Fall Ball will Begin Sun-12-Sep

Fall baseball will not begin Sun-29-Aug as originally planned. Rather, it has been postponed two weeks and will begin the Sunday after Labor Day, Sun-12-Sep. This gives us time to finalize sign-ups, rosters, coaches and schedules. The season will still be eight games long, with each team playing a doubleheader one Sunday.

This also gives us time to extend the signup deadline to Sat-28-Aug. Click here to sign up online. Click here to read more details about Fall Baseball.

Fall Baseball T-Shirt Contest Results

Congratulations to Josie VanderLei for winning the fall baseball t-shirt design contest. Josie wins a $25 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings!

And don't forget that Wed-25-Aug is the last day to sign up for fall baseball. Click here to sign up online. Click here to read more details about Fall Baseball.

Register Now for Fall Ball

It's time to think about Fall Ball again!

• Fall baseball will be for ages 8-14. Please use the player's age as of April 30, 2011.
• This is a fun and instructional season. There are no practices, and we don't keep standings.
• The 8-10 age group and the 11-12 age group will play on the East and West small fields. Ages 13-14 will play on the Henwood big field. Please note that if you played as a 12-year-old in the majors this Summer, you will play as a 13-year-old on the big field this Fall as preparation for next season.
• The season will start on September 12 and continue for 7 weeks, with the final games on October 24. Each team will play a doubleheader one Sunday, for a total of eight games.
  
• All games will be played on Sunday afternoons at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, with some games at 5:00pm only if required by the number of teams.
• The cost has been reduced to $60 this year and includes a jersey you can keep. This fee helps us cover the costs of umpires, baseballs, etc.
• Be sure to take a look at our fall baseball t-shirt design contest here.
• You can sign up online here. To help us organize teams, recruit coaches and order shirts, we ask that you please sign up online as soon as possible. The final day of online registration has been extended to Sat-28-Aug.
  
• If you have any questions contact:
  Bob Hams, league director (director@southernll.org)
  
• We need coaches! Please contact Bob if you are interested in coaching. (No full teams will be allowed this year so we can achieve an even comptetitve balance.)

Fall Ball T-shirt Contest!

This year we're having a contest to design the fall baseball t-shirts.

• The winner receives a $25 gift certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings.
• Contest is open to everyone, not just players.
• Your design should include the words "Southern Little League" and "Fall Baseball" on it.
• Email your design entry to director@southernll.org.
• The deadline is 11:59pm on August 15.

9-10 Baseball All-Stars Wrap Up Their Season

In a game that mattered only for pride, Southern's 9-10 East Baseball All-Stars played a game last night that showed they still had plenty. Monday night they lost 4-2 to pool champion West Portage in the state tournament in Schoolcraft. Hard-hitting West Portage had scored 23 runs in their two previous pool games, but Southern's pitchers Kevin Korte and Jake Hoppman with help from catchers Jacob Elzinga and Colin Beggs combined to hold them to just four runs. Mike Malewitz, Noah Groen and Jack Tietema turned the game's only double play to save a run, and Elliot Jung made another run-saving catch in right field. Offensively, Southern's Mike Malewitz led the charge with two doubles, and Jake Hoppman added another. Coaches Dan Tietema and Jeff Hoppman set a great example of sportsmanship and class in the face of a controversial call at home plate that after minutes of appeal and debate ended up against Southern. Any loss is tough, but Southern's 9-10 All-Stars played with such class and ended their season with pride.

Coaches, parents, grandparents and all the loyal Southern fans are proud of these players and their great season. Thanks especially to coaches Dan Tietema and Jeff Hoppman and to all the dedicated parents who contributed in so many ways to make this all-star experience one these kids will never forget. You can bet this isn't the last time these kids will be playing in all-star tournaments.

Coaches: Final Equipment Return Thu-5-Aug

Attention all coaches:

Please return all remaining equipment on the final equipment return date:

• Thu-5-Aug, 7:00pm

We really need the equipment in by then to prepare for fall baseball.
If you have any questions, please contact Steve Bender, our equipment manager:

• 780-8048
• launchllc@gmail.com

9-10 Baseball All-Stars Lose Game 2

Southern's 9-10 East Baseball All-Stars lost a 3-1 heartbreaker to Traverse City today in the state tournament in Schoolcraft. Despite two doubles from Mike Malewitz, five innings of shutout pitching from Connor Goulet and Elliot Jung, solid hitting, and great fan support, Traverse City staged a two-out, three-run comeback in the sixth inning. Southern still has one more game of pool play tomorrow at 6:00pm against West Portage.