Letter from the President and Vice President
To all parents, players, siblings, coaches, umpires, and sponsors who believe that baseball is a fun sport for everyone:
Welcome to the 38th season of the Greater Hamden Baseball Association. Whether you are new to GHBA or returning for your 10th season, we would like you to know that the principles governing our league for the past 37 years are fun, equality and fairness for every child. We want the children to have fun!
Although winning (and losing) are important lessons in life, they should not be the main issues in a child's formative baseball years. Here, playing in the GHBA, players learn the importance of team and teammates. Here, they learn the fun of playing baseball. It is the responsibility of the GHBA Board of Directors, the Division Commissoners, the Coaches, the Umpires and the PARENTS to make sure that baseball is fun!
For the last five years, we have had a zero tolerance policy in effect to eliminate improper language and behavior at the fields. We feel that this is working and it will be continued this year.
Through our association with PONY League baseball, Hamden teams are able to play teams in other towns affiliated with PONY. Through PONY and inter-league play, we are able to offer more baseball opportunities to players who are interested. In addition, through association with a nationally recognized organization such as PONY, we can ensure that our league will continue to grow in response to increasing demand for better baseball opportunities.
Our league is growing and we need your help. The members of the 2009 GHBA Board of Directors work many extra hours, for no pay, to ensure that there is a league for your child to play in. We ask that you thank them, and we hope that you will GET INVOLVED in the upcoming year.
Next, we would like to thank all of the managers, coaches, assistant coaches and parents who volunteer their time, their experience and their energy to teach our children the importance of baseball, team play and good sportsmanship.
Another important thank you goes out to all of our sponsors. They are investing their money in Hamden's children and enabling us the opportunity to provide a baseball league that is dedicated to allowing our children to have fun.
We have continued with the hiring and training of our own umpire staff. We want to thank both Tom DiCosimo and Mark Aielllo for their time and dedication in training, scheduling, and coordinating our umpires.
In closing, we would like to thank the Town of Hamden, Mayor Craig Henrici, Dr. Frances Rabinowitz Superintendent of Schools, Mr Frank Rizzuti, Mr Frank Cooper and Mr Dave DeMartino of the Parks and Recreation Department for all of their help and support in providing us with great fields for our children to play on. These town officials have made a commitment to the GHBA to upgrade our fields and keep them in the best playable shape possible.
Enjoy the season --LET"S PLAY BALL!
Bob Crowe, President
Ted Lynn, Vice President
HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY
He stands at the plate with his heart pounding fast.
The bases are loaded;
The die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help him;
He stands alone.
A hit at this moment would send the team home.
The ball meets the plate;
He swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the crowd
with some boos and hisses.
A thoughtless voice cries,
"STRIKE OUT THE BUM"!
Tears fill his eyes;
The game's no longer fun.
So open your heart and give him a break.
For it's moments like this,
a man you can make.
Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget.
He's just a little boy, not a man, yet.
(Obviously this poem is intended for boys or girls, so let's keep its thought in our mind as we attend each game)