the teams.) Players may expect to focus on specific playing positions and to learn more advanced skills. No 10th grader that is on JV or Varsity will be allowed to play. There will be very strict pitching limitations on Middle School and Freshman pitchers. Games are played on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, with games played at 6:00pm and 7:45pm on Wednesdays and 9:00am and 11:00 am on Saturdays.
BASEBALL LEAGUES (for boys and girls)
The baseball program is divided into leagues based on school grade. In order to maintain the proper level of competition in each league and to allow developing players to benefit from playing with more experienced players, all players are required to play only in their proper and assigned league, except where a safety concern dictates playing in a lower division. All leagues play at least 2 games per week on pre-designated days. The divisions are as follows:
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League
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Grades
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Game Days
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# days
per week
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T-Ball
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PreK/K
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Mondays & Thursdays - 6:00pm
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2
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Farm A
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1
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Tuesdays & Fridays - 5:45pm, occasional 7:45pm
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2
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Farm AA
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2
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Wednesdays & Fridays - 5:45pm, occasional 7:45pm
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2
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Minors
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3/4
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Tuesdays or Thursdays - 5:45pm or 7:45pm
every Saturday (afternoon)
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2
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Majors 46/60
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5
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Mondays or Wednesdays - 5:45pm or 7:45pm
Every Saturday (morning)
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2
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Majors 50/70
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6/7
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Mondays or Wednesdays - 5:45pm or 7:45pm
Every Sat (mornings or afternoons)
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Pony
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7/8
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Once Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - 5:30pm or 7:45pm
Every Saturday (mornings)
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2
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Seniors
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8/9/10
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Once Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - 5:30pm or 7:45pm
Every Saturday (afternoons)
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2
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Babe Ruth
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16-18 yrs
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1 home game, 1 away game as scheduled - days to be determined
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2 |
FARM A LEAGUE - Grade 1: This also is an instructional league with slightly more attention to competition and team play. Players receive on-field instruction in batting, fielding, game rules, safety, and good sportsmanship. All players are placed on teams geographically. A soft core baseball is used and coaches pitch to the players. Informal substitution rules are followed. Games times are usually 6:00pm, with an occasional 7:45pm game "under the lights" at Prince Rodgers Complex - the late game will usually be on Friday nights.
FARM AA LEAGUE - Grade 2: This instructional league continues where Farm A left off. Players receive on-field instruction in batting, fielding, sliding, game rules, safety, and good sportsmanship. All players are placed on teams geographically. A soft core baseball is used, and informal substitution rules are followed. Games times are usually at 6:00pm, with an occasional 7:45pm game "under the lights" at Prince Rodgers Complex.
MINOR LEAGUE - Grades 3/4: This league is semi-competitive with teams formed based on evaluations and a draft. Coaches usually hold practices, players play some different positions, including pitcher and catcher, and all players are guaranteed playing time in every game. A post-season playoff is held, in which all teams participate, to determine a season champion. Games during the week are played either on Tuesday or Thursday night, with most games played at 5:45pm and an occasional game at 7:45pm. Games on Saturdays will usually be in the afternoons.
SENIOR LEAGUE - Grades 8-10: A competitive league, with standings maintained, and end-of-season playoffs. Players must be 13-15 years old as of May 1, 2009. Games are played on the major league 90 foot fields, and rules follow Babe Ruth guidelines.
BABE RUTH LEAGUE - 16-18 year olds: A competitive league that plays as part of a local network of teams, with home and away games each week. Eligible players are 16-18 years old as of May 1, 2009. The spring season runs at about the same time as the regular Rec season, from mid-April through Mid-June. Games are played on the major league 90 foot fields, and rules follow Babe Ruth guidelines.
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