2015 LMBA POST SEASON NEWSLETTER

AAAARRGGHH! PIRATES REPEAT AS 45+ CHAMPS!!!

HOUNDS RUNNING OUT OF DIGITS! CLAIM NINTH 30+ DIVISION TITLE!

CHIEFS WIN TOUGH 18+ DIVISION FOR SECOND TIME

CONGRATS TO DELTA STARS (45+), BURNABY BLUE JAYS (30+), COQUITLAM CARDINALS (18+) VERY WORTHY 2015 FINALISTS

2015 A BANNER YEAR!!!!!

288 GAMES – 596 REGISTERED MEMBERS – 50 DIFFERENT UMPIRES – THREE THRILLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Our 22nd season of baseball was blessed by great weather, close regular season divisional finishes, and three terrific championship finals. A mid-season scheduling blip was overcome with a number of our players, coaches, and Executive members stepping up to fill out the umpire ranks. All of our recruits have obvious potential and we look forward to keeping them on the diamond next year. A tip of the hat to our Umpire Allocator, George Smith for working through a challenging situation and a big thank you to the LMBA Executive for their time and commitment making the LMBA a great baseball experience for everyone!

Thank you to our 32 managers for all your work in keeping your guys organized and congratulations to all LMBA players for the great level of sportsmanship and the positive on field conduct. A special salute to our 3 Twenty Year Award recipients (Dan Harder, Kelly Grace, and MVP Athletic Supplies owner Shawn Hancheroff) and to our 30 members who received their Ten Year Award – every one of them has made a significant contribution to our growth and development.

NUTS ‘N BOLTS – HOW THE LMBA WORKS

On Sunday, November 15th, the LMBA will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Bonsor Center in Burnaby (2:00pm to 5:00pm) and the meeting is open for all LMBA members to attend. The AGM is followed by Divisional meetings where issues specific to the age groups are discussed. For 22 years, the LMBA has been fortunate to have had strong capable Executives and we are looking to continue that trend as the current Board will be presenting some short and long term plans. The Board of Directors is looking for interested individuals to think about joining us in an intern/shadow capacity. The idea would be to slowly introduce a transition of the board as new blood and new ideas help keep the organization adapting to changing environments in the baseball world. Some current executive members have been on the board for 15 years or more and an orderly transition would enable the long term future of the LMBA to be assured. Thanks kindly to this year’s Board of Directors – Dan Taylor (Commissioner), Warren Oikawa (Deputy Commissioner), Tim Everson

(Treasurer), Mark Staples (Registrar), Marke Andrews (Secretary), Ray Edger (45+ Coordinator), Beau Simspon (30+ Coordinator), Dan Sitar (18+ Coordinator), Craig Di Rocco (18+ Director), and George Smith (Umpire Allocator, Website Director).

WANTED for 2016 – The LMBA Treasurer would like to have someone work with him for next year with an eye on taking over in 2017. We also need a 45+ Coordinator and helpers to coordinate the 30+ and 18+ Divisions. If you are interested, please contact Dan Taylor (604) 512-7911 or lmba@shaw.ca or show up at our AGM (November 15th).

WANTED – A FEW GOOD MEN! (MAYBE MORE)

The LMBA uses one of the largest umpire pools in British Columbia and over the years we have worked hard to make their experiences with our league positive ones. As part of our short and long range plans we are planning to recruit new umpires from our ranks – this process has been initiated during the past two seasons and our members who have stepped up have demonstrated good potential and they have enabled us to provide two umpires for each of our games. For 2016 we are looking to add another half dozen recruits as we are aiming to fill most of our base ump spots with LMBA umpires. Our teams have made their entry into the blue crew a smooth one – guys have been well supported and they have made our games what they should be. If any of our umpires wish to progress to plate umpiring, we will support them in terms of training and equipment.

Returning and new umpires will be asked to attend a clinic early in 2016 with LMBA picking up any costs. We will take everyone through the registration and allocation processes and cover some basic skills along with the rules of the LMBA.

The LMBA offers competitive umpiring rates – plate ($95) and bases ($75) and officials are well supported by our teams and the Executive.

If you have any interest in giving things a try, please let Dan Taylor know ASAP – we will be in touch regarding clinics and developments for 2016. Dan can be contacted by phone (604) 512-7911 or email – lmba@shaw.ca

ARIZONA WARRIORS

Some of our teams make the annual journey to Arizona to play in fall tournaments and a partial summary of this year’s trips was highlighted by the Dewdmond Jerbulls, one of baseball’s all time names who were up against some very competitive teams in the 18+ Rookie Wood Division. Team reports indicate that everyone had a great time and they enjoyed the scenery. The White Rock Eagles and the Vancouver Pirates were in the same 55+ Wood Bat Division – the Eagles also had a great time while the Pirates lost out in the playoff semi-finals. Three members of the Delta Stars – Bruce Oikawa, Phil Letts, and Ken Lorenz were part of the Red Deer Legends who lost in the combined 55+/65+ final. The LMBA head office did not receive any phone calls from Arizona requesting either references or bail. Thanks to Kevin Gordon and Howard Sandrel for taking down information about a tournament being hosted in Vancouver in 2016, the Americas Masters Games.

2016 AMERICAS MASTERS GAMES

The first-ever Americas Masters Games will be held in Vancouver from August 26th to September 4th, 2016. Over 7500 athletes will be participating in 28 different individual and team sports. We are pleased to announce that Masters Baseball will be included and the local baseball community and Baseball B.C. are working together to organize the tournament format and to provide local volunteers to administer the actual tournament.

A planning committee of LMBA volunteers has been put in place to organize the 2016 baseball competition and thankfully, fundraising is not a required task. The host city and the host organizing committee are providing facility use and costs such as umpires are included in the registration fees charged to the athletes. The basic tasks for the baseball committee are to set age levels, establish playing rules, set schedules, and assemble crews to work at the fields – field maintenance, scorekeepers, and official supervisors.

The baseball competition will feature two age divisions – 45+ years of age and 55+ years of age. In British Columbia there are three Masters Baseball Leagues – Lower Mainland Baseball Association, POCO Men’s Baseball League, and Kuomox Masters League on Vancouver Island. Interest is very high and all three leagues will be entering teams as well as providing volunteers to organize and run the tournament. Hillcrest Park will be the main playing venue with UBC and Trafalgar Park on Vancouver’s west side serving as secondary sites.

Team sports may start play on Friday, August 26th with limited action permitted on Saturday, August 27th due to Opening Ceremonies being held at Jack Poole Plaza. Baseball pool play will continue on Sunday, August 28 th and conclude on Monday, August 29th. Playoffs will commence on Tuesday, August 30th, Wednesday, August 31st and conclude with bronze medal and gold/silver games on Thursday, September 1st or possibly Friday, September 2nd. Games will run daily from 8:45am to 7:00pm and there will be many Games events that will be included.

More details will be released on a regular basis but teams planning to enter should begin organizing. Registration, scheduling, playing rules, and other tournament information will be released by the end of November and team managers will receive more information at our AGM on November 15th.

Tournament Links and Connections

2016 Americas Masters Games – www.americasmastersgames2016.com

www.ballcharts.com/2016AMGBaseball

Dan Taylor – (H) (604) 433-4787 - (C) (604) 512-7911 – 2016 Americas Masters Games – Baseball Director

Home Email – lmba@shaw.ca Tournament Email – amgbaseball2016@gmail.com

Once the week-long tournament is under way, the baseball event is hoping that LMBA volunteers from all three age divisions will help out for a few hours during the daily games.

- Advertiser’s Index

- Thanks to Merv Sandrel (Ball Park Sports) for his generous support of our Going to Bat promotion. For a complete range of baseball products and services, drop into Ball Park Sports or check them out online at www.ballparksports.ca

- MVP Athletic Supplies has been a supporter of the LMBA since its inception in 1994. Thanks to Shawn Hancheroff and his able staff for their consistent service and level of support for our organization. Congratulations to Shawn for receiving the LMBA’s Twenty Year Award in 2015. Contact information (604) 525-8833 or www.mvpathleticsupplies.com

- THE PEMBERTON STATION PUB IS THE HOME OF THE HOWE SOUND HOUNDS. FEATURING 32 SCREENS, THE PEMBY IS LOCATED AT 130 PEMBERTON AVENUE IN NORTH VANCOUVER. WWW.PEMBYPUB.COM

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- Inside Performance is North Vancouver’s newest fitness and training center with a strong baseball training and performance program. Inside Performance is located just off the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in North Vancouver at # 2 – 1500 Railway Avenue and our site can be visited online at www.insideperformance.ca

- Pro Image is the official supplier for BC Baseball Umpires. Operated by Jerry Tregaskis, Pro Image offers a full line of umpire supplies and equipment. Jerry’s products can be viewed at www.pro-image.ca Yes, that is Jerry in the image.

Sport Starz is a baseball training and performance facility. Operated by Keith Faure (White Rock Eagles) and member of BC Capitals, two times Canadian 50+ champions. Sport Starz offers a full range of baseball training activities which can be viewed at www.thesportstarz.com