Announcement

BPV tryouts/evaluations April 1-2

Posted by Steve Tappa  on Mar 22 2021 at 08:45AM PDT in 2020
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Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball has set tryouts/evaluations for the Majors (grades 6-7) and Minors (grades 4-5) on April 1-2 indoors at the TBK Complex.

BPV registrations remain open after those tryout dates, but space will be limited in every division except Seniors (ages 15-20). Participants are asked to sign up before the tryout dates so we can properly plan for the correct number of teams in each division and allow the most playing time for everybody.

To sign up, visit:
https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196

The tryouts/evaluations are 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, and 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2. All participants are placed on a team. The tryouts simply are used to help coaches evaluate players in an effort to level the competitive balance of the teams in those divisions.

More information about BPV and the 2021 spring/summer season is available below or by visiting BPVBaseball.com (https://bpv.teampages.com).

DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN

The divisions offered this year are the same as last season (in all divisions, all players bat in order and participation rules are followed):

Coach Pitch: A beginning program for Grades 1-3. Younger players can request to play, however a season of tee-ball is suggested, with that separate city program an appropriate starting point for all baseball players. Inexperienced 3rd graders can request to remain in Coach Pitch. Coaches pitch to batters. Players run the bases with some restrictions. Three outs or a run limit (whichever comes first) defines the inning. Games run six innings, with teams playing typically twice a week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May to around July 4. The season ends with a postseason tournament and All-Star games, where all of the league’s participants receive an award. Fields used are at Hoover School, Scheck Park, the diamonds nearest to Splash Landing at Middle Park (called Lowry Field & 23rd St. Field) and LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex. Most teams grouped by school or special request. Also: LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Tyler Driever at tdriever@mchsi.com.

Intro to Kid Pitch: Geared for 3rd graders and any advanced/veteran coach pitchers ready for a new challenge. Kids pitch to hitters with restrictions. A mixture of rules are used from the Coach Pitch and Minors Divisions to prepare players for the next level. Six-inning games, with teams playing typically twice a week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May to around July 4. The season ends with a postseason tournament and All-Star game, where all of the league’s participants receive an award. Field used: Crow Creek #6 (by the soccer fields). LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Most teams grouped by school or special request. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Dan Escontrias at danesco33@gmail.com.

Minors: For Grades 4-5. Full kid pitch with base-running restrictions. Regulation games are six innings, with teams playing typically twice a week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May to mid-July, with All-Star games and a postseason tournament capping the season. Fields used: Scheck Park, Crow Creek #10 & #11 at the 4-Plex and LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex. Teams formed by a draft following evaluations. LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Matt Wood at mcw1205@aol.com.

Majors: For Grades 6-7: Full base running rules. Regulation games now seven innings, with teams playing typically twice a week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May to mid-July, with All-Star games and a postseason tournament capping the season. Fields used: Crow Creek #8 & #9 at the 4-Plex. Teams formed by a draft following evaluations. Also: A LeClaire-only team is a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Dan Escontrias at danesco33@gmail.com.

Juniors: For Grades 8-9 (ages 13-15). NOTE: If pairing BPV with high school baseball, play in Seniors on a full-sized diamond against older competition. Teams normally formed by a draft following evaluations. Full baseball rules (except dropped third strike) on slightly smaller-than-regulation fields (54-foot mound, 80-foot bases). Games are seven innings, with teams playing typically 2-3 times per week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May to mid-July, with an All-Star game and a postseason tournament capping the season. Fields used: Crow Creek #5 and Castro Field at Kiwanis Park/Paul Norton School. Some games also at out-of-town destinations such as Eldridge, Long Grove and Donahue, versus teams from the North Scott and Wapsi Little Leagues. Bettendorf fields have lights, so night games are normal. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Tyler Driever at tdriever@mchsi.com.

Seniors: Ages 15-20. Grab your friends and create a team (adult coach needed). All registrants are placed on a team. Full baseball on a regulation diamond (60-foot, 6-inch mound, 90-foot bases). Games are seven innings or limited by time limit. Teams play typically three times per week, with practice time available on the weekend. Games start in mid-May and run through late July, with a postseason tournament and All-Star game capping the season. Fields used: Devils Glen Park, McCausland City Field and occasionally Crow Creek #5. Schedule includes doubleheaders (5:30 and 8 p.m. starts) on lighted fields, mainly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays also possible depending on participation numbers. Those interested in coaching or forming a team are encouraged to contact the division director, Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

KEY CONTACTS

Coach Pitch (Grades 1-3): Tyler Driever (tdriever@mchsi.com)
—* Intro to Kid Pitch (3rd Grade/Advanced):* Dan Escontrias (danesco33@gmail.com or 563-210-3489)
Minors (Grades 4-5): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
Majors (Grades 6-7): Dan Escontrias (danesco33@gmail.com or 563-210-3489)
Juniors (Grades 8-9): Tyler Driever (tdriever@mchsi.com)
Seniors (Ages 15-20): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)
NOTE: Coaches are needed in all divisions! (Contact any of those listed).

ABOUT THE BPV

The calendar: April 1-2 is when the season kicks off with evaluations in the Minors and Majors. Coaches meetings also are held at this time in all but the Seniors division, with Coach Pitch, Kid Pitch and Juniors teams forming (exact dates will be announced soon). For all divisions except Seniors (which mirrors the high school season), April is set aside for practices. Games begin in May. Seasons end with a division tournament and All-Star Games planned around the July 4 holiday. Depending on weather, all seasons should wrap up by mid-July (Note: Coach Pitch/Kid Pitch finishes by July 4; Seniors start later with games in mid-May and running until the end of July). BPV also offers a separate Fall program on weekends starting in mid-August and running through the end of September.

Games: Expect to play a couple of games each week. Once games start, practice time is mostly available on the weekends, decided on by a team-by-team, first-come basis. (The two oldest divisions usually play 3 games per week). Exact game schedules determined by the number of participating teams closer to the start of games.

Awards: All participants receive an award in the Coach Pitch and Intro to Kid Pitch divisions, with an awards jamboree at the All-Star Games. The top teams in the regular season and tournament also earn trophies in each division. Additionally, the All-Star Game participants receive a keepsake for playing.
Equipment: All players receive a jersey, hat and baseball socks for their uniform. Baseball pants and shoes, as well as gloves are the responsibility of the participant. (Some also provide their own helmets and bats, but BPV also provides helmets (and older bats upon request), along with catchers gear, in a set of team equipment).

Fees: Cost for the season is $100 ($125 for Seniors to partially cover additional insurance costs) plus a service fee for the online registration/organizational service. However, BPV does not exclude participation due to financial hardship. For more information, please contact Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111).

Sponsorship: Our generous sponsors help make youth baseball an affordable treasure in our community. For information on sponsoring your child’s team, please contact Dan Escontrias (danesco33@gmail.com or 563-210-3489). Donations to help cover financial hardships and facility/program improvements also are very much appreciated. Please contact Escontrias or Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111).

Volunteers: Helping keep our costs so low is the volunteerism we enjoy at all levels! Behind-the-scenes help running the all-volunteer organization always is necessary. Please consider volunteering by contacting Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111).

Help wanted: Umpires are also needed and compensated for their work; contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111.

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