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Register for the 2010 Season!

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Last updated: 11-Nov-2009

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What’s New ... (11-Nov-2009)

Major League Format Adjusted for 2010
Second Phase of Field Improvements Begins
Registration and Evaluations for 2010 Season
Officers Elected for 2010
RLL, Boiling Springs Savings Join for CAP
The Annual League Fund Drive
The Next Meeting
Box Scores Added to History; Photos Wanted
Rutherford Little League Farm Report (updated 2-Jun)
Facts Every Parent Should Know, 2009

Major League Format Adjusted for 2010

The Board took this action in response to recent declines in player enrollment which have affected not only Rutherford, but surrounding towns and other Little League programs nationwide. Many leagues have reduced the number of teams and/or combined schedules with nearby leagues.

While the Rutherford Little League had proudly maintained 12 Major teams since 1963 (six in each of our leagues, American and National), the League has also observed the dilution of talent in recent years, which has resulted in more lopsided scores and a greater imbalance among our teams. Additionally, the League became more and more aware of safety issues involving players of disparate talent levels.

This action does not affect the status of any player in the League. All players on the two teams that are being removed – Elks in the American League, A.W. Van Winkle & Co. in the National – will be included in a dispersal draft. Each of these players who properly registers for the 2010 season will be chosen by a team from his or her league prior to the selection of new players. (A player on Elks will be selected by an American League team; a Van Winkle player will be picked up by a National League team.)

The Board believes that this was a necessary step, one that will help ensure the strength and competitive balance in our program in the years to come. The League will continue to monitor this issue in future seasons.

A preliminary schedule for the 2010 season will be released shortly. This schedule will give each Major team 17 games, rather than the 16 that were scheduled from 1977-85 and 1987-2009. Each team will play its league rivals three times each, and will play each team in the opposite league once. We are also looking to schedule 14 games for each Minor League team.

Second Phase of Field Improvement Begins

Phase 1 of the improvements to the Little League field at Memorial Park was finished prior to the start of the 2009 season. The old grass and soil was removed, the field was re-graded, and new sod was put in place along with several new sprinkler heads. The outfield fence was also replaced, and additional clay for the infield and new cinder for the warning track areas were put down. A photo gallery is available.

The second phase includes grading the area outside of third base, using a retaining wall parallel to the third base fence to prevent soil erosion and improve drainage to that area. In the level area, batting cages will be created. This work has now begun, and a photo gallery has been started. The new batting cages, which will double as bullpens, should be complete for the start of the 2010 season.

Donations to the Capital Campaign are still being accepted. Please download this document (in Microsoft Word format) for more details. To date (16-Sep), donations to the campaign exceed $33,500. Thanks to all of our donors.

Additionally, a new sign is in place near the parking lot on the first base side honoring the dedication of the facility as Tom Mellody Field. The League dedicated the field to Mellody in April 1974. Tom Mellody had been a League member for 15 years when he died unexpectedly in February 1974, during his fourth season as League President.

Registration and Evaluations for 2010 Season

Eligible players who must be evaluated were born from May 1, 1997, through April 30, 2001, live within the Borough of Rutherford, and did not participate at the Major League level in Rutherford Little League in 2009. Players in this group who are not evaluated will not be eligible to participate in the League in 2010.

There will be one additional session for those who were unable to attend, tentatively scheduled for Saturday 5-Mar at noon. Players should bring fielding gloves.

In case of inclement weather on the evaluation date, please call the Scoreline at 201 939-SCOR (939-7267) for a recorded message. Please do not assume that the evaluation has been postponed without calling first.

Registration is currently open for all eligible players, including returning Major League players and players eligible for younger levels. Eligible players were born from 1-May-1997 through 30-Apr-2005 and live within the Borough of Rutherford. Please submit proof of age and residence for new players.

The registration fee of $100 for the 2010 season is due at the time of enrollment or evaluation. No family will be charged more than $250 in registration fees for the season.

You may follow this link to our online registration partner, Active.com, and pay securely with a credit card. You may also download a printable registration form here (in PDF format; requires Adobe Reader or equivalent).

For more information or to register, please call the pre-season information line at 201 939-3831.

Officers Elected for 2010

In addition, one new member was elected to the board. Suzanne Murphy joins the leadership group, replacing Paul Bayse, who chose not to stand for re-election after eight years of board service.

The 2010 officers are:

• President: Walt Mager
• Vice Presidents: Jeff Cassella, Nick Russo, Pete Schiro
• Secretary: Corey Gallo
• Treasurer: Dennis Van Dyk
• Player Agent: Charlie O’Reilly
• Members at Large: Tom Bloomer, Paul Cuccinelli, Jim Fecanin, Jim McCarthy, Suzanne Murphy, Margaret Scott

Boiling Springs Savings Gives League a CAP

Through its Community Alliance Program (CAP), Boiling Springs will donate a percentage of depositors’ account balances to qualified non-profit organizations based on registration forms received at the bank. The percentage to be donated will be ¼ to ½ percent, depending on the type of account registered.

To register your accounts for a CAP donation to Rutherford Little League, print this form (in PDF format; requires Adobe Reader or equivalent), fill out the top portion, and bring it to a teller window at Boiling Springs Savings Bank. Once at least twenty depositors are on file, the bank will begin quarterly donations to the League.

In the third quarter of 2009, the bank donated $1,071.14 to the League. The more depositors registered, the greater the donation. All members, including parents of players, are encouraged to participate in this simple way to donate to the League.

The 2009 League Fund Drive

The annual door-to-door canvass of the Borough took place Saturday 4-Apr, but donations by mail are welcome at any time.

Checks should be payable to “Rutherford Little League, Inc.” Mailed contributions go to P.O. Box 427, Rutherford, NJ 07070-0427. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Rutherford Little League, founded in 1951, is the only organization providing baseball for Borough youths aged 5 through 12.

Next League Meeting

All members are encouraged to attend.