Hot Stove Week 6: An article from "The Steve."
I sit here and think that we are only 5 weeks until the first day of
spring. That also means that we are only 9 weeks until the season starts. Season
21! It’s incredible to think that a back yard league that started in 86’
is entering its 21st year. We have evolved over the years into one of the most recognizable “Leagues”
out there. I am proud to say that I have been apart of that. We have grown from
just being a “Wiffle Ball League.” We have worked hard at being a community leader with our annual Tourney for
the Little League. We try to keep the area “Youth” out of trouble
and give them something to do. Just last year in conjunction with the GSWL we
helped raise money for the MS with the Accelerate for a Cure Project. We are
always looking for ways to help out where we can and do as much as we can.
I have been in the league since 1999, the first year at HRL’s Pops
Park. Since I have been here I have been able to give my thoughts and help run things. I have been heading things up as the
face of the franchise for the last 2 ½ years. This year we have put forth a conscious effort to try to complete a league staff.
In stepped Cody. Cody has done a great job so far as VP of league operations. He set up the MySpace, Facebook and has helped
out with plenty of other website and league issues. This being my 12th
year I sit and think that there are not too many guys who have been here that long of time now that the last of the Original
5 retired this past year. Dave V. has played in some of 11 seasons (93’,
94’, 99’ then 02-present.) Boom played in 94’, 00’-present that also is 11 seasons. The mainstays
of 86’ Truck, Cary, Trinkey, Pops, Randy are all gone now with the last, Randy retiring last year. They were and still are the foundation of this league.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those guys for giving me a
shot at having a helping hand in running things before I actually did. What I know because of them is a better understanding
of the history and foundation of what the HRL is about. This league has always
been about Friends getting together to play FUN, Competitive Wiffle Ball. This
neighborhood league has grown large. Just last season we had over 50 players
try our brand of ball. What we need though is a better group of consistent guys. The beauty of the league has always been “Show up when you want.” It still has the same premise, we just want to get guys to feel like they once did,
“It’s a Wiffle Ball Day, and I want to get there.” I
hope that everyone will feel that way once again. I think that if everyone can
try to get just 1 guy to come and try out the league then we will grow to be where we want to be. It is just going to take all of us.
When I took over at the end of 2007 I said I have a 5 year plan to get the park and league where it needs to be. As always I think big! My plan was and
is the following;
Clean up the Message board of crap and BS.
Get the lights back up and running.
Fix the playing field.
Fix the fences.
Fix the area around the park.
Continue to grow the league.
Succeed in having a year to year tourney schedule.
There are also many other details that go along with some of this list. What we have done though is #1, 2, 3 is a work in progress. 4. We put up a new RF fence and fixed up LF. We still have to finish CF.
This year will be a big year for fixing the field and the area around the park. We have lots of ideas and plans to
continue to do that. I just know that it is going to take everyone’s help
to make the league and field the best it can be. As far as the tourneys go, we have 4-5 more planned for this year. We will again be the host of the NE Medium pitch Championship. This
last year we averaged 17 teams per tourney. That is 3 more than 2008. So let’s just keep up the good work!
Lastly, I want to let everyone know that we will be having our winter meeting on the 27th of this month.
(February) There will be lots to talk about as usual. So if you would like to
come and give your opinion then come and vote. In the meantime, make sure to
check back next week for a 6 pack of Hot Stove’s. Thanks and everyone keep
us the good work!
